Neustadt (Hessen): Discover the Tower, History and Trails

Junker Hansen Tower and Town History

The Junker Hansen Tower is open for visits from March to November on the first Sunday of each month, from 3 to 5 pm; admission is free. Visits can also be arranged by appointment. You can arrange themed tours with the municipal council of the town of Neustadt (Hessen). As opening hours and admission conditions may change, check the latest visitor information before your visit.

The tower’s permanent exhibition covers the historic town in the Marburg region and the history of Neustadt from the Stone Age to the present day. The districts of Mengsberg, Momberg and Speckswinkel are also among the exhibition’s topics. Anyone interested in the town’s development will find a historical overview here that extends far beyond individual buildings. Two of the so-called castle residences in Neustadt still remain today.

The approximately two-hour Neustadt tour starts at the market square in front of the old town hall. It includes visits to the Catholic Church and the Junker Hansen Tower, both inside and out; the guides provide relevant information at each stop. Confirm the current dates with the guide. This lets you plan a guided town tour at a different time from a visit to the tower during its regular opening hours.

Circular Routes on Foot and by Bike

The 11-kilometre Gaukler Loop leads from the Junker Hansen Tower through the Maculinea FFH protected area to Gleimenhain. The return route runs through the Otterbach Valley to Neustadt’s Bürgerpark. The loop links named places and varied sections of landscape; check the latest route information before setting out. Another walking option is the “Fairy-Tale Herrenwald” route, which leads from Neustadt to the middle of the Herrenwald forest and back. Its walking symbol is a bear’s paw.

For a cycling trip, there is the approximately 18-kilometre Junker Hansen Loop. It starts and ends at Neustadt station and passes through the districts. Unlike the Gaukler Loop, it is described as a cycling route; its approximate length and start and end points provide an initial guide for planning your day.

In Mengsberg, a district of the municipality of Neustadt, the nature trail starts and ends at the recreational and sports grounds at Engelshain. The approximately three-kilometre circular route “Around Engelhain” lies north of the village and, according to its description, is suitable for younger nature lovers and older walkers. Along the way, the route passes from the hornbeam coppice forest, home to a population of stag beetles, via the children’s forest and the Tree of the Year enclosure to the forest nature trail and the orchard meadow. It passes Erlenbruch and Lindenplatz before returning to the starting point. According to the tour description, there is ample parking at the recreational and sports grounds.

The routes differ in length, mode of transport and course: the Gaukler Loop and the Herrenwald route are walking options, the Junker Hansen Loop is a cycling route, and Mengsberg offers a nature trail with specified target groups. When choosing your holiday apartment, first consider whether hikes, cycling trips or the nature trail in Mengsberg should shape your holiday. The Rotkäppchen Bad is recommended as an alternative when the weather outside is unpleasant.

More to Discover in the Marburg-Biedenkopf Destination

The wider Marburg-Biedenkopf destination offers additional nature and cultural attractions. Non-motorised boats, including stand-up paddleboards and canoes, are permitted on the Perfstausee reservoir. A walking path suitable for prams runs around the lake and is open year-round. Facilities described there include charging stations for e-bikes, a bicycle repair station and ample free parking. Water activities and a walk can therefore be considered as different interests when planning your regional itinerary.

In Biedenkopf, the museum in the castle presents 900 years of cultural history from the Hinterland region across 1,000 square metres. In Biedenkopf-Eckelshausen, the Schartenhof, a half-timbered building more than 300 years old, is of historical significance and now serves as a centre for art, culture and music. It hosts seasonal exhibitions featuring works from the region as well as painting, photography, graphic art and sculpture; the Schartenhof also offers puppet theatre performances of classical operas. These examples add further cultural and nature-related attractions in the wider destination to the tower, town history and routes of Neustadt.

Discover more destinations: Steffenberg, Cölbe, Fronhausen, Caldern, Ebsdorfergrund, Rauischholzhausen, Marburg an der Lahn, Biedenkopf.

Go to the wider travel overview: Marburg-Biedenkopf.