Located in Thuringia, Germany – Mühlhausen is a city of about 37,000 people, and it is popularly known for its well-preserved medieval architecture.
There are many quirky, unique, wonderful, historic, and secret spots to discover in Muhlhausen.
One of the most popular landmarks in Muhlhausen is the Kornmarktkirche, a beautiful church that is popularly known for its beautiful, ornate Baroque interior.
So in this post, we are going to discuss in detail what to do in Muhlhausen, from the most popular spots in the city to tours that will help you see it all with ease and at once!
Did we miss any of the best places to visit in Muhlhausen?
Let us know your favorite Muhlhausen attraction in the comment section
Let’s go!
1. Visit The Muhlhuasen Museum
There is no doubt that one of the things to do in mühlhausen is to check out its cultural history museum.
The building that houses the Mühlhausen museums was originally built between 1868 and 1870, and it served as a Neo-Renaissance grammar school.
Since the founding of a local history museum in 1928, the building at Lindenbühl has primarily been used as a museum.
After a lot of renovation in 2013, the house reopened as a cultural history museum.
This museum features a wide range of materials and artifacts that are more than 6000 years old.
My favorite part of this museum is the third exhibition area, which is located on the upper floor.
The third exhibition houses about 120+ paintings and artworks that illustrate the artistic landscape of Thuringia in the 20th century.
The entry tickets are very affordable, 2 Euros for kids and 4 Euros for adults.
Pets and taking photos are not allowed here, so keep that in mind
Address: Kristanplatz 7, 99974 Mühlhausen
Phone: +49 3601 85660
2. Tour The Old Town Of Muhlhausen
One of the best ways to know more about any town you find yourself in is to tour the town, this can be a guided tour, or it can be done completely by you.
As a medieval and imperial town, Muhlhausen has a lot of interesting history in store
For example, from 1523 to 1525, Mühlhausen was transformed into a hub of the Reformation and the Peasants’ War by Thomas Müntzer
If you’re just visiting Muhlhausen for the first time, I suggest you go on a guided tour, and one of the tours I recommend is the public tour that is hosted by Wirtschaftsbetriebe Mühlhausen GmbH.
This adventure involves a tour of the preserved city wall, the town hall, eleven Gothic churches, and many more.
The tickets are also very affordable, 8.00 EUR for adults and 5.00 EUR for kids or students.
3. Explore the nearby Hainich National Park
Another popular tourist attraction in Muhlhausen that is worth visiting is the Hainich National Park
The Hainich National Park is just 13 km – a 16 mins drive away from Muhlhausen.
This national park was founded in 1997, and it is the only national park in Thuringia.
This beautiful landscape covers an area of 75 km, and it offers visitors a chance to explore some of the most beautiful and biodiverse landscapes in central Germany.
One of the most popular spots in this park is the Beech Forest, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the remaining pristine beech forests in Germany.
When you visit this park you will see different species of animals from rare birds to mammals like wildcats and bats, this makes the park a top destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
You can also participate in a walking tour where you can learn more about different aspects of the park.
For example, you can participate in the “Silberborn” a 3 km long walking tour where you can test your knowledge of nature and learn many interesting details about the ecosystems of the Hainich National Park.
So if you love nature or if you’re looking for a place where you can just relax and enjoy the cool breeze then, add this park to your bucket list.
Address: Hainich National Park Administration, At the Marktkirche 9 99947 Bad Langensalza
4. Tour Muhlhausen Underground Tunnels
One of the most fascinating parts of Muhlhausen is its underground tunnels that served as storage house and bomb shelters during the war.
For years, these tunnels served as storage and bomb shelters, providing protection and safety to their residents during times of conflict and uncertainty.
Nowadays, visitors can take a guided tour of these historic tunnels.
During the tour, you will explore different parts of the tunnels, including the winding passageways and narrow corridors of the underground tunnels,
Most times your local guide will provide insight into the history of the tunnels, also point out interesting features, and share fascinating stories about the people who used them.
5. Take A Day Trip to Erfurt
One of our favorite things to do whenever we visit a city is to go on a day trip to a nearby city.
Day trips usually offer unique experiences that you won’t find anywhere else, and if you’re in Muhlhausen the three nearby cities I recommend you take a day trip to are: Weimar, Suhl, and Erfurt.
My personal favorite is Erfurt.
Erfurt is a beautiful city that is also the capital of Thuringia, it is located 56 km away from Muhlhausen (a 55 mins drive) and is known for its well-preserved medieval building.
