In Waldeck-Frankenberg, the options range from multi-day hikes to exhibitions and buildings with clearly defined themes. The ancient beech forests in Kellerwald-Edersee National Park represent natural heritage; the Urwaldsteig offers a longer hike, while the GeoFoyer, National Park Centre and historic sites offer other points of interest.
Forest and long-distance hiking
The ancient beech forests of Kellerwald-Edersee National Park have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 2011. If you would like to focus your stay more on hiking, you can hike the 66-kilometre Urwaldsteig Edersee in eight stages, or experience the route as part of a three-day ranger hike, with around 22 kilometres per stage. This gives you a choice of two differently structured options: eight stages, or three days with a specified distance per stage. If you are planning the ranger hike, check the current programme before your trip.
Exhibitions and local history
At the GeoFoyer Kalkturm Korbach, two very different time periods come together: the exhibition presents the landscape and forms of life around Korbach 250 million years ago. It also explores the extraction and processing of limestone and its industrial use in the quarry for over 100 years. The Kellerwald National Park Centre in Vöhl-Herzhausen on Lake Edersee has a different focus. Its offerings include an interactive exhibition with exhibits on the wilderness of the Kellerwald and a 4D sensory film about the wilderness and its wildlife.
Frankenberg (Eder) Historic Town Hall is a half-timbered town hall dating from 1509. Its ten towers represent the town’s ten guilds. The weekly farmers’ market is a regular reason to visit: it takes place every Saturday in the Rathaus-Schirn, the covered area of the historic town hall. As dates can change, it is advisable to check the latest information before your trip.
More nature and leisure experiences
Native and formerly native wild animals live in spacious, natural-style enclosures at Edersee Wildlife Park. Information boards, a flying display and educational activities provide information about the animals. A visit thus combines wildlife watching with information and demonstrations; each of the offerings has its own focus, from reading the information boards independently to watching the flying display.
Allendorf (Eder) Multi-Generational Park covers an area of around 3,000 square metres and has 28 stations for activities and communication between generations. The “Im Ried” dirt-bike facility is also located in the park: it offers trails of varying difficulty and a pump track, and opened in October 2017. The park’s stations and the bike facility offer different ways to spend time outdoors; at the dirt-bike facility, you can choose between the trails and the pump track.
The Willingen Skywalk is 665 metres long and hangs 100 metres above the Upland landscape. Its measurements give the experience a clearly defined scale, without equating it with the hiking stages or facilities in Allendorf. For a focus on cultural history, consider Landau Castle: the Waldeck counts’ castle is in Landau’s old town and was converted from an old fortress into a castle in 1290. This gives you specific contrasts to choose from when planning your trip—from nature and outdoor activities to local and architectural history.
Discover more destinations: Bad Arolsen, Bad Wildungen, Battenberg, Bromskirchen, Frankenau, Willingen, Waldeck, Vöhl, Volkmarsen, Korbach, Rosenthal, Diemelsee, Gemünden, Edertal, Frankenberg, Basdorf, Hatzfeld, Haina, Lichtenfels, Twistetal, Diemelstadt, Allendorf, Burgwald.
See the overarching travel guide: Hesse.
