Half-timbered buildings spanning several centuries, museums with different focuses, and trails through the forests: Diemelstadt brings together a variety of themes for a stay. In Rhoden, the historic old town takes center stage, while elsewhere you can explore the history of crafts, papermaking and former settlement sites. If you want to experience nature, you’ll find themed trails and landscapes with distinctive conservation and geological features.
Half-timbered towns and museums
Rhoden has a medieval old town with Diemel-Saxon half-timbered ensembles dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Their different construction periods give the townscape several historical points of reference. The Museum of Forestry in Rhoden offers further insights into the history of forestry. One focus is the development of Germany’s oldest forestry school—from its founding in 1932 to its closure. The museum reopened at its new location on 20 May 2026. Its monthly opening schedule may change; check it before your visit.
The local history museum in Wrexen is dedicated to the history of the town and its notable figures. Its topics include crafts such as weaving and stonework, as well as papermaking in the past and today. Picture panels show, among other things, the livestock market and marksmen’s festival; everyday objects and a general store are also on display. Visits are by appointment only, so be sure to plan ahead.
The architectural history of other towns can also be explored through specific examples. Helmighausen is an original farming village with surviving half-timbered remains and a medieval church nave. A former moated castle’s artistically designed Baroque entrance portal is well worth seeing. Wethen has some well-preserved half-timbered houses dating from the 19th century. The old town hall and tithe barn were built on the foundations of an old castle complex. The Pickhardshammer complex includes a Diemel-region half-timbered building dating from 1692; Pickhardshammer is a former iron forge.
West of Wethen, in the surrounding area, lies Gaulskopf. An early medieval fortification can still be clearly seen there. Finds have been classified as Neolithic. The site therefore connects two distinct historical periods: the visible fortification and the dating of the finds.
Forest trails, mountain-bike trails and landscapes
For an active outdoor experience, there are four mountain-bike trails, each between 1.6 and 4 kilometers long. They run through the forests between Diemelstadt’s districts of Rhoden, Wrexen and Orpethal, and are designed for all ages and skill levels. The stated range helps you choose a trail based on your preferred distance. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
The Rhodener Hude forest nature trail illustrates distinctive features of Diemelstadt’s forests in the Rhodener Hude conservation area. The area is characterized by heathland and juniper growth. Here, the focus is on the distinctive features of the forest landscape and its vegetation, rather than on a sporting distance.
Another natural and geological feature is the Quast and Eichholz Muschelkalk area, which is designated as an FFH site. Quast is rich in Ice Age index fossils. Together with the heathland and juniper growth of Rhodener Hude, it offers a different perspective from the half-timbered towns and museums: here, the focus is on the landscape and its geological features. This lets you choose what to explore in Diemelstadt based on the interests that matter to your trip.
Discover more destinations: Wrexen, Ammenhausen, Rhoden, Willingen, Burgwald, Bromskirchen, GemĂĽnden, Bad Wildungen.
Return to the main travel overview: Waldeck-Frankenberg.
