Discover Körner: Monastic Life, Animals and Cycling Route

Monastic history and a vibrant site

The former Cistercian Church of St. Mary in Volkenroda was consecrated in 1150. On the monastery grounds, the Christ Pavilion stands alongside it, using a different palette of materials: steel, glass, exposed concrete and marble. Services and prayer times are held daily in the monastery church. During the summer months, the Christ Pavilion is used for Sunday services and daily midday prayers. If you would like to plan your visit around a prayer time, check the current schedule in advance.

The farmers’ market is also seasonal: from March to November, it takes place on the first Saturday of every month at Volkenroda Monastery Estate. Check the specific dates before your trip. This way, you can plan your market visit and explore the grounds at the same time.

Animals, hands-on activities and quiet moments

Visitors can see raccoons at the school farm in Volkenroda. At the farm, children and families can get up close to goats, rabbits, donkeys and other animals. Another way to explore is the newly opened Discovery Barn at the school farm, where children and young people can experience animals up close, explore nature, investigate, play and try things out.

Those who prefer to get creative themselves can enjoy free-form woodworking in the Open Studio. Nativity-scene building courses are also offered in the run-up to Christmas. For a quieter interlude, the “Ausweg” meditation trail starts directly behind the farm; its stations invite you to pause and reflect. The animal activities, studio and trail each offer a different focus, so you can shape your stay around your interests without having to follow a set programme.

Planning your visit and accommodation in Körner

The Christ Pavilion, the monastery church and other buildings on the monastery grounds are accessible by wheelchair and pushchair via step-free routes. Conditions at individual entrances may change. If a particular entrance is important for your visit, check in advance. Coffee is available at the monastery gatehouse and in the monastery shop; if you plan to rely on it, check shortly beforehand that it is available. Pilgrims can stay overnight in simple, low-cost accommodation at the pilgrims’ hostel. Confirm availability before travelling.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Körner, it is worth checking the exact location: the monastery and farm activities are in Volkenroda, while the Unstrut-Werra Cycle Route passes through Körner. Choose based on which experiences matter most to you, and check the address of each accommodation. That way, you can compare actual locations rather than assumed distances, and base your search on the activities you have planned.

More perspectives in the wider Unstrut-Hainich destination

In the wider Unstrut-Hainich destination, the treetop walkway offers a view of nature from above. You can walk 24 metres above the Hainich canopy; from the treehouse, the view stretches across Hainich National Park. Visitors who are not afraid of heights can climb the treetop walkway’s tower to a platform 40 metres up. From there, the view extends across the Hainich to the Thuringian Basin. These heights refer to different viewpoints: the walkway over the canopy and the tower platform.

The National Park Centre at Thiemsburg presents its exhibition through films, large-scale image panels, interactive stations and other interactive features. A fully accessible media guide is also available for the visit; tablets and headphones can be borrowed. A cultural contrast is offered by Mühlhausen’s historic features: eleven medieval churches and 2.2 kilometres of the oldest, inner city wall remain there. These regional options complement the monastery and farm activities in Volkenroda with different themes, without conflating them with experiences in Körner.

Discover more destinations: Sundhausen, Rodeberg, Heyerode, Niederdorla, Kammerforst, Kutzleben, Mühlhausen/Thüringen, Altengottern.

Back to the wider travel overview: Unstrut-Hainich.