Krayenberg community - between Rhön and Werra valley 

In the southwest of Thuringia, where the Felda and Werra rivers meet, lies the still "young" Krayenberg municipality. The six districts of Dorndorf, Dietlas, Kambachsmühle, Kirstingshof, Merkers and Kieselbach offer a wide range of activities, from the Merkers underground adventure mine to the Werra Valley cycle path above ground.

The unified municipality is named after the 428.30 m high cone-shaped Krayenberg. It is characterized by the medieval ruins of Krayenburg Castle and buildings - such as a tower - from the early 20th century. The individual villages are surrounded to the south and west by the green hills of the Rhön and to the north and east by the heights of the Thuringian Forest.

The districts of today's Krayenberg municipality were first mentioned in documents between the 12th and 14th centuries. The originally Franconian settlement of Dorndorf was mentioned as early as 786 as "Villa Thoranthorpf". Historical evidence is a donation from Charlemagne to the Hersfeld monastery. In the late 19th century, the industrialization of the previously rural region began. The region was connected to the railroad network in 1878. From 1899, potash shafts were built near Dietlas, Merkers and Dorndorf to mine the underground salt deposits. In the 20th century, as part of the Werra potash district, the municipal area developed into a center of potash mining with shafts and factories in Dorndorf and Merkers. The former winding towers and spoil heaps still characterize the landscape today. 

Hiking and cycling trails through the mountains of the Vorderrhön and along the Werra floodplain offer opportunities for active recreation. The area can also be explored on the water by canoe or raft. The network of hiking trails connects the various villages in the Werra valley and the Rhön. There are also connections to the supra-regional long-distance hiking trails from the Eisenacher-Haus-Weg to the premium hiking trail "Der Hochrhöner" or the Werra-Burgen-Steig.

Sightseeing:

- Merkers mine experience - 500 m into the depths, through salt tunnels, on treasure trails, sound experience at concerts

- Discover historical village life in the Dorndorf local history museum 

- Experience the historical development of the villages around the Krayenberg in the Kieselbach Museum of Local History and Customs

- The regional history of mining is documented in the Merkers local history museum.