Naturally, there is much, much more to see. Spend some time in the part of the "Hennebergische Museum" which showed which part the "Hennebergs nobles " played in medieval times.
If you are interested to learn more about them ask at the front desk for information in English. But just seeing all the displays in the museum gives you also a good impression about their importance.
They obviously made also a very good living.
The abbey itself was for a long time a cultural center. However, problems started in the 15 th century and soon it lost its importance and influence.

Filled with some political background information I proceeded my way through the huge property.
I visited more houses and work shops. Certainly, people missed much of the comfort which we are used to have today, but if you love a simple life with wood fired stoves and getting your water from a well and your own supply of food from agriculture you could enjoy live too.
Just look for details in the houses and use your imagination what you would do if you had to live in the past.
Unfortunately, I found only one interpretor and she was trying to get a fire started in one of the old wood stoves.
A good opportunity for the elderly to work as volunteers and to have contact with many people.

I visited an old mill. The water wheel was covered with ice. It is certainly an attraction to see it in operation during the summer months. I hope it will be!
An important facility in each community was a brewery. Especially monks are famous for making good beer in Germany.
Don't miss to see how such a brewery looked like. However, I doubt that you will get free samples of beer. Maybe the operators of the museum should think about doing so.

Unfortunately, the door to the cloister of the abbey was locked. Another attraction - the gardens - were hidden below snow.
For that reason I spend some more time in a barn to see machinery which I could still remember to be used. When we lived in a small village in Franconia such trashing machines were still the standard. One machine was used by all farmers and it was always an event with lots of good food for all helpers. As far as I remember none of the farmers had any debts because of overspending on equipment.
As usual, I felt a graving for food and a beer after having exercised for so long in the fresh clean air. As expected the little coffee shop was closed at this time of the year.
So I said good bye to the friendly lady at the gate and enjoyed rouladen with Thuringian dumplings and a beer in the restaurant close to the parking lot.