Walking, hiking and nature destinations

Goals in nature

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Mühlhausen city forest

The Mühlhäuser Stadtwald with its extensive and convenient network of paths is a popular destination for hiking and recreation. The "Weißes Haus" hikers' car park is an ideal starting point. Especially worth seeing are the sequoia trees, which can be found at various places in the municipal forest. The Mühlhausen municipal forest is with 3093 ha forest area the largest municipal forest in the Free State of Thuringia. It is integrated into the Eichsfeld Hainich Werratal Nature Park and borders on the Hainich National Park. The "Mühlhäuser Holzfahrt", an annual folk festival held in June, documents the close ties between the people of Mühlhausen and the Mühlhausen municipal forest.

Address

Weiße-Haus-Chausee
99974 Mühlhausen

Sequoia trees in the Mühlhausen municipal forest

The Mühlhausen city forest with its extensive and convenient network of trails is a popular destination for hiking and recreation. The "Weißes Haus" hikers' parking lot is an ideal starting point. The sequoia trees, which can be found in various places in the city forest, are particularly worth seeing. Redwood trees reach a height of 120 meters in North America. In 1884, the city's chief forester E. Brehme established a planting garden with sequoias and other foreign trees on the Torfgrubenweg.

Address

Waldfrieden 1
99974 Mühlhausen

Thomas Pond

The lake is located about one kilometer southwest of Mühlhausen, south of the Swan Pond on the Thomaswiese. To the south is the Weidensee estate. The source of the Thomasteich is the Felchtaer Bach, which flows into the Unstrut.

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The Thomas pond was excavated in 1607 in the headwaters of a brook. When in 1901 the Thomas spring was created on a small hill to the north-east of the pond, it was additionally strengthened with karst water. This is why scattered fir fronds can be seen in the lake water today. The Thomas pond has been designated as an area nature monument and is the property of the Mühlhausen anglers' association. The Unstrut-Werra cycle path leads from Mühlhausen directly past the pond.

Address

Heyeröder Landstraße
99974 Mühlhausen

Spittel fountain in the Mühlhausen city forest

The Spittel fountain is a hunger well, i.e. a periodically water-bearing karst spring, in the north of the Hainich near Mühlhausen in Thuringia.

The Spittel fountain, which only pours after prolonged downpours, is located in the...

The Spittel fountain is a hunger well, i.e. a periodically water-bearing karst spring, in the north of the Hainich near Mühlhausen in Thuringia.

The Spittel fountain, which only pours after prolonged downpours, is located in the Mühlhausen city forest and is lined with shell limestone blocks. The well has a diameter of about one and a half meters and is about two meters deep. The well takes its name from the village of Spudelborn, which was formerly located there and was abandoned as early as the 13th century. The outflowing Spittelgraben runs to the east and merges with the Felchtaer Bach, a tributary of the Unstrut, near Weidensee.

Address

99974 Mühlhausen

Mühlhäuser Landgraben

The Mühlhäuser Landgraben combines nature and history over a length of 26 kilometers to a wonderful hiking experience. Already in prehistoric and early historic times, Germanic settlers sought protection from invaders and conquerors from the north and west through the precursor of the moat. Later, fortifications consisting of ramparts and ditches served to protect the imperial city of Mühlhausen.

Address

Recreation area at the swan pond

Charmingly situated on the outskirts of the town of Mühlhausen, the area around the Swan Pond offers a variety of opportunities to be active. A boat rental service rents out rowing boats and water pedals from May to September. Small guests can use attractive playgrounds, distributed on the area. A walk is possible around the Schwanenteich or to the nearby Brunnenhaus Popperode. Cycling and hiking trails, a café and a nearby campsite with pitches for caravans and a tent meadow are available for visitors to use. Since 2020, the newly built outdoor pool can also be used.

Address

Schwanenteichallee 33
99974 Mühlhausen

Rennstieg in Hainich

The 31.3 km long Rennstieg through the Hainich is a traditional high and courier trail, which was first mentioned in 1448 as "Rynneweg". Due to its comparatively short distance, it is also called the "little brother" of the Rennsteig. The hike on the Rennstieg is called a Runst, just like its "big brother". The Waldverein Mühlhausen 1882 e.V. began in the 19th century to explore, mark and hike this trail as far as Craula. In 1928, the hiking enthusiasts of the "Harthgemeinde" marked it with the white, underlined R and extended the trail to Behringen. In the same year the first continuous "Rennstieg-Runst" took place.

