Hofgeismar - Carlsdorf

The tranquil village on the Lempe, on the edge of the Reinhardswald, was founded in 1686 and is the oldest Huguenot village in Hesse. A visit to the beautiful half-timbered church should definitely be on the agenda.
Shortly after Carlsdorf, you can also see the Offenberg. It was a battlefield at the end of the Seven Years' War. French troops defended themselves here against advancing English battalions. The defensive wall on the hilltop can still be seen. Today, the Offenberg plays an important role in nature and species conservation. Designated as a natural monument, it is home to the largest contiguous area of calcareous grassland in the Hofgeismar region. As part of a nature conservation project (by the district of Kassel and the University of Osnabrück, among others), the Offenberg was cleared of bushes in order to renaturalize the species-rich calcareous grasslands. They provide a habitat for special species, especially insects and butterflies. Information boards on site provide information about the nature conservation project. Two panorama boards were erected on the Offenberg itself in spring 2022. They provide information about which places and mountain peaks you can see from the 360-degree panoramic view. A detour to the Offenberg via a small path is worthwhile.