Discover Bastheim

Bastheim can be explored through its distinctive cultural sites: the St. Sebastian Fountain commemorates the 1870/71 campaign; at Wechterswinkel Monastery, traditional Nativity scenes meet contemporary art. Here, you can encounter a monument with a story of its own and a place where different forms of artistic expression come together.

Local history at the St. Sebastian Fountain

The St. Sebastian Fountain is a war memorial to the “victorious sons of the 1870/71 campaign.” Valentin Weidner erected it in 1897 to mark the golden jubilee of the former parish priest of the community, Karl Frantz. A 2.5-metre-high statue of St. Sebastian, patron saint of the church and village, made of Lorraine limestone stands on the inscribed plinth; a fountain basin is positioned in front of it. The monument was restored in 1982. The inscription, statue and basin bring remembrance, religious symbolism and the history of the monument together in one place.

Art and culture at Wechterswinkel Monastery

On the monastery’s second floor is the permanent exhibition WÜRDEVOLL – Impulses for Becoming Human, created in 2024. Here, traditional Nativity scenes meet contemporary art directly. The thematic contrast between familiar depictions and contemporary artistic perspectives gives the exhibition its distinctive character.

The monastery is also home to a district cultural centre for visual arts, music, literature and lifestyle. The gallery on the ground floor presents contemporary art, with a focus on sculpture. Different cultural themes thus sit side by side in the same monastery: the permanent exhibition on the second floor and the ground-floor gallery, which focuses on sculpture. The Wechterswinkel bus stop is only a few steps from the monastery. If you are considering travelling by bus, check the timetable for your visit.

Another cultural venue in Bastheim

Besengau-Scheuer is an events venue at Geckenauer Straße 6 in Bastheim. Together with the monument and the cultural facilities at the monastery, it adds another named place to the picture of local culture. You can use the specific address to help plan your visit.

More places to discover in the wider Rhön-Grabfeld destination

The wider Rhön-Grabfeld destination lies within the Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and brings together nature and culture, each with its own character. Lange Rhön is Bavaria’s largest nature reserve outside the Alps. The Black Moor is strictly protected as a core zone of the biosphere reserve. A wooden boardwalk runs through parts of the moor, information boards explain the route, and an observation tower offers impressive views over the moor.

At Gangolfsberg, the nature trail connects landscape and geological history: the basalt prism wall formed 30 to 10 million years ago during volcanic activity in the Rhön and can be explored along the trail. The nature trail is about 2.5 kilometres long; sturdy footwear is required. Guided tours for groups are available on request. The Gangolfsberg Nature Forest Reserve is part of the core zone of the Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. If you would like to compare hiking routes, the premium hiking trail “DER HOCHRHÖNER” is another option in the Rhön-Grabfeld district.

For those interested in culture, the Franconian Open-Air Museum Fladungen offers a different focus. Set on museum grounds covering around 12 hectares, it comprises around 30 historic buildings, including farmhouses, craft workshops and a village school. Faithfully reconstructed houses and farmsteads present 350 years of rural everyday life in Lower Franconia and the Rhön. Activities focused on crafts and traditions include demonstrations, practical courses and events. The Rhön-Zügle museum railway travels through the Streu Valley with steam and diesel locomotives, adding a trip on historic trains to the museum experience.

Fortified churches and art collections also offer insights into the region. In 2003, the fortified church in Ostheim vor der Rhön was declared a monument of national importance; it is Germany’s largest and one of its best-preserved fortified churches. The Fortified Churches Museum presents a dozen other fortified churches from the region, including those in Nordheim, Oberstreu and Kaltensundheim. In Mellrichstadt, the district gallery in the Old Hospital displays the collection of Rhön-Grabfeld district: significant paintings and sculptures from the Baroque period to the present, all with a regional connection. The Old Hospital also has a museum café serving homemade cake, which is also served in the museum garden during the warmer months. Check whether the café is open before your trip.

Another prominent landmark is Kreuzberg: at 928 metres, it is the highest mountain in Rhön-Grabfeld district. It is home to a Franciscan monastery with its own brewery, which has been in existence since 1644, and a pilgrimage church; the monastery is a spiritual centre in Lower Franconia. The regional attractions offer different experiences, from the nature trail and moor to the open-air museum, art and fortified churches. When looking for a holiday apartment in Bastheim, a good starting point is to decide whether to focus on the village’s named cultural sites or plan around other themes in the wider Rhön-Grabfeld area.

Discover more destinations: Bischofsheim an der Rhön, Niederlauer, Nordheim vor der Rhön, Wollbach, Unsleben, Mellrichstadt, Bad Königshofen im Grabfeld, Oberelsbach.

Back to the wider travel overview: Rhön-Grabfeld.