Huguenot and Waldensian Trail, Bad Karlshafen-Ernsthausen stage

 Northern Hesse Adventure Area

 The Huguenot and Waldensian Trail leads through the deep green beech and oak forests of the Reinhardswald Forest, through the "Primeval Sababurg Forest," through romantic mill valleys, along the Weser floodplains, and through small half-timbered towns and villages. Visit Sleeping Beauty's fairytale castle, Sababurg, the former hunting lodge of the Landgraves of Hesse-Kassel, discover the Huguenot roots of the Grimm fairytales, and be enchanted by the special charm of the North Hessian Refuge! 

 This stage connects the oldest Huguenot and Waldensian colonies with their typical villages, churches, and museums. At the northern tip lies the Huguenot town of Bad Karlshafen, home to the German Huguenot Museum – would you have thought that this small port town on the Weser River would one day become Hesse's "Gateway to the World"?

 We recommend a detour to Kassel, the residence city of the Landgrave Carl of Hesse Kassel (1640-1730) who was the first sovereign to introduce an immigration law in April 1685 (Freedom Concession and Pardon) Many Huguenots from Alsace-Lorraine (the area surrounding Metz) settled here as early as 1685/86. Kassel's Oberneustadt was planned and built by the Huguenot du Ry family (1686-1799). Paul - (1640-1714), Charles - (1692-1757) and Simon Louis du Ry (1726-1799) were the responsible architects. Wilhelmshöhe Palace, built under the direction of the architect Simon Louis du Ry, is part of the World Heritage Site “Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe”.

 Burgwald-Kellerwald adventure area

Let yourself be enchanted by the breathtaking views and the endless silence in the Burgwald and Kellerwald National Park on this magical stage.Edersee with its extensive beech forests. A first-class hiking experience awaits you here: The trail leads along the premium hiking trail "Burgwaldpfad," from which you can explore the Todenhausen, Schwabendorf, Hertingshausen, and Louisendorf colonies, with their museums and archives, on circular routes. The Frankenhain and Treysa colonies are also linked to the Burgwald route via a loop. The trail continues into the northern Hessian mountains on the "Kellerwaldsteig" and "Urwaldsteig" quality trails.

Frankenberg was an important place of reference for the residents of the Louisendorf colony in its early years. Initially, the congregation had to endure a walk of more than an hour to attend services at the chapel of St. Georgenberg Monastery in Frankenberg. The Reformed pastor of Louisendorf also settled there.

The Frankenberg Local History Museum contains several exhibits on regional Huguenot history.

Contact:

Bahnhofstrasse 8 – 10

35066 Frankenberg (Eder)

Tel. 06451 / 743677 (only during opening hours)

Web: www.frankenberg.de