OK, I get that not everyone likes the same thing. Except if you’re traveling or living in Germany, then you likely like all things German (right?). A true German experience would bring you to the Thuringian town of Wutha-Farnroda.
And it isn’t just about its buildings, like the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) in Farnroda, that’s now a library and tourist office. No, it’s about its cultural events and its incredibly stunning countryside — like over at the Hörselberge, from where you have a great view over the Thuringian Forest.
FYI, the current Town Hall isn’t just where all the town’s administration goes on. Every six months it’s also where art exhibits change.
For a minute though, I am going to tell you about its old buildings. I’m just sad to say by the time I wrote this the old castle was gone. It was built in the 13th century, and rebuilt again two centuries later. Too bad the former owners let dryrot destroy its half-timbered construction, and it was torn down back in the late 1990s. However, the Schlossturm (Castle Tower) a.k.a. Wasserburg Farnroda is still there.
Wutha-Farnroda has one of the prettiest church exteriors I’ve seen. The church in Mosbach (one of the town’s 4 villages, which has less than 1400 residents) has this black capped, wide tower Lutheran church. It’s everything you could ask for in a village church.
So is the Dorfkirche (Village Church) in Deubach, come to think of it.
I’d be disappointed if Wutha-Farnroda didn’t have a museum — why not, it’s got just about everything else? Anyway, the Hörselberg Museum (housed in a pretty half-timbered building) in Schönau has all kinds of exhibits on the local flora & fauna, its geography, and the nearby Hörselberge with its two caves: the Venushöhle and the Tannhäuserhöhle.
There are cultural events in Wutha-Farnroda, too. A very popular one is the Kinderfasching (Children’s Carnival), as is the Schlossparkfest (Castle Park Festival) in early June, and the Backfrauenfest (Baker Girl’s Festival) in mid-September.
Just when you think there isn’t anything left, there’s the Tag des offenen Denkmals (Heritage Day) and the Mühlentag (Mill Day) on Whit Monday, the Kräutersonntag (Herbs Sunday) on the following Sunday (loved by kids), and the Erntedankfest or Harvest Festival in the Fall.
Didn’t I say you’d get a true German experience? And I bet you’ll love every minute of it in Wutha-Farnroda.
