Discover Ummerstadt: Half-timbered houses and town history

The entire town center, with its numerous half-timbered houses, is protected as a historic monument. Other highlights include St. Bartholomew’s Church at Viehmarkt, the arched bridge over the Rodach, five fountains fed by local springs, and the history of pottery. Ummerstadt therefore offers plenty to explore on a trip where architectural and local history take center stage.

Town center and historic buildings

The historic protection applies to the entire town center, so it covers more than just a single building. Numerous half-timbered houses characterize this protected area. St. Bartholomew’s Church at Viehmarkt offers a specific example of the town’s architectural history: it replaced a predecessor church that burned down in 1632, while its tower survived. The arched bridge over the Rodach also serves as a historic landmark. It dates from the 16th century. The church and bridge thus offer different historical reference points: the 16th century for the bridge and the year 1632, when the predecessor church burned down.

Fountains, brewery and pottery history

Five fountains in Ummerstadt are fed by local springs. Beer is brewed at the Ummerstadt brewery twice a year. Pottery-making developed into the town’s most important economic activity from the 18th century onward. After the end of the Second World War, the production of earthenware and tiles there came to an end. While the fountains and brewery are two specific features of the town, the pottery story tells of a once-central economic activity and its end.

The playground in Ummerstadt is a place for families and children to visit. This brings a family-friendly destination into focus alongside the town’s architectural and economic history.

A closer look at Hildburghausen district

The wider destination of Hildburghausen district offers a distinct perspective on other aspects of the landscape. The district includes an extensive, unbroken forest area in Thuringian Forest Nature Park; the Vessertal Biosphere Reserve also helps define the district. In the Rodachaue pasture landscape, the observation platform offers panoramic views across the meadows. Konik horses and Heck cattle contribute to the development of a natural landscape there.

The cultural highlights in the district offer a variety of experiences, too. Hennebergisches Museum Kloster Veßra is a six-hectare open-air museum with four themed areas: the history of the monastery, half-timbered architecture and everyday life in the Henneberg region, as well as agricultural technology and sustainability. The German Burgenmuseum at Veste Heldburg explores the history and culture of castles in Europe from the Middle Ages to the present day. Its permanent exhibition is designed as a route through the entire castle; along the way, visitors learn how castle construction changed from one era to the next and get to know Veste Heldburg.

If you’re interested in exploring, the district offers a range of options. The mill hiking trail in the municipality of Straufhain is about seven kilometers long and passes through an area where nine grain and sawmills once operated; information boards at the former mill sites provide details about them. In the district, the Werratal Cycle Path runs through the Werra floodplains and is especially popular for downstream cycling trips. The Werra Valley itself is ideal for hiking and cycling; downstream from Themar, it is also possible to explore by water.

Discover more destinations: Goldlauter, Henfstädt, Reurieth, Nahetal-Waldau, Ehrenberg, Straufhain, Veilsdorf, Fehrenbach

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Hildburghausen-Suhl.