Thuringia: World Heritage, forests and vibrant culture

Experience World Heritage and history

Wartburg Castle near Eisenach is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is associated with Martin Luther’s translation of the New Testament. Its historical and art-historical significance attracts numerous visitors from all over the world each year. Thuringia’s World Heritage extends beyond this site: the state has five entries on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Hainich was added in 2011 as part of the Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of Europe.

Museums bring history to life, too. The Thuringian Open-Air Museum Hohenfelden features more than 38 historic buildings dating from the 16th to the 20th century and shows how people lived in the past. At the interactive Grottoneum Museum, talking stones and a grotto cinema are among the special experiences. Since 1995, Kunsthaus Apolda Avantgarde has presented exhibitions by international and regional artists; Kulturfabrik Apolda offers workshops. Which of these appeals to you depends on whether you prefer historical everyday life, art or interactive discoveries.

Forests, trails and getting active

Thuringia has eight National Natural Landscapes, where rare animals and plants can be observed. In Hainich National Park, the treetop path runs up to 24 metres above the ground through the canopy. Closures due to weather are possible. Hainich thus combines a bird’s-eye view of nature with the UNESCO theme of beech forests. You can explore sections of the Green Belt on foot along numerous hiking and circular trails in Thuringia.

If you prefer to follow a distinctive route, the Thuringian Forest is home to the Rennsteig, Germany’s best-known ridge trail. In winter, cross-country skiers use it; conditions depend on the snow. For a longer bike ride, the 123-kilometre Ilm Valley Cycle Route offers a different scale: it runs from the Thuringian Forest to the Saale-Unstrut wine-growing region. Rail connections in both directions allow cyclists to return to their starting point. The Goethe Adventure Trail, meanwhile, focuses on individual stops and has twelve experience stations.

Culinary traditions and hands-on experiences

Thuringian cuisine can be discovered in more ways than just on a plate. The 1st German Bratwurst Museum devotes its permanent exhibition to the history, tradition and cultural significance of bratwurst, especially Thuringian bratwurst, and offers bratwurst seminars. At the dumpling cookery school at Kloßwelt Heichelheim, visitors can learn to prepare Thuringian classics themselves. Both experiences make food and regional traditions part of a trip in different ways: one through the history of a well-known dish, the other through preparing it yourself.

Nature and wellbeing can also be explored in different ways. The herb-learning trail around Oberweißbach introduces visitors to beneficial plants found in nature. At Toskana Therme Bad Sulza, Liquid Sound features permanently installed sound columns, as well as speakers above and below the water. The Feenweltchen adventure forest offers play opportunities for families, children and adults alike, including climbing features and stations for touch and smell. These examples show how varied a day trip can be, without every trip needing to have the same focus.

Choose the right base for your trip

If cultural history is your main focus, you may be especially interested in Wartburg Castle and the museums; for nature and outdoor activities, hiking trails, the Rennsteig or the Ilm Valley Cycle Route may be the deciding factor. Hands-on culinary experiences or a visit to Feenweltchen may also shape your choice. Tailor your search to the mix of experiences you’re looking for and choose accommodation with the places and activities you have planned in mind.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Altenburger Land, Eichsfeld, Gotha, Greiz, Hildburghausen-Suhl, Ilm-Kreis, Kyffhäuserkreis, Nordhausen, Saale-Holzland, Saale-Orla, Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Sömmerda, Sonneberg, Unstrut-Hainich, Wartburg, Weimarer Land, Erfurt, Eisenach.