Those choosing Ottrau as a travel destination will find specific points of interest for nature and culture. The “Historic Borders” route passes springs and historic boundary stones and skirts the “Immichenhain Ponds” protected area. In Immichenhain, the building history of the former monastery church and a striking village view add to the experience; in Ottrau-Schorbach, the Steinmühle Mill Museum offers a distinctive highlight.
Nature Reserve and “Historic Borders” Route
The “Immichenhain Ponds” cover about 23.2 hectares and have been protected since 1985. Since 2008, the same area has also been designated as a Natura 2000 Special Area of Conservation (SAC), with identical boundaries and name. The “Historic Borders” route is just under ten kilometers long. It highlights historic boundary stones, some of which date back to at least the 16th century, and passes four springs in the Immichenhain district.
The route also skirts the nature reserve, which originally comprised seven small lakes. This brings two distinct themes together on the same route: the boundary stones offer a historical perspective, while the ponds draw attention to the protected landscape. If you plan your trip around specific interests in nature and history, this combination offers a clear focus without requiring a longer circular tour.
Village Views and the History of the Monastery Church
From the “Immichenhain View” bench, you can look out over the village of Immichenhain, with the chapel of the former monastery and the buildings of today’s state domain. In the direction of Schrecksbach, the Bodenbach valley opens up. The view brings together the village, the monastery’s history and the present-day state domain buildings in one specific viewpoint.
The former monastery church in Immichenhain was built in the Gothic style at the beginning of the 13th century. It retains wall paintings from the first half of the 14th century. Large 17th-century epitaphs reveal part of the family history of the Lords of Diede. These surviving features span the church’s construction, medieval painting and later family memorials.
The baptismal font offers another architectural point of interest: its rounded arches, ornaments and figures in the Romanesque style suggest that it is older than the church itself. This is an interpretation based on its design. Together with the construction date, wall paintings and epitaphs, the font offers another perspective on the church interior’s long history.
SteinmĂĽhle Mill Museum in Ottrau-Schorbach
The Steinmühle Mill Museum is located in Ottrau-Schorbach, right beside the railway cycle path. The museum includes an outdoor area, a sawmill and a waterwheel. It complements the history of the church and village with milling technology and the associated facilities. By prior arrangement, guests can be served coffee and “Schwalm sheet cake” or a savory sausage snack. If you plan to include refreshments, arrange them in advance.
More Themes in the Wider Destination of Schwalm-Eder District
The Schwalm-Eder District encompasses upland landscapes around the KnĂĽll, Kellerwald and Habichtswald ranges. Other distinct cultural attractions in the wider destination include the MalerstĂĽbchen Museum in Willingshausen and the Schwalm Museum in Schwalmstadt-Ziegenhain. These regional examples complement a visit to Ottrau without replacing its local sights.
The Malerstübchen Museum explores 19th- and 20th-century art history and displays paintings featuring Schwalm traditional dress. The rural crafts represented there include whitework embroidery, knitting and spinning. Guided by an expert, visitors can attend talks about the artists’ colony and its artists, Schwalm customs and crafts. At the Schwalm Museum, a reconstructed pottery workshop showcases the ceramics and pottery traditionally made in the region. The museum also houses a large-scale model of the Ziegenhain water fortress, showing its condition in 1761 after it was bombarded during the Seven Years’ War.
Discover more destinations: WeiĂźenborn, Schrecksbach, Felsberg, Borken, Frielendorf, Neukirchen, Wabern, Gudensberg.
Back to the overview of the wider destination: Schwalm-Eder District.
