Frankenberg (Eder): Historic Old Town and Nature Experiences

Town Hall, Church and Historic Buildings

The late Gothic Historic Town Hall stands in the old town between Liebfrauenkirche and Steinhaus. The building has ten towers. Construction of the third town hall began in 1509; it was intended to resemble a predecessor building that had burned down. The woodwork on the town hall is also remarkable: the Knaggen, or brackets, support the central bay windows on the south, north and west sides. They are considered masterpieces of medieval woodcarving.

The present Liebfrauenkirche was built from 1286 onward. Its Marienkapelle is a late Gothic gem that can only be accessed from the outside. This makes this part of a visit different from viewing the façades and architectural features outside the chapel.

The Hexenturm was built in the 13th century and is the only surviving one of the 20 defensive towers that originally formed part of Frankenberg’s town fortifications. A platform at the top can be reached by climbing around 50 steps. If you are planning to climb it, check the local access arrangements in advance. Another historic site is the former St. Georgenberg Monastery, which now houses the Museum im Kloster Frankenberg.

Saturday Markets in the Town Hall and Schirn

The weekly market takes place on Saturdays in the hall of the Historic Town Hall. The Landfrauenmarkt is also held on Saturdays: it takes place every Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Schirn of the ten-towered town hall. If you are planning a market visit, it is a good idea to check the date again before your trip. The information about the location and time helps you fit the market into a Saturday in Frankenberg.

Circular Trail and Wildlife Park

The premium Frankenberger Blickwinkel urban hiking trail is a circular route of around nine kilometres. It connects the town’s sights with opportunities to experience nature, making it a way to combine both on one route. The approximate distance gives you a guide for planning; no walking time or difficulty level is specified.

At Frankenberg Wildlife Park, visitors can see wild boar, deer, sheep and goats up close. Admission is free. The park is open around the clock every day, so you can schedule a visit differently from an activity with set market hours.

More Activities for Your Stay

Ederberglandbad has an indoor pool and an outdoor pool. It is located right next to Frankenberg’s local recreation centre, “Teichgelände”. If you would like to include swimming in your plans, check the current opening hours before your visit; specific times or prices are not included in this description of the area.

At the entrance to the Hohenäcker quarry near Frankenberg-Rodenbach, there is an information pavilion and a fossil-hammering area for children. Bring a hammer or similar tool for fossil hammering. This is a specific point to prepare for this visit and makes it a different kind of outing from exploring the historic buildings.

When looking for hotels or accommodation in Frankenberg (Eder), it may help to decide first what you would most like to focus on during your stay: architecture and museums, walking the circular trail, seeing animals at the wildlife park, or visiting the pool or fossil-hammering area. A market visit requires a particular day of the week; at the Hexenturm, you should consider access to the platform.

Discover more destinations: Rengershausen, Willingen, Bromskirchen, Hatzfeld, Battenberg, Diemelsee, Korbach.

Back to the main travel overview: Waldeck-Frankenberg.