Veilsdorf: Routes and the History of Porcelain

Veilsdorf offers two clearly defined themes to consider when planning a trip: routes through the municipality and historical connections to churches and porcelain. The Werra Valley Cycle Route and the Werra-Burgen-Steig trail run through the municipality; the Thuringian Porcelain Route also passes through Veilsdorf. For cyclists, the Werra Valley Cycle Route is the route explicitly designated for cycling. The other two routes have their own distinct themes.

Churches and the History of Porcelain

St. Vitus Church in Veilsdorf was first mentioned in a document in 1308. Trinity Church was built in 1604; after its construction, St. Vitus served as a cemetery church. These two dates place the church history in a clear chronological sequence: the early documentary mention of St. Vitus was followed by the construction of Trinity Church and the later use of the older church as a cemetery church.

Another historical focus is Kloster Veilsdorf. In 1760, Prince Eugene of Hildburghausen, Duke of Saxony, founded a porcelain manufactory there in the buildings of the monastery administration. The former ducal forester’s lodge in Kloster Veilsdorf was built in 1762 in connection with the manufactory founded by Prince Eugene of Saxe-Hildburghausen. An information panel about the Kloster Veilsdorf porcelain works stands in front of an old monastery cellar. Together, the manufactory’s history, the forester’s lodge and the panel offer different insights into the local connections to porcelain production.

Landscape and Activities in Hildburghausen District

As a wider travel destination, Hildburghausen district offers its own regional setting: it is an important part of the Thuringian Forest recreation region. It includes a continuous forest area in Thuringian Forest Nature Park; the district is also shaped, among other things, by Vessertal Biosphere Reserve. In the Rodachaue pasture landscape, panoramic views extend across the meadows from the roof of the observation platform. Konik horses and Heck cattle contribute to the development of a near-natural landscape there.

Activities in the district vary by route and season. The Mill Hiking Trail in the municipality of Straufhain is about 7 km long and passes through an area where nine grain and sawmills once operated. Information panels at the former mill sites provide details about the facilities. In Masserberg, visitors who enjoy winter sports can find more than 70 km of cross-country ski trails, as well as numerous ski touring routes. Trail lengths and grooming can vary seasonally. If you prefer cycling to hiking or winter sports, the Werra Valley Cycle Route runs through the district along the Werra floodplains; it is especially popular for downstream cycling tours. Hiking and cycling are possible in the Werra Valley, and water tours are also possible downstream from Themar.

Museums and Culture in Hildburghausen District

The district’s museums also cover a range of topics. The 6-hectare Hennebergisches Museum Kloster Veßra is divided into four themed areas: monastery history; half-timbered architecture and the everyday history of the Henneberg region; and agricultural technology and sustainability. The German Castle Museum at Veste Heldburg explores 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 fortress and shows how castle construction changed from one era to the next.

The Two Countries Museum Rodachtal opened in November 2009 and takes visitors on a journey through the 20th century in the Rodachtal border region. The Natural History Museum has a vaulted room with a suit of armour, two-handed swords and large-format Secco murals depicting the legend of Hercules, dating from around 1600. In Hildburghausen, visitors can also trace the history of the preserved palace garden: laid out as a Baroque garden around 1700, it was transformed into a landscape park around 1780. These varied themes offer further ideas if you would like to include Hildburghausen district in your travel plans alongside Veilsdorf’s routes and history.

Discover more destinations: Goldlauter, Bischofrod, Fehrenbach, Heldburger Unterland, Sankt Kilian, Schleusingerneundorf, Langenbach, Auengrund

For the wider travel overview: Hildburghausen-Suhl.