Discover Winterstein

Winterstein combines traces of history with a falconry centre and a circular trail. The castle quarter, castle ruins and rampart moat, the bailiff’s office and the manor house are the main features of the castle park; there is also the dog’s grave and the falconry centre on the Rennsteig. These different points of interest make the town appealing to anyone looking to include culture and active experiences in their travel plans.

Traces of the Past in the Castle Park

Winterstein’s castle park contains the castle quarter with its castle ruins and rampart moat, the bailiff’s office and the manor house. The manor’s barn is now used as a visitor centre. Below the castle ruins is a gravestone for Stutzel, a loyal dog; the dog’s grave was established in 1630. Alongside the historic buildings, the gravestone adds a personal touch to the town’s history.

Falconry and the Circular Trail

The falconry centre on the Rennsteig offers a bookable experience day as a falconer. Children can get close to birds of prey there and earn a Junior Falconer Certificate. This caters to different interests: a bookable experience day and an activity specifically mentioned for children. Check the latest booking details for the experience day before making plans.

Another travel highlight is the “Inselsbergblick” circular trail. It opened on 24 July 2021 and also passes through Winterstein. This means you can choose between a specific falconry experience and a circular trail when deciding what you would like to make the focus of your stay.

Culture in the Broader Destination of Waltershausen

In the broader destination of Waltershausen, the GutsMuths Memorial Hall in Schnepfenthal is a venue for sport and culture. It presents information about history, nature, GutsMuths and the Rennsteig Run, and has established itself as a gallery hosting special exhibitions. Outside the hall, information boards describe GutsMuths and his pupils, and trees from every continent can be found. Schnepfenthal’s other attractions include the historic cemetery in Hardt, an old manor house and Salzmannschule grammar school.

Schloss Tenneberg and the town church “Zur Gotteshilfe” also broaden the cultural perspective on Waltershausen. The banqueting hall at Schloss Tenneberg dates from 1719, is one of the castle’s three surviving Baroque rooms and features a ceiling painting by the Thuringian court painter Johann Heinrich Ritter. The town church in Waltershausen is considered Thuringia’s first major Baroque central-plan church and a forerunner of Dresden’s Frauenkirche in its floor plan and construction. Its organ has three manuals, 53 sounding stops and 2,806 pipes.

Choose Accommodation Based on Your Travel Interests

When looking for accommodation in Winterstein, you might first consider whether the architectural history of the castle park, the falconry centre or the circular trail is your main priority. If you would also like to include cultural attractions in the broader destination of Waltershausen, make them a separate focus in your travel plans. This lets you choose your destination based on the experiences that matter to you.

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