The best city hikes and walks in Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis

A small, underestimated gem on the Unstrut cycle path... definitely plan time for this town with its Japanese Garden, beautiful old town and stylish gastronomy...

The mill was first documented in 1631. In 1679, it was rebuilt and subsequently used as both a tanning mill and a grinding mill. The mill wheel remained until 1958. The building complex still exists today: in 1994, the main building was renovated and converted into residential units. The southern, historic half-timbered building now houses commercial spaces, and a millstone is displayed in front of the building.

The inner, oldest city wall of Mühlhausen was almost 2.8 kilometers long (of which 2.2 kilometers are preserved to this day) and enclosed an area of around 50 hectares. This area had the shape of a slightly rounded and not entirely regular rectangle, whose maximum east-west extent is almost twice as long (1000 meters) as its maximum north-south extent (500 meters). Its original structure included the four main gates, namely the Görmartor in the northeast, the Erfurter Tor in the southeast, the Felchtaer Tor in the southwest, and the Frauentor, named after the Marienkirche (=Frauenkirche), in the northwest, as well as probably four posterns: the Eselspforte and the Burgpforte on the north side, and the - unnamed - postern at the exit of Brunnenkreßstraße and another, only inferred, postern to Spielbergstraße on the south side. It is unclear whether the original main access to the castle via Breitenstraße was already closed with the construction of the wall between the castle and the city before 1251 or only after the demolition of the castle from 1256 onwards. As material for the inner (and later also outer) city wall, including the gates and towers, the travertine found in Mühlhausen and quarried here was used, a geologically young freshwater limestone. The inner city wall was constructed as a double-shell masonry. Its thickness up to the height of the rampart varies between approximately 1.5 meters and - reached only exceptionally - a maximum of 2 meters. Source: https://www.muehlhausen.de/tourismus/erkunden/sehenswuerdigkeiten/besondere-baudenkmaeler/stadtmauer/

The church is the parish church of the Mühlhausen old town and was gifted to the Teutonic Order in 1227. The current building was constructed between 1270 and 1300 as an early Gothic hall church, influenced by French cathedral architecture. It possesses significant art-historical elements such as a rose window, medieval stained glass, a late Gothic carved altar, and tomb slabs of important personalities. After the Reformation, religious expressions changed, and much of the original furnishings were lost. The west towers still date from the predecessor building and house historical bells. The church also developed into an important center for Protestant church music, with a peak in the work of Johann Sebastian Bach in the early 18th century.

From the Hohen Graben, visitors enjoy a beautiful view of the imposing double-towered St. James' Church. Construction of the present-day St. James' Church began around 1280. An inscription, now lost, attributes the imperial figure in the arch of the north portal to Henry VII. Another inscription names 1363 as the year of completion of the church. The motif of the unequal couple is taken up in the impressive tower group completed in 1418. After the Reformation, the church seems to have been used only sporadically. It lost almost all its furnishings in the last century. St. James' Church was extensively renovated from 1992 to 2004 with financial support from the state of Thuringia, the federal-state program "Urban Monument Protection," and the German Foundation for Monument Protection. Since April 2004, St. James' Church has housed the city library with a children's library and a sound library. Interesting for visitors: so-called "Archaeological Windows" provide insights into the church's construction history. Source: https://www.thueringen.info/kultur/muehlhausen-stadtbibliothek-jakobikirche/

The old town of Mühlhausen is one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Germany and is an important cultural and historical testimony. It is characterized primarily by its almost completely preserved city walls, numerous churches, and a dense network of historic streets and half-timbered houses. A striking feature of the old town is the impressive city fortifications with their towers and gates, which extend over several kilometers. To this day, they convey an impression of Mühlhausen's former importance as a free imperial city in the Middle Ages. Within these walls, a vibrant urban center developed, shaped by trade, crafts, and religious life. Particularly noticeable is the large number of churches, which is why Mühlhausen is often referred to as the "City of Churches." Among the most famous buildings are the Marienkirche, an impressive Gothic structure, and the Divi-Blasii-Kirche, which is closely associated with the work of Johann Sebastian Bach. These churches bear witness to the city's religious and cultural significance in past centuries. The old town also played an important role during the Reformation and the German Peasants' War. Particularly noteworthy is the reformer Thomas Müntzer, who worked in Mühlhausen and made the city a center of social and religious upheaval. In addition to the grand buildings, numerous well-preserved half-timbered houses, narrow alleys, and historic squares shape the cityscape. The central market square with the town hall forms the heart of the old town and remains an important meeting place to this day. Many buildings date from different centuries and show the architectural development of the city. Today, the old town of Mühlhausen is a popular destination for tourists and history enthusiasts. Museums, events, and guided tours offer an insight into the city's eventful past. At the same time, it is a living part of modern urban life, where history and the present are connected in a special way.

The house is a gem with a richly decorated facade on Mühlhäuser Untermarkt. After a comprehensive renovation, it shines again in its new splendor. about the history: The "Tilesius House" at Untermarkt 16 was built in 1729 in the Rococo style. The resident Adolph Gottlieb Tilesius was the last mayor (1794-1802) of the Free Imperial City of Mühlhausen. He was buried in 1802 in the New Cemetery on Eisenacher Straße. Beneath the house are even older vaulted cellars from the predecessor building. During the GDR era, the Department of Public Education of the District Council was located here. Source: https://www.muehlhausen.de/tourismus/sehenswuerdigkeiten/buerger-und-fachwerkhaeuser/

The associated parking lot is on the 1st floor of the "Trabantenhaus"!