Kapellendorf and its moated castle

Moated castle, museum and castle courtyard

Kapellendorf Moated Castle is considered the largest and best-preserved moated castle in Thuringia. A museum inside the castle tells its story. This gives your visit a specific historical focus: the history of the moated castle itself.

The castle grounds, with their information pavilion and signposted walking tour, can be visited free of charge. The marked route gives your visit a clear structure, while the information pavilion complements the tour. Closures due to construction work may apply. Check operating status before your visit.

The castle courtyard also has a cultural role of its own: it hosts annual open-air theatre performances by the Kurz- und Kleinkunstbühne. If a performance is important to your trip, check the dates in advance. This will help you distinguish a visit to the grounds from a planned theatre evening.

Weimarer Land: routes, culture and regional cuisine

In the wider Weimarer Land destination, the Thuringian Three Towers Trail offers a different way to experience the landscape. This circular hiking trail passes through the protected landscape of the Middle Ilm Valley in southern Weimarer Land. It connects the Paulinenturm near Bad Berka, the Hainturm in Belvederer Forst near Weimar and the Carolinenturm near Blankenhain.

The Goethe Adventure Trail adds a literary dimension: it follows Goethe’s route to Charlotte von Stein and features twelve activity stations combining nature and culture. It also connects Weimar and Großkochberg. By comparison, the Three Towers Trail focuses on a circular route featuring its three named towers, while the Goethe Adventure Trail centres on Goethe and the sequence of stations.

For Nordic walking, the VitalParcours Bad Berka offers routes through the varied landscapes of Weimarer Land. Its four routes in total were certified as quality trails by the German Nordic Walking Association in 2011. Check trail conditions before setting out.

The museums also cover a range of subjects. The GlockenStadtMuseum Apolda explores the cultural history of bells and the region’s textile industry. The permanent exhibition at the Coudray-Haus Bad Berka covers 200 years of the development of spa and healthcare facilities in Bad Berka. Since 1995, Kunsthaus Apolda Avantgarde has hosted exhibitions by international and regional artists; its programme also includes lectures, auctions, book readings and film screenings. Check opening hours and current event dates before visiting.

You can get hands-on with regional food culture at the Thuringian Dumpling Museum: at the dumpling cookery school and potato pancake school, you can prepare Thuringian classics. Seminars or training sessions for up to 80 people can be booked year-round. Arrange your booking and date in advance.

Choose a holiday apartment to suit your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment, it can be important to decide whether Kapellendorf Moated Castle is the main reason for your trip or whether you also plan to visit routes, museums and culinary attractions in Weimarer Land. If the castle is the focus of your trip, start your search in Kapellendorf. For a broader itinerary, choose your accommodation location based on which regional destinations will shape your trip, and check which places make a suitable base for your specific planned visits.

Discover more destinations: Blankenhain, Bad Berka, Bad Sulza, Possendorf, Lehnstedt, Gaberndorf, Kranichfeld, Mellingen.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Weimarer Land.