Frankenberg (Eder): Old Town, Nature and History

Frankenberg (Eder) is a destination for you if you would like to combine local history, nature experiences and excursions in one stay. When looking for a hotel, it is worth first deciding whether the town hall, church and Witches’ Tower are your main focus, whether you are planning a circular route, or whether you want to include attractions such as the wildlife park and swimming pool.

Town history in the Old Town

The Historic Town Hall stands in the Old Town between Liebfrauenkirche and the Steinhaus. The late Gothic half-timbered town hall has ten towers, representing the town’s ten guilds. Construction of the third town hall began in 1509 after an earlier building had burned down; the new building was intended to resemble its predecessor.

Distinctive details include the Knaggen, or corbels, on the central bay windows. They support the bays on the south, north and west sides and are considered masterpieces of medieval woodcarving. At the building, you can appreciate not only its overall form but also the design of its supporting elements.

The Historic Town Hall’s carillon was installed in 1999 and can be heard daily between 11:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. If you would like to time your visit around it, check the listening times locally in advance.

The Witches’ Tower was built in the 13th century and is the only surviving one of the 20 defensive towers that originally formed part of the Frankenberg town fortifications. The platform at the top of the tower is reached by around 50 steps. Along with its role in the town’s fortifications, the tower therefore offers a practical point of reference when planning a visit.

The present-day Liebfrauenkirche was built from 1286 onwards. The Marien-Kapelle is a late Gothic gem, but can only be accessed from the outside. The former St. Georgenberg monastery now houses the Museum im Kloster Frankenberg.

Circular trails, the wildlife park and other excursions

The premium Frankenberger Blickwinkel town walking trail is a circular route of around nine kilometres. It combines the town’s sights with opportunities to enjoy nature. If you would like to combine time outdoors with a look at the town’s history, this trail is a distinct focus for planning your stay.

At the Frankenberg Wildlife Park, you can see wild boar, deer, sheep and goats up close; admission is free. The park is open around the clock every day. This makes the wildlife park an outing in its own right alongside the historic sights, without tying your visit to a particular time of day.

The Ederberglandbad has an indoor pool and an outdoor pool and is located close to the Frankenberg local recreation area, “Teichgelände”. If you are planning a swim, check the current visitor information in advance.

Another family-friendly attraction is at the entrance to the Hohenäcker quarry near Frankenberg-Rodenbach: there is an information pavilion and a fossil-hammering area for children. Bring a hammer or similar tool. The reminder to bring the necessary tool is part of planning this excursion.

Market visits and hiking plans

The Landfrauenmarkt takes place every Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Schirn of the ten-towered Historic Town Hall. If you are planning a visit to the market, check the date before you travel, as market dates can change.

In the wider Waldeck-Frankenberg travel region, the Urwaldsteig Edersee offers another hiking option. The trail is 66 kilometres long and can be hiked in eight stages or as part of a three-day ranger-led hike, with around 22 kilometres per stage. Compared with the roughly nine-kilometre Frankenberger Blickwinkel, this offers a different scale for planning a hike: a local circular route versus a longer trail with multiple stages.

Discover more destinations: Rengershausen, Röddenau, Willersdorf, Korbach, Edertal, Basdorf, Twistetal, Rosenthal.

Back to the regional travel overview: Waldeck-Frankenberg.