The 2nd World War and the further military use afterwards prevented the continuous walk. Since 1993, thanks to the efforts of some members of the Rennsteigverein 1896 e.V., the Rennstieg is again accessible to all hiking friends.

On October 9 and 10, 1993, the first Runst could be carried out again after 51 years.

Address

Hainichlandweg - 1st stage from Weberstedt to Kammerforst

1st stage: Weberstedt to Kammerforst (15 km)

On the 1st stage of the Hainichlandweg you will see impressively how nature reclaims a military training area that has been used for decades within a very short time. On the Brunstal...

1st stage: Weberstedt to Kammerforst (15 km)

On the 1st stage of the Hainichlandweg you will see impressively how nature reclaims a military training area that has been used for decades within a very short time. On the Brunstal adventure trail you can test your strength. You will hike through the core zone of the national park. With the "Betteleiche" you discover the heart of the Hainich.

Marking: colorful beech leaf and red dot on white square.
Condition of the trails: Nature trail (7.6 km), path (7.1 km), gravel path (1.3 km)
Requirements: good physical condition; suitable for families; suitable for hikers 12 years and older

Other destinations on this stage:

Weberstedt: Goldacker Castle, "Hainich Zauber" play barn, heated outdoor pool
Niederdorla: geographic center of Germany, Vogtei sacrificial bog
Kammerforst: Zilling damask forge, Kley display pottery, Klingbrunnen fountain, wildcat children's forest, environmental education station

Address

Hainichlandweg - 2nd stage from Kammerforst to Struth

Stage 2: Kammerforst to Struth

On this stage you will get to know the historical bailiwick. In the Mühlhausen city forest you will roam through the largest municipal forest in Thuringia. Afterwards you will cover a small section...

Stage 2: Kammerforst to Struth

Marking: colorful beech leaf and red dot on white square
Condition of the trails: path (7.4 km), nature trail (5.4 km), gravel path (4.8 km), asphalt (1.5 km), road (0.4 km)
Requirements: good physical condition; suitable for families; suitable for hikers 12 years and older

Other destinations on this stage:

Mühlhausen: with walkable battlements on the city wall and the second largest sacred building in Thuringia, the Marienkirche.

Address

bicycle trolley Lengenfeld unterm Stein

Experience a ride with the bicycle trolley on one of the most beautiful railway lines in Germany. Just behind the station Lengenfeld unterm Stein the ride with the trolley goes over the 244 m long and 24 m high Lengenfeld Viaduct. This unique monument is an engineering masterpiece of the late 19th century. In the Obereichsfeld - a region in northern Thuringia - west of Mühlhausen - in the romantic valleys of the Frieda and Lutter, one of the most impressive railway lines in Germany winds its way through mountains and valleys. From Dingelstädt to Frieda, the railway once passed through 6 tunnels and crossed 4 viaducts, in particular the unique viaduct spanning the entire village of Lengenfeld unterm Stein.

Address

Bahnhofstraße 43
99976 Lengenfeld unterm Stein

geographical center of Germany

Scholars are still arguing. But in Thuringia, they've long been certain: The center of Germany lies in Vogtei, a small community near Hainich National Park that can charm with all kinds of attractions. Draw two lines on a map of Germany - one from the northernmost point to the southernmost, one from the easternmost to the westernmost. They will intersect pretty much exactly in Niederdorla, where an old linden tree marks the geographic center of Germany. Every year, the midpoint festival is celebrated here. Just a few kilometers away, however, all modern measurement methodology is beside the point. In the famous Opfermoor, an ancient Germanic settlement tells of life long before our time.

Address

Weisenheimer Weg
99986 Niederdorla

Opfermoor Vogtei

During extensive excavations between 1957 and 1964, archaeologists found the relics of a prehistoric cult site on the edge of a lake north of Niederdorla. The rituals began in the 6th century B.C. Today, an open-air museum stands on this site, vividly documenting the history of the cult site from the Iron Age to the Migration Period. The site comprises ten faithfully reconstructed sanctuaries, a settlement from the time of the Germanic tribes and a museum in wooden construction, in which numerous finds such as ceramics and cult objects are exhibited.

