Unterelsbach between the Saueiche Oak, Circular Trails and a Rhön Village Church

Unterelsbach combines a distinctive historic townscape with several circular trails and annually recurring events. The routes range from a circular trail lasting several hours and a hiking trail to paths featuring a stream, a natural monument and mountain views. Added to these are St. Simon and Judas Church, the Saueiche Festival and the Saueichelauf.

Historic townscape: St. Simon and Judas Thaddaeus Church stands on a hill and has shaped the appearance of the Rhön village of Unterelsbach from afar for centuries.

Circular tour lasting several hours: The Rhön Circular Trail 1 "Five Districts" can be started at the sports field in Unterelsbach. It is 15.9 kilometres long and takes about 5.5 hours.

Starting point at the butterfly nature trail: The Rhön Circular Trail 8 "Hart Forest and Hundsrücken" starts at the car park of the butterfly nature trail on the road to Unterelsbach.

Hiking trail: The Rhön Circular Trail 9 "Butterfly Nature Trail" is designated as a hiking trail.

Saueiche Oak as a destination: The Rhön Circular Trail 10 "To the Saueiche Oak" starts at the sports field in Unterelsbach.

Annual events: The Saueiche Festival takes place every year on Ascension Day. The Saueichelauf run organized by TSV Unterelsbach takes place every year in June.

Church and village history

The listed Church of St. Simon and Judas is a former chancel-tower church and is now a hall church with a recessed western choir. Its eastern tower has a pointed roof. The medieval barrel-vaulted ground floor of the chancel tower has been preserved inside the tower. The tower was renovated in a post-Gothic style between 1615 and 1617. The nave is distinguished by its gable roof, while the choir has a hipped roof dating from 1810.

The roof structure also features unusual architectural characteristics that impressed even experienced experts.

Landscape along trails and at rest areas

The Rhön Circular Trail 8 follows the Elsbach along part of its route. The Rhön Circular Trail 10 leads to the natural monument "Saueiche Oak", which is located at a rest area.

This circular trail also offers open views of Kreuzberg near Bischofsheim and of Himmeldunkberg. Particularly striking there is the treeless, "bald" summit. The varied routes of the Saueiche Run also run mostly along field and forest paths. The main race offers views of Kreuzberg and Heidelstein.

Events and guided tours

The Saueiche Festival is organized by the Unterelsbach branch association of the Rhön Club on Ascension Day. On this day, hikers are invited to stop at the large old oak tree and are served food and drinks. The Saueichelauf is a running event organized by TSV Unterelsbach that takes place every year in June. Anyone who enjoys natural forms of movement can take part.

Michael Tulit is based in Unterelsbach. The certified nature and landscape guide offers guided tours focusing on the Long Rhön. These include the Hochrhön Tour, guided tours through the Black Moor and tours around Gangolfsberg.

Routes by length and focus

The trails in and around Unterelsbach differ in their starting points and focuses. With its specified length and duration, the Rhön Circular Trail 1 offers a predictable tour lasting several hours. The focus of Rhön Circular Trail 8 is on the butterfly nature trail, the car park on the road to Unterelsbach and the Elsbach. Rhön Circular Trail 10 combines its start at the sports field with a natural monument, a rest area and viewpoints.

If you would then like to compare Unterelsbach with other places, you can also view Weisbach and Sondernau.

To the overarching travel overview: Oberelsbach.