Oberthulba offers two distinct focal points for planning your trip: the Extratour Thulbataler and the town’s history, which can be traced through its church, chapel and other architectural landmarks. This lets you decide whether hiking or historic architecture will be the main focus of your stay.
Hiking the Extratour Thulbataler
The 10.6 km-long Extratour Thulbataler starts at the market square in Oberthulba. The bus stop “Zum Hellbach” in Oberthulba provides access; from there, an approximately 200 m-long, unmarked footpath leads to the starting point. If you travel by bus, check the current service for your travel day. You should also check the route conditions before setting off.
The route includes a peaceful section through the woods directly alongside the Thulba. The Extratour is located in the Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the “Core Zones in the Bavarian Part of the Rhön Biosphere Reserve” nature reserve. If you are deciding where to travel based on scenery and protected areas, you’ll find a clear focus on nature here alongside the town’s history.
Architectural history in Oberthulba
The construction dates of St. John’s Catholic parish church differ considerably: the church tower dates from 1464. Its upper storey was added under Julius Echter in 1608; the present church building was constructed in 1854. These three dates distinguish the tower, its later addition and the present church building chronologically.
There are historic architectural landmarks beyond the parish church, too. The Catholic Freyden Chapel was built in 1728; above its west entrance is the coat of arms of Christoph Franz von Hutten, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg. A wayside shrine dating from 1657 stands on Hammelburger Straße at the edge of Oberthulba. Remains of the village wall can be found at the corner of Kapellenstraße and Obere Torstraße. At Marktplatz 7 stands the former municipal inn with a courtroom, a gabled-roof building with a volute gable dating from 1652. A gabled roof has two sloping roof surfaces that meet at the ridge; the volute gable is distinguished by its curved forms. This makes it possible to identify specific features of the building’s design, as well as its former use.
Choose the focus of your stay
When looking for a hotel in Oberthulba, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: the hiking route or the town’s history. The Extratour is defined by its length and its starting point at the market square; the architectural history can be explored through dated buildings and their varied forms. Before setting out on your hike, check both bus services and current route conditions.
Regional setting: Bad Kissingen
In the wider Bad Kissingen travel destination, Bad Kissingen district lies at the southern edge of the Rhön. The A 7 between Fulda and Würzburg and the A 71 between Erfurt and Schweinfurt cross the district from north to south. These details provide regional context at district level.
Discover more destinations: Ramsthal, Bad Bocklet, Euerdorf, Schondra, Motten, Hammelburg, Maßbach, Wartmannsroth
Back to the main travel overview: Bad Kissingen.
