Jesberg between the Princesses’ Garden and leisure activities
Accommodation in Jesberg
Jesberg offers several distinct reasons to stay: the history of the Princesses’ Garden dates back to the 18th century, while leisure grounds, an obstacle course, a skate park and hiking trails add active pursuits to the itinerary. There are also events on the castle grounds and local shops offering regional and seasonal products. When looking for a holiday apartment in Jesberg, you can consider whether historic sites, leisure activities or destinations in the Schwalm-Eder district should shape your stay.
The Princesses’ Garden and castle grounds
The Princesses’ Garden lies southeast of Jesberg, in what is now the Jesberg State Forest. It was created between 1723 and 1753 at the request of Maximilian’s four daughters: Friederike (1722–1787), Charlotte (1725–1782), Wilhelmine (1726–1808) and Karoline (1732–1759). The specific period in which it was created and its connection to the four sisters make the garden’s history a distinct cultural topic for anyone interested in the historical side of a destination.
Events are held every year on the new castle grounds in Jesberg. These include the Day of Castles and Palaces, various concerts, the wine festival and the castle flea market. The events offer different highlights, from music to market activities. If you would like to plan your visit around a particular event, check the dates.
The Schloßberg features an event area, a newly built music pavilion, a circular hiking trail, a car park and sanitary facilities. These amenities complement the cultural events with other features of the grounds; they are described separately from the programme on the new castle grounds.
Leisure and activity
The leisure centre near the campsite offers several opportunities for sporting activities: football, basketball and tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, a modern adventure playground, and a boccia and boules court. The options range from ball games to boules. This lets you choose between different ways to stay active when planning your day, rather than being limited to a single activity.
The Ninja Warrior course at the Jesberg leisure centre opened on 14 October 2023. On the 32-metre-long course, visitors can test their agility and strength at eight stations. The skate park at the leisure centre has five different features, two of which have additional safety bars. Check the local access conditions for these facilities before your visit.
The Kellerwald Tower on the Wüstegarten should be considered separately. It has 123 steps. Its ground floor serves as a shelter and is equipped with benches and information boards about the Kellerwald’s flora, fauna, geology and history. The boards cover a range of topics: nature, geological history and the history of the Kellerwald.
One hike starts at the “Gilsatal” hiking car park near the Jesberg leisure centre. It crosses the Hemberg, a ridge in the Gilserberg Heights, descends towards Densberg and the Gilsa, then returns to Jesberg. The route thus links several named landscapes and places. If you plan to hike it, check local trail conditions before setting off.
Regional products in town
For your shopping, the local Edeka supermarket in Jesberg offers regional and seasonal products from local farmers and producers. This may be of interest if you value these kinds of products during your stay. The specific range available in the supermarket may change.
More places to explore in the Schwalm-Eder district
The wider destination of the Schwalm-Eder district also offers its own landscapes, cultural attractions and excursions. Its low mountain landscapes include the areas around Knüll, Kellerwald and Habichtswald. Near Fritzlar-Lohne is the Steinkammergrabrunde, an easy 4.90-kilometre circular trail designated Nature Park Circular Trail L1. Another option for cyclists is the Schwalm Cycle Route: it is around 100 kilometres long and runs to the point where the Schwalm flows into the Eder, shortly before Felsberg. The route runs mostly on paved or surfaced paths through river landscapes of meadows, fields, villages and half-timbered towns.
Museums in the Schwalm-Eder district also cover a range of subjects. The Malerstübchen Museum in Willingshausen explores 19th- and 20th-century art history and displays paintings featuring the Schwalm costume. It also presents traditional Schwalm crafts, including whitework embroidery, knitting and spinning. Expert-led tours also include talks about the artists’ colony and its artists, Schwalm customs, crafts and whitework embroidery.
At the Museum of the Schwalm in Schwalmstadt-Ziegenhain, a reconstructed pottery workshop displays the ceramics and pottery traditionally made in the region. The museum also houses a large model of the Ziegenhain water fortress. It shows the fortress as it stood in 1761, after it was shelled during the Seven Years’ War. The exhibitions thus offer a different perspective from the art and craft themes in Willingshausen.
In Guxhagen, a permanent exhibition in the tithe barn at the Breitenau Memorial commemorates events of the Nazi era. Its educational programme includes guided tours, walks, talks and readings. The Schwalm-Eder district therefore offers everything from landscapes and outdoor activities to art, crafts and historical commemoration.
Discover more destinations
Gudensberg, Guxhagen, Fritzlar, Schwarzenborn, Borken, Bad Zwesten, Frielendorf
Back to the main travel guide: Schwalm-Eder district.
