Küllstedt: Church, Half-Timbered Houses and Cycling Routes

Küllstedt combines local culture with opportunities for cycling and hiking. The parish church, the townscape shaped by numerous half-timbered houses, and other named sights offer a different focus from the cycling and hiking options. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you mainly want to learn about the local architecture and history or devote part of your stay to a route. This makes it possible to consider the town’s distinctive features in terms of culture, landscape and activity.

Church and Local History

The parish church of St. George and Juliana is the largest village church in the Eichsfeld. It was built in 1930 and has a Baroque high altar dating from 1756. The altar therefore comes from an earlier period than the church building. The church is also part of the Südeichsfeld Nativity Scene Trail, which holds an annual house nativity scene exhibition. The specific exhibition dates may vary. So if you would like to plan your trip around the Nativity Scene Trail or the exhibition, check the relevant dates in advance. This will help you distinguish between the church’s features and the recurring annual exhibition when planning your visit.

Küllstedt’s sights also include the Stations of the Cross with its Grotto of Olives and St. Anthony’s Chapel. The Boniface Cross dates from the 11th century. The townscape is shaped by numerous half-timbered houses, and the Chestnut Avenue is designated a natural monument. These features offer different points of interest: the Stations of the Cross include grottos and a chapel, the cross provides a historical landmark, while the half-timbered houses shape the town’s appearance and the Chestnut Avenue is designated a natural monument.

Cycling and Hiking

A cycling route of around 33 kilometres runs along the disused Leinefelde–Treysa railway line, passing through Küllstedt and Lengenfeld unterm Stein before reaching Frieda on the Werra. Its approximate length gives an idea of the route’s scale, while the towns named indicate its general course. A notable individual structure is the Küllstedt Tunnel on the Kanonenbahn cycling route: at 1,530 metres, it is the longest of the five railway tunnels along this route. The route and tunnel figures therefore describe different scales—the length of a cycling route and that of a single tunnel.

The TOP Westerwald hiking trail is listed as a named hiking route in Küllstedt. A circular route runs over Madeberg, the Küllstedt locals’ 498.4-metre-high local mountain. The mountain is therefore a specific landscape feature mentioned in the description of this circular route. As trail conditions can change, it is a good idea to check the route’s current condition before setting out. This way, you can take into account both the named hiking trail and the information about the circular route over Madeberg, without assuming a route length.

Practical Visit Planning

There is a rail-trolley transfer station at the former Küllstedt railway station. If you are interested, ask about current options for using it in advance. The station is a reminder of the area’s former railway infrastructure; current operating or booking options should be checked separately.

The local history museum is located at Pfarrer-Horstkemper-Platz 4, 37359 Küllstedt. Visits must be arranged by appointment at 036075 56891. As the appointment arrangements may change, it is advisable to confirm your appointment in advance. The fixed address and the need to arrange an appointment are therefore important points to keep in mind if you would like to include the local history museum in your visit.

Regional Excursions in the Eichsfeld

The Eichsfeld also offers a regional perspective on history and culture. The Eichsfeld Museum, housed in the Baroque Jesuit college in Heilbad Heiligenstadt, provides information on the Eichsfeld’s history, culture, religious life and folklore across three floors. Bodenstein Castle was first mentioned in documents in 1098 and stands on a mountain spur of the Ohm Mountains. The museum and castle represent different historical themes in the Eichsfeld, complementing the view of Küllstedt’s sights and trails.

Discover more destinations: Gernrode, Kirchworbis, Geismar, Uder, Schimberg, Marth, Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Leinefelde-Worbis.

Back to the regional travel overview: Eichsfeld.