To the northwestern edge of Thuringia sits the historic Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis. Perching on the Hainich National Park — which became the 13th National Park in 1997 — and on the Unstrut River, giving the district its name.
The surrounding countryside is farmland and forest and filled with pretty villages hiding in the hills.
Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis Map
Towns & Villages in the Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis
- Altengottern
- Anrode
- Bad Langensalza
- Bad Tennstedt
- Ballhausen
- Blankenburg (Thur.)
- Bothenheilingen
- Bruchstedt
- Dünwald
- Flarchheim
- Großengottern
- Großvargula
- Haussömmern
- Herbsleben
- Heroldishausen
- Hornsömmern
- Issersheilingen
- Kammerforst (Thur.)
- Kirchheilingen
- Kleinwelsbach
- Klettstedt
- Körner
- Kutzleben
- Marolterode
- Menteroda
- Mittelsömmern
- Mühlhausen (Thur.)
- Mülverstedt
- Neunheilingen
- Obermehler
- Oppershausen
- Schlotheim
- Schönstedt
- Südeichsfeld
- Sundhausen
- Tottleben
- Unstruttal
- Urleben
- Vogtei
- Weberstedt
- Weinbergen
The capital town of Mühlhausen sits in the center of the district, to the east of the huge nature park Eichfeld-Hainich-Werratal. This ancient town still resides within its town walls and has several remaining defensive gates.
You have to walk around this town to be able to soak up the amazing architecture here — and make sure you take your time — there is plenty to see. Among the buildings worth a visit is the Divi Blasii church, where Johann Sebastian Bach once played the organ.
Bad Langensalza has a medieval heart as well. It is balanced on a hill and has slowly grown around a central castle. It has always had its sulphur baths to attract visitors, and more recently salt and mineral springs have been discovered multiplying the attraction to this part of the Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis.