Kleinschmalkalden: Cowbell, Vulkansteig and Kirmes

Kleinschmalkalden combines an unusual attraction with a hiking trail that begins and ends there: the village is home to a bell described as the world’s largest cowbell. There are also two churches belonging to the local parish and a Kirmes (church fair) that begins every year in August. Together, these bring a striking landmark, a geological hiking theme and a local festival tradition into focus. The wider Floh-Seligenthal destination adds further hiking, landscape and leisure options to the interests of the village.

Cowbell and Vulkansteig

The Kleinschmalkalden Vulkansteig is a family-friendly circular hiking trail. It starts and ends on Friedrichrodaer Straße, by the cowbell at an altitude of 453 m; along the hike, you can learn about the region’s volcanism. This makes the trail a clearly defined circular route with a geological theme. In the wider Floh-Seligenthal destination, the cowbell is located in the village of Kleinschmalkalden. It was made by the locally based Venter-Glocken GmbH, which received an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for it.

Churches and an annual festival

The Gothaische Kirche Kleinschmalkalden and the Hessische Kirche Kleinschmalkalden belong to the Kleinschmalkalden parish. The Kleinschmalkalden Kirmes is a church dedication festival that begins every year in August. If you want to take the local festival tradition into account when choosing your travel dates, this recurring period can serve as a guide; check the exact event date before your trip. In the wider Floh-Seligenthal destination, the Bergseefest at Bergsee Ebertswiese also takes place every year, one week after the summer solstice. Music by local music associations and choirs is part of the event, as is a programme organised by local clubs.

Hiking and scenery in the Floh-Seligenthal destination

For longer hikes, the wider Floh-Seligenthal destination offers further points of reference. The Große Haderholzroute is 11 km long and leads between Seligenthal and Kleinschmalkalden to geological features and viewpoints around Haderholzstein. The Höhnberg-Runde is a moderately difficult circular route of 14.3 km, with an estimated walking time of around three hours and an ascent of 286 m. At 3.3 km longer than the Haderholzroute, it can also be compared by estimated time and elevation gain. The Höhnberg-Runde follows historic paths through spruce and mixed forests to the mountain ridge, follows the Rennsteig for a while, then crosses mountain meadows and valleys.

The Ebertswiese offers a different perspective on the landscape in the wider Floh-Seligenthal destination. The mountain lake was formed by quarrying and lies between rock faces up to 30 m high. Ebertswiese is also a mountain meadow with several varieties of wild orchids and globeflowers. When planning an excursion, you can distinguish between the rocky setting by the lake and the named plant life of the mountain meadow.

Water activities and practical information

The wider Floh-Seligenthal destination also offers places to swim. The Kleinschmalkalden forest swimming pool has around 1,250 m² of water surface and 50 m lanes. There is also a solar-heated outdoor pool on the edge of Struth-Helmershof, with pools for swimmers and non-swimmers, a water slide and a children’s paddling pool. The outdoor pools are seasonal; check that they are open before your trip. This lets you add swimming to a hiking or cultural itinerary if the season matches your travel dates.

For planning in the wider Floh-Seligenthal destination, the tourist information office provides local information, event and bus timetables, and hiking and cycling maps. Floh-Seligenthal can be reached by bus and train; check routes and timetables before travelling. If your priorities are the cowbell, the Vulkansteig, the churches and the Kleinschmalkalden Kirmes, focus your search for a holiday apartment on Kleinschmalkalden.

Discover more destinations: Sülzfeld, Vachdorf, Birx, Erbenhausen, Brotterode-Trusetal, Kurort Brotterode, Obermaßfeld-Grimmenthal, Schwallungen

Back to the wider travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.