Christes: Archery Course, Basilica and Historic Village Centre
Accommodation in Christes
Christes combines an active attraction with historic village highlights: the 3D course at Bogenland adds an active element to your holiday plans, while the old village centre, basilica and Christus-Born offer points of interest in the area’s cultural history. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can first consider whether your days should revolve more around the course or the sights in the village.
Archery Course with Circular Route
The Bogenland 3D course comprises 30 stations and more than 100 animal decoys. The number of stations may change. The course is laid out as a 6.5-kilometre circular route and runs mainly through easy-to-walk terrain. This gives you two different figures to consider when planning: the number of stations indicates the scope of the course, while the kilometre figure indicates the length of the circular route.
The route description offers a guide to the character of the terrain; actual surface conditions may vary. So if you plan to walk the circular route, it is worth checking the current path conditions before your visit. For travellers looking for an outing with an archery course, Christes is not only a village with a historic appearance but also offers a clearly defined active attraction.
Village Centre, Basilica and Christus-Born
The old village centre of Christes, including Lindenhügel, has been protected as a historic monument since 1992. The Basilica of Our Lady dates from 1443. It is a three-aisled late Gothic basilica with a rectangular-ended choir. “Three-aisled” describes the division of the church interior into three aisles; together with the shape of the choir, the term gives a more precise picture of the building’s form. The year of construction provides another historical reference point for exploring Christes.
Another historical feature is the Christus-Born, a village fountain in Christes. Alongside the basilica and the protected village centre, it offers a distinct point of interest: here, the focus is not on church architecture but on a fountain as a historic part of the village. Together, these three themes offer different ways to explore local history without limiting your visit to a single building.
The Rennsteig-Dolmar wildlife park, not far from Christes, is another nearby option and a popular hiking destination. It complements the historic sights with an opportunity for a walk. If you include the wildlife park in your plans, check the current access conditions in advance.
More to explore in the wider Schmalkalden-Meiningen destination
The wider Schmalkalden-Meiningen destination also offers its own attractions, distinct from the sights in Christes. In Schmalkalden, visitors can experience nougat production at the Viba Nougat World’s glass-walled factory. Hands-on confectionery courses include moulding chocolate, decorating nougat and creating pralines. This is a different focus from archery courses or architectural history: here, the emphasis is on making and decorating confectionery. Course times and booking conditions may change; check them before making plans.
The Neue Hütte Blast Furnace Museum in Schmalkalden offers an industrial perspective on the region. The blast furnace complex dates from 1835; local iron ores were smelted there using charcoal to produce pig iron until 1924. The exhibition covers almost 1,300 years of the development of iron and steel goods production in the Schmalkalden region, including the well-known Schmalkalden articles. A 45-minute guided tour explores the history and function of the blast furnace operation. In Schmalkalden, visitors can therefore choose between nougat production and the history of iron smelting as distinct attractions.
Those who prefer to focus on nature and activity will find more options in the wider Schmalkalden-Meiningen destination. The Trusetal Waterfall plunges 60 metres over a granite formation in three cascades; visitors can also climb 228 steps beside the waterfall. The Schmalkalden-Meiningen district’s Prachtregion also encompasses the Thuringian Forest, the Rhön, the Werra Valley and the Grabfeld. These four landscapes can be explored on foot, whether for sporting adventures or relaxed family outings. The wider destination thus offers a range of options, from cultural and craft-related attractions to hiking and nature experiences.
When looking for a holiday apartment in Christes, it helps to weigh up what you want from your holiday: should the archery course be the main focus, would you like to explore the historic village sights, or are you also planning to visit attractions in the wider Schmalkalden-Meiningen destination? This makes it easier to choose the village based on the experiences you want to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Zella-Mehlis, Viernau, Bermbach, Oberhof, Kurort Brotterode, Floh-Seligenthal, Ellingshausen, Kühndorf.
Go to the wider travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.