Address

Schleifweg 11
99986 Niederdorla

Tours

Mühlhausen city forest - circular hiking trail to the sequoia trees

The circular hiking trail leads you to the probably highest mountain sequoia trees in Thuringia, which were planted in 1834 by the then head forester Eduard Brehme. Tree species: Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) Age: 135... show more

Starting point Hiking parking lot Prinzenhaus
End point Hiking parking lot Prinzenhaus

Small city tour of Mühlhausen

Starting point Town Hall, Ratsstrasse 19
End point Town Hall, Ratsstrasse 19

Grand city walk through Mühlhausen

The tour starts at the Historic Town Hall, whose history goes back more than 700 years. The building complex has been structurally extended again and again and therefore represents different style epochs. During a tour, you can discover the imposing town hall hall, the large council chamber and the Imperial City Archive with its extensive collection. If you follow the Ratsstraße, you will come to the Kornmarkt with the former monastery church "St. Crucis". Today, the Kornmarktkirche houses the German Peasants' War Memorial with an exhibition on the history of the Reformation. The romantic monastery garden, designed according to ideas by Albertus Magnus, adjoins the church and can be visited alongside the exhibition. Through Linsenstraße, a picturesque little shopping street with local shops, you reach Untermarkt. This important square is dominated by the Divi Blasii Church, the main church of the Lower Town. It was the place of work of Johann Sebastian Bach from 1707-1708 and houses the Schuke organ built according to his disposition. Numerous concerts and cultural events take place here. On the lower market square, there are "time ribbons" that provide information about the most important historical events in Mühlhausen's town history. The tour continues across Kristanplatz to the Kulturhistorisches Museum, the main building of Mühlhausen's museums with exhibitions on the town's history, archaeology and Thuringian art of the 20th century as well as changing special exhibitions. As a former grammar school, the building was erected directly on the historic city wall at the end of the 19th century. From the park behind it at Lindenbühl, you can admire the almost completely preserved city wall with its defence towers. Along the wall, in a westerly direction, you reach Lentzeplatz and the Hoher Graben, which additionally served to defend the city in the Middle Ages. Today, the walk on the rampart provides a beautiful overview of the city and the nearby Jakobikirche. Alternatively, a low barrier route leads below the Hoher Graben to the Blobach. Once at Blobach, you have a beautiful view of the historic fortifications with Frauentor and Rabenturm. The Frauentor is the only one of the former city gates of the inner city wall that has been preserved. In the immediate vicinity, from Herrenstraße/Holzstraße, is the stairway to the city wall, which can be walked over a length of approx. 370 metres. The tour continues through Herrenstrasse, with its numerous historic half-timbered houses, to St. Mary's Church. After Erfurt Cathedral, this five-nave Gothic hall church is the largest church with the highest steeple (approx. 87m) in Thuringia. As the former workplace of Thomas Müntzer, the building is now used as a museum and houses, among other things, an exhibition on the life's work of the reformer. The elaborately designed south portal of the church is particularly worth seeing. Steinweg extends in front of you and invites you to go shopping. Already an important trade route since the Middle Ages, local shops and buildings from various historical eras can still be found here today. The path continues past the All Saints' Church, which belongs to the Mühlhausen museums and is located on the lower Steinweg. The Gothic church has Baroque furnishings and is used for exhibitions. However, it is currently closed due to construction work. From the lower Steinweg, you continue to Görmarstraße and the "Persiluhr", which is well-known in Mühlhausen. Not far behind the clock on the right is the Kilianikirche, which is used by the Mühlhausen theatre workshop 3K as a venue for theatre performances. Now follow Görmarstraße back to Röblingstraße, named after Johann August Röbling, a native of Mühlhausen and builder of the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge in New York. A bronze statue was erected in his memory on the Untermarkt. Right next to it, embedded in the ground of the square, are so-called time bands that provide information about the most important historical events in Mühlhausen's town history. The tour continues through Brückenstraße to the Entenbühl fountain, designed by Mühlhausen sculptor Walter Krause. You walk past the car park to the stream and keep to the left. From there, the path "Auf dem Damme" continues along the "Schwemmnotte", the "Schwellenbach", which used to supply many of Mühlhausen's namesake mills with water. You now enter the former tanners' quarter with many traditional half-timbered houses and the characteristic open attics that used to be used for drying leather. At the end of Kuttelgasse is an idyllic square that is often used for events. From here you can catch a glimpse of the Mühlhausen synagogue, a so-called backhouse synagogue. Follow Linsenstraße to the left again for a bit and then turn right into "Neue Straße", which ends in front of the Historic Town Hall, the starting point of our circular walk.

