For many generations, the people living between the Harz Mountains and the Thuringian Forest have been used to absorbing cultural influences from all directions and giving them their own character. The architectural styles from Gothic to historicism, regional characteristics from Lower Saxony to southern Germany and, last but not least, the purpose of the buildings, from representative town halls to day laborers' houses, have created a wealth of half-timbered designs that have developed over a period of 600 years.

For example, the strictly structured half-timbered construction and the palmette are clearly noticeable features of Lower Saxony half-timbering in Stolberg and Worbis. In Wanfried, once the end point of the historic Werra-Weser shipping route, these influences in particular are clearly visible in the half-timbering. The former "potash town" of Bleicherode is a rare example of the brief revival of half-timbered construction at the end of the 19th century.

Thuringian ladder and "Wilder Mann" as structural half-timbered elements gain importance from Mühlhausen via the Werrabogen to Treffurt.
The spa and rose town of Bad Langensalza not only impresses with its parks, but also with its extensive half-timbered buildings, which are enriched by baroque stucco façades. Finally, Schmalkalden is dominated by a special style characterized by Hessian and Franconian elements.

On their journey, visitors can admire lovingly restored half-timbered buildings and a multitude of stone witnesses to history in all eight towns, walk in the footsteps of historical personalities, enjoy the hospitality of the locals and relax in a varied low mountain landscape, in which the Wartburg-Hainich World Heritage region is also embedded.

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