Lichte: Streams, Slate Mountains and Drawing Art
Accommodation in Lichte
Lichte combines a landscape shaped by streams and ridges with an unusual range of creative activities. The drawing and modeling school and the local history room offer insights into design and local history. For planning your trip, the town therefore provides tangible points of interest—from its natural surroundings to its cultural offerings.
Streams and ridges in the Thuringian Slate Mountains
Lichte stretches along the Lichte and Piesau streams and is surrounded by the ridges of the Thuringian Slate Mountains. Watercourses and the mountain setting are thus the town’s defining geographical features. When considering what you want your trip to focus on, you’ll find both landscape and local life here: the streams and ridges describe the surroundings, while the cultural offerings provide another way to experience Lichte.
The wider region is also shaped by water infrastructure. The reservoir facility was commissioned in 2005 to supply drinking water. The water flows to the Lichte-Leibis Reservoir, with the Deesbach forebay.
Drawing, creative work and local history
A drawing and modeling school is located in Geiersthal and is considered unique in Thuringia. Visitors can create objects from porcelain, ceramics, glass, wood, clay or plaster under expert guidance. The wide choice of materials makes the offering especially appealing: you can explore different materials, without limiting your creative activity to a single technique. Please enquire about an appointment in advance.
The local history room is in the same building as the school. It vividly presents the town’s history, complementing the hands-on creative experience with a look at Lichte’s past. Both offerings are under one roof, but each has its own focus: one centers on creative work with materials, the other on the history of the town. This means you can include two distinct cultural interests in your trip plans.
A draisine ride with views of Lichte
Draisine rides are offered on the railway line via the Max und Moritz Bahn. During a ride, you can enjoy views of Lichte and the surrounding landscape. This offers another perspective on the town, this time from the move, and complements the themes of landscape and culture with a railway experience. If you’re planning a ride, check the current dates.
More to discover in the wider destination of Neuhaus am Rennweg
In the wider destination of Neuhaus am Rennweg, the Erlebnis Museum offers its own cultural highlight: it immerses visitors in the life of the “Wäldler” and invites them to listen, linger and take an active part in the experience. The museum in the town center also explores the glassmaking and timekeeping history of this Rennsteig town. This adds another perspective on the region’s history, specifically associated with Neuhaus am Rennweg, to Lichte’s local history.
A notable landmark there is the Gothic wooden church in the town center. It was consecrated in 1892 and is one of the few all-wood churches in Germany. The windows offer a specific detail, too: their geometric and ornamental stained glass is arranged in colors to reflect the ripening of grapes. This connects the appreciation of architecture with an unusual color motif.
Neuhaus am Rennweg also offers its own options for getting active. The Rennsteig ridge trail runs right through the town. The “Bogenpfad am Rennsteig” (Archery Trail on the Rennsteig) starts and ends at the Igelshieb sports ground, close to the Rennsteighaus. This is near the hiking car park and Igelshieb railway stop, and offers showers, restrooms, a lounge and two outdoor bicycle lockers.
Cycling routes and guided hikes are also available there: the Rennsteig Cycle Route and the Schwarzatal Cycle Route lead to or reach Neuhaus am Rennweg. Hikes along the Rennsteig and to historically significant destinations can be booked at the municipal tourist information office, with or without a certified nature and landscape guide. According to the tourist information office, the Werratal Cycle Tour also often starts in Neuhaus am Rennweg; for traveling with a bicycle, the SĂĽdthĂĽringen-Bahn or a bicycle-carrying bus from Saalfeld are suggested. Check transport options and timetables before planning.
What to consider when looking for accommodation
When choosing accommodation in Lichte, you can start by considering the interests you want your trip to focus on: streams and the slate mountains, creative activities or local history. The wider destination of Neuhaus am Rennweg adds its own cultural, hiking and cycling options.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Drognitz, Meuselbach-SchwarzmĂĽhle, Mellenbach-Glasbach, Sitzendorf, Kaulsdorf, Kamsdorf, Lichtenhain, GroĂźkochberg.
Back to the wider travel overview: Saalfeld-Rudolstadt.
