The best running trails in Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis

The mill was first documented in 1631. In 1679, it was rebuilt and subsequently used as both a tanning mill and a grinding mill. The mill wheel remained until 1958. The building complex still exists today: in 1994, the main building was renovated and converted into residential units. The southern, historic half-timbered building now houses commercial spaces, and a millstone is displayed in front of the building.

The church is the parish church of the Mühlhausen old town and was gifted to the Teutonic Order in 1227. The current building was constructed between 1270 and 1300 as an early Gothic hall church, influenced by French cathedral architecture. It possesses significant art-historical elements such as a rose window, medieval stained glass, a late Gothic carved altar, and tomb slabs of important personalities. After the Reformation, religious expressions changed, and much of the original furnishings were lost. The west towers still date from the predecessor building and house historical bells. The church also developed into an important center for Protestant church music, with a peak in the work of Johann Sebastian Bach in the early 18th century.

From the Hohen Graben, visitors enjoy a beautiful view of the imposing double-towered St. James' Church. Construction of the present-day St. James' Church began around 1280. An inscription, now lost, attributes the imperial figure in the arch of the north portal to Henry VII. Another inscription names 1363 as the year of completion of the church. The motif of the unequal couple is taken up in the impressive tower group completed in 1418. After the Reformation, the church seems to have been used only sporadically. It lost almost all its furnishings in the last century. St. James' Church was extensively renovated from 1992 to 2004 with financial support from the state of Thuringia, the federal-state program "Urban Monument Protection," and the German Foundation for Monument Protection. Since April 2004, St. James' Church has housed the city library with a children's library and a sound library. Interesting for visitors: so-called "Archaeological Windows" provide insights into the church's construction history. Source: https://www.thueringen.info/kultur/muehlhausen-stadtbibliothek-jakobikirche/

The Historic Town Hall in Mühlhausen was built around 1270/80, when the city developed strongly through the expansion of the old and new towns and a city council took over the administration. Symbolically, the town hall was erected between the two parts of the city. The basement with the passage remains from the original building. After a fire, the building was renovated around 1330 and later expanded, resulting in a diverse complex. Particularly significant are the richly decorated rooms with wall and ceiling paintings from several centuries, as well as the historical archive. In the 20th century, further furnishings were added, commemorating the city's history. For centuries, the town hall remained the political center and still serves today as an important venue for events and representation.

Since April 2004, the Mühlhausen city library has been located in the renovated and converted Jakobikirche. Here, the main library, children's library, and phonotheque have been brought together under one roof. As a cultural and educational institution, working with children, particularly promoting reading, is a focus of the library team's activities. The Jakobikirche is also a popular venue for lectures, author readings, and concerts. Since 2021, the city library has also offered a scientific and local history reference library in the Jakobikirche. The user workstations of the Mühlhausen City Archives are also located there. Source: https://www.muehlhausen.de/rathaus-erkunden/stadtverwaltung/stadtarchiv-stadtbibliothek/stadtbibliothek-jakobikirche/

The fountain house, built in 1614 in Renaissance style, and the amphitheatrically designed spring basin make the Popperöder Quelle one of the most beautiful springs in Thuringia. The annual fountain festival takes place here. An interior visit is not possible. Source: https://world-qr.com/inhalte/new/qr-fuehrer/de/thueringen/unstrut_hainich_kreis/ortsfuehrer/stadtfuehrer_muehlhausen/muehlhausen_brunnenhaus_poppenrode?lat=0&lng=0

Thomas Müntzer (1489–1525) was a radical reformer of the early Reformation. Born in Stolberg in the Harz Mountains, he initially worked in the circle of Martin Luther, but soon distanced himself from Luther's more moderate approach. Müntzer advocated for a direct experience of God and sided with the oppressed peasants. During the German Peasants' War, he preached social justice and called for resistance against princes and ecclesiastical authorities. In 1525, he participated in the Battle of Frankenhausen, was captured, and executed. His actions made him a controversial but significant figure in the history of the Reformation.

The main building of the Mühlhausen Museums was originally constructed between 1868 and 1870 as a grammar school in the Neo-Renaissance style. Since the establishment of a local history museum in 1928, the building on Lindenbühl has primarily served as a museum. Following extensive modernization in 2013, the building reopened as a Museum of Cultural History. The redesigned permanent exhibitions showcase the most important pieces from the collection relating to the prehistory and early history of the Unstrut-Hainich district, the history of the town, and 20th-century Thuringian art. The museum's redesign is linked to a modern educational concept. Young visitors will find interactive and listening stations throughout the building, encouraging them to discover, touch, and have fun. Source: https://www.mhl-museen.de/de/museen/kulturhistorisches-museum