Lehesten: Slate Mining, Church and Hiking Trails

Slate has shaped Lehesten, leaving striking evidence of its craftsmanship and local history. At the “Historic Slate Mining in Lehesten” technical monument, you can explore the history of slate and the traditions of slate mining in Thuringia and Franconia in an exceptional industrial complex. Nearby, St. Aegidien Church and trails in the Thuringian Slate Mountains offer other perspectives on the area. Depending on your interests, you can shape your stay around industrial history, architecture or outdoor activities.

Slate mining at the original site

The technical monument preserves historic 19th-century buildings, including Europe’s only Göpel shaft system and the striking double-splitting shed. As a slate quarry at its original site, the complex makes the place of work itself part of the story. Expert-led tours explain the traditions and processing techniques of slate mining and provide a thematic framework for your visit.

If you would like to try something yourself, you can cut a slate souvenir with the slate shears on request and under supervision. You do so at your own risk; work gloves and an apron are provided. As this activity is available on request, it is advisable to arrange it before your trip.

Slate in the church and in craftsmanship

Slate is also present in Lehesten’s St. Aegidien Church: the altar, crucifix and the altar in the baptismal chapel are made of the material. The church also houses a slate slab believed to be the largest ever carved from a single piece. It was quarried at the “Kießlich” slate quarry in 1872 and measures 308 cm high and 253 cm wide. Its dimensions make this individual piece particularly striking; the other slate features show how the material is used in the church’s furnishings.

Another connection to craftsmanship is Germany’s oldest roofing school, located in Lehesten. It reopened in 1992 after being modernized and expanded. Today, it once again serves as a training center for the roofing trade in Thuringia. The church and the school thus represent different aspects of the local slate and craftsmanship theme: visible design on the one hand and vocational training on the other.

Slate Park and hiking trails

At the Lehesten State Quarry, Slate Lake lies where slate was once extracted in an open-pit mine. The 60-hectare Slate Park can be explored year-round on foot, by bicycle or on skis. These options offer different ways to experience the area without limiting your visit to just one mode of transport.

Lehesten is also a starting point for hikes in the Thuringian Slate Mountains, including the Slate Trail. The Rennsteig offers a different experience: it is a 168 km-long high-altitude hiking trail that passes through the Lehesten area and runs through the center of Brennersgrün. The two trails differ in how they relate to Lehesten: the town is named as a starting point for the Slate Trail, while the Rennsteig is notable for its length and route through the area.

Schmiedebach in the associated municipality

In the associated municipality, the Schmiedebach Slate Village Museum displays around 2,000 exhibits on the history of the village and the region. Individual tours of local history are available by arrangement, and parking is available at the museum. If you would like to include a museum visit in your plans, arrange a tour in advance.

Choose Lehesten as your base

If Lehesten’s slate heritage and hiking trails are central to your travel plans, consider the town as a base when looking for accommodation. For planning, it helps to decide whether you want to focus mainly on the mining monument and St. Aegidien Church, or on exploring Slate Park and going for hikes.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gräfenthal, Mellenbach-Glasbach, Hohenwarte, Reichmannsdorf, Piesau, Leutenberg, Leutnitz, Kamsdorf.

Back to the main travel overview: Saalfeld-Rudolstadt.