A market town beneath a basalt castle hill
Homberg (Efze) rises around a historic centre of timber-framed houses, steep lanes and defensive walls, with the Hohenburg on its basalt hill above the roofs. The city had 14,703 residents on 31 December 2024, according to the Hessian Statistical Office; that figure covers the full municipal area, including its outlying districts, rather than only the old town. Today Homberg serves as the county seat of the Schwalm-Eder district, combining a walkable historic core with public administration, shops, schools, health services and the everyday role of a regional centre.
The city’s account places its foundation in the early thirteenth century, under the Thuringian landgraves. A 1231 document names Eberhard von Homberch as an administrator, an early written trace rather than a precise founding date. The castle protected a settlement beside the old trade route known as “Durch die langen Hessen.” Homberg later became a fortified town and a centre for wool and cloth trading. Its wall, gates and narrow lanes still reveal that commercial and defensive past: the New Gate is the only medieval city gate that survives, while the old market area gathers civic and religious landmarks in a compact space.
Where a decision changed the course of Hesse
Homberg’s best-known historical moment took place in St Mary’s Church in October 1526. At the Homberg Synod, Landgrave Philip the Magnanimous convened clergy, nobles and representatives of the towns to debate church reform. The meeting helped introduce the Reformation across the Landgraviate of Hesse and became a major turning point in the region’s religious and institutional history. It was not a dramatic battle or a founding myth: the city preserves the event through the church, its Reformation window and the nearby House of the Reformation, where exhibitions explain the debates, printing and religious life of the period.
The second landmark is Hohenburg, the medieval fortress that gave the town its strategic position. Its ruins recall the violence of the Thirty Years’ War, when the stronghold was besieged and damaged. A 150-metre-deep, lined basalt well descends into the hill; the city opens it to visitors with lighting and a demonstration of its depth. The Hohenburg Museum, in the House of History on the market square, displays around 7,000 objects connected with the castle. A tower visit also gives a broad view across the town and the volcanic hills between the Schwalm and Eder valleys.
Streets, museums and local life
A self-guided walk can begin at the New Gate, pass the old brewery building and continue to St Mary’s Church. The church’s hall structure began around 1340, and the 1526 Synod is commemorated inside. From the square, small streets lead to timber-framed houses, the former barracks and the Krone, identified by the city as Hesse’s oldest inn. The House of History brings the Reformation exhibition and Hohenburg Museum together near the church, making it possible to connect the public story of the Synod with the material history of the castle and town.
Homberg’s economic identity has shifted over time. Wool and cloth once brought merchants and craftsmen to the town; its present role rests more on public administration, retail, education, healthcare and services for surrounding villages. The centre remains inhabited and useful, not merely a preserved backdrop. Visitors can find cafés, restaurants, shops and accommodation, while the municipal tourism office arranges city and themed tours. Museum and guided-tour hours can vary, so check the city’s current information before planning a visit.
Getting there and seeing the region
Homberg does not have a passenger railway station in its municipal area. Regional buses connect the town with Wabern, Melsungen, Treysa and Kassel. For rail travel, the municipality identifies Wabern as the key interchange; bus lines link Homberg to that station and to regional train services toward Kassel, Frankfurt and Bad Wildungen. The NVV’s current network also serves nearby district towns, including Melsungen and Schwalmstadt. Because schedules and construction works can alter connections, check the NVV journey planner for the exact date and allow time for transfers.
Homberg makes a rewarding stop for visitors interested in Reformation history, medieval townscapes and the northern Hessian countryside. The old town and Hohenburg can be explored on foot; a car or a carefully planned bus journey helps reach the surrounding Knüll hills and villages. A good first itinerary is the market square and St Mary’s, followed by the House of History and a climb to the castle ruins. Add time for the view and the deep well, then continue into the surrounding landscape. Verify museum openings, tour reservations and transport before setting out.