The two-castle city

Somewhere in the middle of the river

In former times, castles and fortifications along the Ilm served to protect the trade routes. Today, they paint the portrait of the town of Kranichfeld in the middle of the Ilm Valley in Thuringia. Kranichfeld is a place of longing and puts us in a wonderful mood of peace and serenity.

Castles as landmarks

The historical landmarks of the two-castle town are the mighty upper castle and the romantic lower castle with falconer's court opposite. Other fortifications against the Slavs in Kranichfeld were the Schleußenburg, the Enzenburg and a complex on the hill known today as "Neue Mahl". The series of fortified and protective fortifications continues in Tannroda and Berka along the Ilm.

Culture of dance and roses

Visitor highlights of the castles are the concerts on the open-air stage of the Niederburg or the annual medieval spectacle at the Oberschloss. But special attention should be paid to the roses that the local people plant in their front gardens and that line the stairways to the castle. Every year in June, the Thuringian Dance and Rose Festival is celebrated, including the crowning of the Rose Queen. The old Niederburg comes along quite young with the Sternenklang Festival. Here is room for concerts and dance with young light-hearted music. The festival invites you to stay here, camp and enjoy the summer evenings in community.

Museum and Co.

The Baumbach House in the middle of the town tells the history of the place, shows exhibitions of regional artists, offers museum café and cakes and houses the tourist information. It is one of the oldest buildings in the town and the birthplace of the poet Rudolf Baumbach, who wrote the lyrics for the folk song "Hoch auf dem gelben Wagen". Every year on May 1, this is the destination of the popular Sternradtour, which leads from various starting points along the Ilmtal cycle path to Kranichfeld. On some days, a languorous melody resounds from the old remise of the Baumbachhaus. Then tango dance enthusiasts meet here for a milonga into the evening hours.