Situated amidst a charming landscape of highlands with many beauty-spots Ostheim, together with the villages Urspringen and Oberwaldbehrungen under its administration, offers great possibilities to relaxation.

In travel guides Ostheim is often called the "Pearl of the river Streu" or "The Rothenburg at the Streu".

Located in the upper valley of the river Streu the city of Ostheim (3.800 inhabitants) is the gateway to the eastern foothills of the High Rhön. Its present location in the triangle of Bavaria, Hesse and Thuringia refelcts the varied history of the "Pearl of the river Streu". Thus the climate health resort has also been an Thuringian enclave under Bavarian administration until the administration reform in 1972.

Modern touristic businesses as hotels and restaurants are looking forward to your visit. Accomondation options range from "holiday on a farm" to holiday apartments, pensions and to a multi-star hotel.

Ostheim has had a varied history. Due to its convenient location, its fertile fields in the Streu valley and its diligent people the town was always sought-after and thus disputed. Only in the middle of the 16th century continuity came. The office of Lichtenberg and thus Ostheim for almost four centuries was then under the sovereighnty of the Wettiner of Thuringia and recently until 1918 under the sovereighnty of the Grand Dukes of Saxony-Weimar and Eisenach. Today the culture and activity center Ostheim/Rhön appears as lovely, hospitable little town for trade, commerce and tourism.

Address:

Ostheim v.d.Rhön
Marktstr. 24

97645 Ostheim v.d.Rhön

Phone: 09777/9170-0
Fax: 09777/9170-25

Hours of opening:

Monday to Friday: 8 o'clock until 12 o'clock

Tuesday and Thursday: 14 o'clock until 16 o'clock

Cash office hours:

Thursday from 8 o'clock until 12 o'clock and from 14 o'clock to 6 o'clock.

Homepage of the city of Ostheim

Pictures of the Rhön

• 804: Ostheim mentioned for the first time in a document (may 6th, 804).
• 816: under sovereignty of the bishop of Würzburg.
• 12th century: fortress and province of Lichtenberg ownded by the counts of Henneberg, after that different clerical and secular owners.
• 1230: sold to the diocese of Fulda.
• 1400: constuction of the fortified church.
• 1553 - 55: introduction of the Reformation.
• from 1555: district of Lichtenberg and Ostheim belonging to Saxony.
• 1586: presentation of market laws and coat of arms by the dukes Johann Casimir and Johann Ernst of Saxony.
• 1587: construction of town hall.
• 1596: grant of town charter.
• 1615 - 19: construction of Protestant church.
• 1719: construction of office building.
• 1741: Ostheim belonging to the duchy of Saxony-Weimar, after that (until 1918) to the Grand Duchy of Saxony-Weimar and Eisenach.
• 1757: large fire all along the main street (Marktstrasse).
• 1878: another fire southwest of the fortfied church.
• 1780 + 82: vistit by duke Karl AUgust and his minister Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
• 1812: exclave of Ostheim is created.
• 1843: foundation of Lichtenburg community and first castle festival.
• 1898: construction of railroad Mellrichstadt - Fladungen.
• 1910/11: construction of waterworks and drainage system and power station.
• 1920: Ostheim belonging to Thuringia.
• 1945: entry of American troops,  Ostheim is placed under Bavarian administration.
• 1946: Dr. Alfred Hauser first mayer after the Second World War.