This city is home to some famous historical landmarks, like the Erfurt Gothic Cathedral, which was built in the 12th century, the Stasi Museum, and Krämerbrücke, a medieval bridge that is lined with half-timbered houses.
In addition to its rich history and culture, Erfurt is also a wonderful place for outdoor enthusiasts, with a number of hiking and cycling trails in the surrounding countryside.
6. Take Your Kids On A Guide City Tour
One of the best things to do in Muhlhausen with kids is to take on this guided city tour.
This tour is only meant for kids, the children go on a tour where they learn more about the historic old town with the city guide.
Stories and legends are not neglected on this tour.
The children are also included in the tour and asked what they know about their hometown.
The tour is offered in German, it is approximately 1.5 hours long and the ticket costs 50 Euros per group.
7. Take A Walking Tour of The City Wall
Before, The Muhlhausen City wall was approximately 2.8 meters long, of which only 2.2 kilometers have been preserved from being destroyed.
The city wall has a shape of that is kind of rounded and not quite a regular rectangle, the east-west side of the city wall is almost twice as long (1000 meters) as the north-south part (500 meters).
Its original structure of the city wall was made up of = four main gates, namely the Görmartor in the north-east, the Erfurt Gate in the south-east, the Felchtaer Tor in the south-west and the Frauentor in the north-west
It is unclear whether the original main access to the castle via Breitenstrasse was closed when the wall between the castle and the city was built before 1251 or only after the castle was demolished in 1256.
The material that was used in the construction of the inner and outer parts of the city wall is made from travertine, a geologically young freshwater limestone.
So if you want to learn more about the rich history of Mühlhausen, then consider adding this activity to your to-do list.
8. Check Out The Peasant’s War Museum
Another must-see attraction in Muhlhausen that is worth a visit is the Peasant’s War Museum.
The building that houses The Bauernkriegsmuseum was originally a church building -“St. Crucis”
The church was built in the 2nd half of the 13th century by using Romanesque components from its predecessor.
During the Peasants’ War in 1525, this church served as a meeting for the insurgents, and guns and weapons that were used in the battle were also stored there.
This church building was saved from demolition and after some renovations were made in 1975, it was converted into a museum, concert hall, and conference venue.
Nowadays, the museum holds an impressive collection of materials and equipment that showcase the daily life of the farmers and peasants during this tumultuous time.
One of the most popular materials in this museum is the reenactment of the battle of Frankenhausen, which took place in 1525.
This battle was a turning point in the Peasants’ War, and the museum’s reenactment gives visitors a realistic experience of what the war looked like.
9. Relax At The Swan Recreation Pool
After a hectic day of exploring different museums, you might be looking for a place where you can just chill and relax.
And the best place to do that is at The Swan Pool Recreation.
This recreation facility is located on the outskirts of Mühlhausen, near Schwanenteich.
When you visit this place, there is a wide range of water sports activities which you can participate in.
For example, you can explore the bond by boat, you can hire a rowing or pedal boat from a boat rental that is located at the extreme.
If you’re visiting this place with your kids, there is a playground where they can have fun
Cycling and hiking trails, a café and a nearby campsite with pitches for caravans, and a tent area are available for visitors to use.
The new outdoor pool which was constructed in 2020 is also open to the public.
10. Visit The Historic Town Hall
The last attraction that is worth visiting in Muhlhausen is the Historic Town Hall, which was built in 1270/80.
In accordance with a rule that was passed by the council, the town hall was built symbolically right in the middle of Mühlhausen on the border between the old and new town.
After a fire accident in 1330, the upper floor was renovated and the town hall was considerably enlarged with a massive extension to the west.
For centuries, the town hall remained the political-administrative center and the main place of representation for the city and citizenry.
And even nowadays, this building still serves as the town’s “living room” for gatherings, cultural events, and receptions.
This place is currently open to the public and entry is free of charge., so if you’re looking for free things to do in Muhlhausen you can check this place out.
This place is open from 9 am to 4 pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
Conclusion
There are a lot of things to do in Muhlhausen, however, the activities we listed here are the ones we believe will give you the most fun.
I hope this guide inspires you to visit Mauhlhausen!
It’s definitely one of the best places cities to visit in Thuringia, Germany.!
I hope this article gave you a ton of ideas on the best things to do in Muhlhausen! Happy adventuring.