Klings: Rhön Circular Trail and Village History

Two local themes stand out for a trip to Klings: the Rhön Circular Trail, with wood art and dialect along the route, and the village church with its architectural history. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, these highlights can help you decide whether you would rather focus on hiking or cultural history. The wider travel destination of Kaltennordheim also offers other hiking and cultural themes.

Rhön Circular Trail and wood art

The Klings Rhön Circular Trail is 7.9 km long and starts at the community center. On a plateau, it follows the premium hiking trail “DER HOCHRHÖNER.” The route is part of the “Rhöner Holzkunstrouten” (Rhön Wood Art Routes) and passes sculptures on the themes of nature and hiking, as well as Rhön dialect steles. One of these is “Wanderrast,” a sculpture by Kerstin Genschow, a master wood sculptor from Klings. The route therefore appeals not only to hikers but also to visitors interested in wood art and the Rhön dialect. Check the local signs before setting out in case route details have changed.

Village church and Witch’s Linden

Klings village church was rebuilt in 1879 in the neo-Romanesque style and consecrated again. The date and architectural style provide a specific point of reference in the village’s building history. The Witch’s Linden is a separate site: this tree, about 800 years old and known from many legends, stands on the state border between Hesse and Thuringia, around 4 km from Klings. These are distinct themes: the history of a neo-Romanesque village church and a legendary tree in the surrounding area. The linden is a destination in its own right, outside Klings.

More hiking and cultural themes in the wider travel destination of Kaltennordheim

In the wider travel destination of Kaltennordheim, the Kaltennordheim 1 Rhön Circular Trail offers a comparison for planning your route: it is 11.0 km long, takes about four hours, is easy to moderate, and starts, among other places, at Kaltennordheim Town Hall. It is therefore longer than the 7.9 km route in Klings; the approximate duration and difficulty level are also specified for this Kaltennordheim trail. The Kaltennordheim 2 Rhön Circular Trail starts at the town hall and initially follows the Felda through the town. Parts of it pass through the approximately 50-hectare Große Hardt nature reserve.

The churches in Kaltennordheim also offer their own historical highlights. St. Kilian’s Church was built in the 14th century as the successor to a wooden church. St. Nicholas’s Church was built in 1597 as the second and larger church within the town. Together with Klings village church, rebuilt in 1879, these churches offer a view of different periods of construction. The “Auf alten Spuren” (“Following Old Tracks”) guided town tour includes St. Kilian’s Church, the historic old town and the surviving town wall; it is available on request.

Another cultural point of interest is the “Heiratsmarkt” (Marriage Market) in Kaltennordheim. It takes place every year at Pentecost and was first held in 1563. In the 19th century, it developed into a folk festival in the Thuringian Rhön. As the Pentecost dates vary from year to year, check the specific event dates before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Vacha, Bischofroda, Ettenhausen an der Suhl, Hallungen, Berka vor dem Hainich, Neidhartshausen, Unterbreizbach, Nazza

Back to the wider travel overview: Wartburg.