Discover Ehrenberg

A notable destination in Ehrenberg is Kapellenberg. At its 429-metre summit stands the Romanesque ruin of Ottilien Chapel. The site combines this historic building with named viewpoints and a signposted hike that leads to Veßra Monastery. History, landscape and hiking give an exploration of Ehrenberg a clear focus.

Ottilien Chapel and its history

In the 1960s, the people of Ehrenberg saved the ruin from deterioration through extensive restoration work. The chapel is therefore both a Romanesque building and a testament to the residents’ commitment to its preservation. The site of the Ehrenberg Chapel is also considered a possible place of Germanic worship.

Hiking to Kapellenberg

You can hike up Kapellenberg from the village side. A signposted route leads through Ehrenberg to Ottilien Chapel and continues to Veßra Monastery. The destinations differ for planning your hike: the chapel is the main focus at Kapellenberg, while the described route continues as far as Veßra Monastery. This lets you choose your hike based on the destination you have in mind.

Views and landscape

From Kapellenberg, Dolmar, at 740 m above sea level, can be seen on the northern horizon. To the northeast, the heights of the Thuringian Forest frame the view. In the Werra Valley, the town of Themar and nearby Eingefallener Berg are in view. The vista thus combines a named peak with a valley panorama featuring a town and a mountain. The oak tree near Ehrenberg is one of the natural monuments in the immediate vicinity of the destination.

More highlights in Hildburghausen district

Hildburghausen district is an important part of the Thuringian Forest recreational region. It includes an extensive, contiguous forest area in Thuringian Forest Nature Park; Vessertal Biosphere Reserve also shapes the district. These regional landscape highlights place the specific view from Kapellenberg in a broader context.

The Henneberg Museum at Veßra Monastery is a 6-hectare open-air museum. Its four thematic areas cover the history of the monastery, half-timbered architecture and everyday life in the Henneberg region, as well as agricultural technology and sustainability. The German Castle Museum at Veste Heldburg presents the history and culture of castles in Europe from the Middle Ages to the present day. Its permanent exhibition is arranged as a tour through the entire Veste; visitors learn how castle construction changed from one era to the next and get to know Veste Heldburg. The two museums have different focuses: monastic history and everyday life at one, the development of European castles at the other.

The Zweiländermuseum Rodachtal is another cultural highlight in the district. It opened in November 2009 and takes visitors on a journey through the 20th century in the Rodachtal border region. In Hildburghausen, the surviving palace garden tells the story of changing garden design: laid out as a Baroque garden around 1700, it was transformed into a landscape park around 1780.

Hiking, cycling and winter sports

The Mühlenwanderweg in the municipality of Straufhain is about 7 km long and passes through an area where nine grain and sawmills once operated. Information boards provide details about the mills at their former sites. Hiking and cycling are possible in the Werra Valley; from Themar downstream, you can also go canoeing. This offers different ways to explore the area: a themed hiking trail, cycling in the Werra Valley and canoeing from Themar.

Winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy more than 70 km of cross-country ski trails and numerous ski touring routes in the municipality of Masserberg, including the districts of Heubach, Schnett and Fehrenbach. Trail length and grooming can vary by season, so check the details before planning your trip. The regional options therefore also vary by season and activity.

Discover more destinations: Henfstädt, Suhl, Auengrund, Gießübel, Römhild, Masserberg, Schnett, Heldburger Unterland

For the higher-level travel overview: Hildburghausen-Suhl.