Starting point Town Hall, Ratsstrasse 19
End point Town Hall, Ratsstrasse 19

Round tour from the historic old town of Mühlhausen to the "Zum Löwen" monument

This tour starts at the Tourist Information Centre at Ratsstraße 20 and takes you to the Mühlhäuser Stadtberg, where you can enjoy an attractive panoramic view of the town. In the immediate vicinity of the Tourist Information Centre is the historic building complex of the town hall, a unique ensemble of buildings in the middle of the old town. Particularly worth seeing are the town hall hall, the large council chamber with Gothic paintings and the Imperial Town Archive (1614). The Peasant War Museum in the Kornmarkt Church has an exhibition on the Reformation and the Peasant War. The former monastery church "St. Crucis" impresses with its simple architecture determined by measure and proportion. Also worth seeing is the monastery garden in the former cloister, which was designed according to historical models. The route continues to Untermarkt with the Protestant parish church Divi Blasii. It was built by the Teutonic Order in the 13th and 14th centuries. Today it is a place of worship, concert hall, memorial and exhibition venue at the same time. Johann Sebastian Bach was organist in this church in 1707/1708. Via Kristanplatz, past the church house with the Annen Chapel, you come to the Museum of Cultural History. The main building of the Mühlhausen museums shows an exhibition on the city's history, archaeology and Thuringian art of the 20th century. The building was originally erected between 1868 and 1870 as a grammar school in the neo-Renaissance style. Since the founding of a local history museum in 1928, however, it has been used primarily as a museum. From Kristanplatz, walk through the city wall in the direction of Lindenbühl and cross a zebra crossing. Here you will find numerous 19th-century town houses worth seeing and a lovingly tended park along the town wall. Follow Lindenbühl to the right in the direction of Thüringentherme until you turn left into Spielbergstraße, cross Brunnenstraße at the traffic lights and follow Spielbergstraße to Friedensstraße. Turn left and walk uphill on Friedensstraße directly towards the "Mühlhäuser Lion" monument. On the right-hand side there is a path that leads to the platform. From here you have an attractive panoramic view of the town and the surrounding area (Eichsfeld). The way back is via Beethovenweg and Eckermannweg to Schillerweg, which you follow to the right until it joins Eisenacher Straße. TIP: Here you have the opportunity to make a short detour to the Old Cemetery/Jewish Cemetery. The tour leads downhill and always straight ahead to the lower town. Via Brunnenkreßstraße you come to Untermarkt. After crossing the street, continue to the left and after a short while turn right into Linsenstraße. Via Neue Straße on the left, you reach the town hall and the starting point, the Tourist Information Mühlhausen, in the immediate vicinity.

Starting point Tourist Information Mühlhausen
End point Tourist Information Mühlhausen

Tour from the historic old town of Mühlhausen to the New Cemetery (BUGA - outdoor site 2021)

