Vachdorf: Half-timbered Houses, Hutturm Tower and Krayenberg

Half-Timbered Houses and the History of the Fortified Church

Many farms and half-timbered houses shape Vachdorf’s townscape. The Hutturm Tower is the last of what were probably four inner corner towers of Vachdorf’s fortified church. After it burned down in 1918, it stood without a roof for 88 years and was rebuilt in 2006; today it is 18.70 metres high. The sequence of the fire, the long period without a roof and the rebuilding gives the fortified church a tangible historical dimension.

Hiking at Krayenberg

The 3.2 km circular “Der Krayen” hiking trail starts at the foot of Krayenberg, Vachdorf’s local mountain. At the highest point, on a clear day, views extend to the mountains of the Thuringian Forest and the hills of the Thuringian Rhön. Along the trail are rock cellars built by Vachdorf farmers in the 19th century to store supplies and protect the harvest from flooding of the Werra. At Krayenberg, the local heritage association maintains the dry grassland slope, which is part of the Upper Werra Valley Cultural and Landscape Park. Another hike, Vachdorf–Wachenbrunn, starts in Vachdorf along part of the first stage of the Celtic Adventure Trail. This gives you a choice between a circular trail with views and another way to join a named hiking route.

Festivals Throughout the Year

Annual highlights of cultural life in Vachdorf include the carnival season, with its Büttenabend variety show, the sports festival, the Krayn Festival and the St John’s Festival. Vachdorf’s traditional costume fair lasts three days and takes place in late autumn. If you would like to combine your stay with a festival, check the specific event dates before travelling.

Cycling, Getting There and Holiday Apartments

The Werra Valley Cycle Route passes through Vachdorf on its stage between Hildburghausen and Meiningen. When planning your outings, you can choose between the 3.2 km circular “Der Krayen” hiking trail and the cycling stage that passes through Vachdorf between two towns. Check for current notices about possible restrictions before setting out on a cycling tour.

Vachdorf can be reached via the B 89 or by the Werra Railway between Meiningen and Eisfeld. If travelling by train, check the current timetable. When looking for a holiday apartment, it may help to consider what you would like to focus on: would you rather include local cultural life, hiking trails or a cycling tour in your plans?

More to Explore in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen Destination

Within the wider Schmalkalden-Meiningen destination, Schmalkalden has its own special appeal: at the Viba Nougat World, visitors can watch soft, melt-in-the-mouth nougat being made in a glass-walled workshop. Hands-on confectionery courses include moulding chocolate, decorating nougat and creating pralines. The “Neue Hütte” blast furnace museum is a blast furnace complex dating from 1835, where local iron ores were smelted into pig iron using charcoal until 1924. The exhibitions cover the nearly 1,300-year history of iron and steel goods production in the Schmalkalden region, including the “Schmalkalder Artikel” (Schmalkalden products). Course times and booking conditions for the confectionery activities may change; check them before making plans.

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Back to the destination overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.