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Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis

Südeichsfeld

Kirchenruine Katharinenberg

Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis

Südeichsfeld

Kirchenruine Katharinenberg

Highlight • Religious Site

Kirchenruine Katharinenberg

Recommended by 60 hikers out of 63

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Location: Südeichsfeld, Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany

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Best Hikes to Kirchenruine Katharinenberg

4.3

(10)

hikers

1. Kirchenruine Katharinenberg – Wetterkreuz Katharinenberg loop from Faulungen

6.12km

01:44

130m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.7

(7)

hikers

2. Kimm's Ruh Viewpoint – Green Belt loop from Katharinenberg

16.0km

04:32

350m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

5.0

(3)

hikers

3. Katharinenberg Church Ruins – Wetterkreuz Katharinenberg loop from Wendehausen

7.84km

02:12

150m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

Andrea und Huskys 🐺

July 18, 2025

The centerpiece of this pilgrimage church, begun in 1520 but never completed on the site of a previous chapel dating from 1462, was originally intended to be the "Holy Grave," a stone sculpture group secretly "acquired" by the local noble von Harstall family. The work of art was originally intended for a pilgrimage church near Eisenach, but never arrived. The Lords of Harstall had the work buried in the Hainich forest, where it remained hidden for more than fifty years. When it became apparent that the construction of the pilgrimage church would never be completed, the "Holy Grave" was placed in the Diedorf church around 1600, where it remains the main attraction to this day.

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Franzl wandert 🥾

June 26, 2025

The Katharinenberg church ruins are a very romantic ensemble. Only the choir of the planned pilgrimage church was ever converted. The interior of the church never had a roof.

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Wandertourist

May 3, 2025

The church ruins were planned as a pilgrimage church, but even then, they remained in ruins. The reason for this was that construction of this church began on St. Catherine's Hill in 1520. However, when major peasant uprisings broke out in the region in 1525, it was apparently destroyed. By the time the uprisings were over, the local rulers had converted to the new, Lutheran faith. The construction of the church was never completed. Only the church tower was expanded and maintained, as it served as a watchtower.

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Details

Informations

Elevation 460 m

Weather

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Wednesday 22 October

14°C

11°C

100 %

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Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

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Location: Südeichsfeld, Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis, Thuringia, Germany

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Kirchenruine Katharinenberg

1. Kirchenruine Katharinenberg – Wetterkreuz Katharinenberg loop from Faulungen

2. Kimm's Ruh Viewpoint – Green Belt loop from Katharinenberg

3. Katharinenberg Church Ruins – Wetterkreuz Katharinenberg loop from Wendehausen

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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