This tour starts at the Tourist Information Centre at Ratsstraße 20 and takes you to the New Cemetery, the most important cemetery in Thuringia from a horticultural point of view. In the immediate vicinity of the Tourist Information Centre is the historic building complex of the town hall, a unique ensemble of buildings in the middle of the old town. Particularly worth seeing are the town hall hall, the large council chamber with Gothic paintings and the imperial town archives (1614). The Peasant War Museum in the Kornmarkt Church has an exhibition on the Reformation and the Peasant War. The former monastery church "St. Crucis" impresses with its simple architecture determined by measure and proportion. Also worth seeing is the monastery garden in the former cloister, which was designed according to historical models. The route continues to Untermarkt with the Protestant parish church Divi Blasii. It was built by the Teutonic Order in the 13th and 14th centuries. Today it is a place of worship, concert hall, memorial and exhibition venue at the same time. Johann Sebastian Bach was organist in this church in 1707/1708. Via Kristanplatz, past the church house with the Annen Chapel, you come to the Museum of Cultural History. The main building of the Mühlhausen museums shows an exhibition on the city's history, archaeology and Thuringian art of the 20th century. The building was originally erected between 1868 and 1870 as a grammar school in the neo-Renaissance style. Since the founding of a local history museum in 1928, however, it has been used primarily as a museum. From Kristanplatz, walk through the city wall in the direction of Lindenbühl and follow the path in the park, along the city wall, to the left. Along the Lindenbühl are numerous 19th century town houses worth seeing. When you reach Brunnkreßstraße, keep to the right and follow Eisenacher Straße uphill to the end. Here you turn right into Eisenacher Landstraße. Follow this road until you see the entrance to the cemetery on your left. Now you can explore the new cemetery. You can find a tour recommendation at: https://out.ac/HuwKX . For the return journey, you can use the public bus service.

Starting point Tourist Information Mühlhausen
End point Entrance New Cemetery Mühlhausen

Mühlhäuser Landgraben

The Mühlhäuser Landgraben is a monument of special value. Its construction was started in the middle of the 14th century. A system of ditches, ramparts, gates, and guards was intended to protect the territory of the Free Imperial City to the west and north from the frequent predatory raids of the Eichsfeld and neighboring nobility. Further land defences adjoined the Mühlhäuser Landgraben. Today, the complex has a recognizable total length of about 25 km and is 8 to 12 km away from the city. It begins 2 km south of Eigenrieden in the Hoherode (Mühlhäuser Stadtwald), swings in a wide arc to the north and ends 1 km east of Sollstedt in the Mühlhäuser Hardt. The extension of the fortification was a heavy burden for the peasants of the imperial villages. With interruptions, the fortification was maintained until about 1800, but brought a certain and longed-for security. The 8 guards at the road gates are no longer preserved. The tower at the Lengefelder Warte can still be seen. Tower stumps with partly later brickwork are preserved at the Eigenrieder and Eigenröder Warte. Due to the distances of the control rooms from the town, intermediate control rooms were necessary in the district for the transmission of smoke and fire signals. The control posts of this type have decayed. More than 100 boundary stones still exist. Most of them stand on the outside of the moat and bear the coat of arms of the Mühlhaue on the side facing the city and the Mainz wheel on the outside. All other stones are mainly younger forest and hunting stones. The carvings are interesting and varied. Abbreviations and symbols are evidence of German small states: Kingdom of Prussia, Duchy of Saxony-Gotha, Principality of Schwarzburg, Principality of Schwarzburg Sondershausen. The Saxon coat of arms and the Prussian eagle can also be found. In total there are almost 600 stones at the moat. Special features are the 3 stone crosses and a three lord stone. Marking: white Mühlaue with ditch profile for Mühlhauser Landgraben, parallel red six-spoked wheel on white background (Eichsfeld-Wanderweg). The section from Menteroda to Mühlhäuser Landgraben is marked with a yellow line.

Starting point 1.5 km before Sollstedt
End point Eigenrieden (Hohenrode)

Service

Hiking car park Weißes Haus

The Weißes Haus hikers' parking lot is an ideal starting point for hikes through the Mühlhausen city forest. A special attraction in the Mühlhäuser Stadtwald are the sequoia trees.

Address

Weiße-Haus-Chaussee
99974 Mühlhausen

Hiking car park Prinzenhaus

The hikers' parking lot is an ideal starting point for hikes through the Mühlhäuser Stadtwald. A special attraction in the Mühlhäuser Stadtwald are the sequoia trees.

Address

Am Stadtwald
99974 Mühlhausen

Hiking car park Peterhof

The hikers' parking lot is an ideal starting point for hikes through the Mühlhäuser Stadtwald. A special attraction in the Mühlhäuser Stadtwald are the sequoia trees.

Address

Sankt Nikolai 203
99974 Mühlhausen