Schmalkalden-Meiningen: Discover nature, culture and culinary delights

From nougat to iron: discover Schmalkalden-Meiningen

The Prachtregion in the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen offers many different reasons to visit: you can experience nougat production, discover traces of historic crafts, or get outdoors among forests, water and high-altitude trails. The four landscapes—Thuringian Forest, Rhön, Werra Valley and Grabfeld—can be explored on foot, whether you’re looking for sporting adventures or relaxed family outings. Which accommodation is right for your trip therefore also depends on whether you want to focus on nature experiences, culture or activities on the water.

Discover nougat and traditional crafts

At the Viba Nougat World in Schmalkalden, you can watch smooth, melt-in-the-mouth nougat being made in a glass-walled manufactory. It offers a close-up look at confectionery production. The hands-on courses make the visit practical, too: visitors can pour chocolate, decorate nougat and create pralines. Course times and booking conditions may change, so it’s a good idea to check the current offer in advance.

The region’s industrial history is also brought vividly to life. The “Neue Hütte” blast furnace museum in Schmalkalden is a blast furnace complex dating from 1835. Local iron ore was smelted there over charcoal to produce pig iron until 1924. The exhibition traces nearly 1,300 years of iron and steel goods production in the Schmalkalden region, including the well-known “Schmalkalder Artikel” (Schmalkalden wares). A 45-minute guided tour covers the history and function of the blast furnace operation, bringing the technical installation and its role in regional production into focus together.

The Metalworking Museum uses original workshops to show how nails, pliers and corkscrews have been made for centuries. These everyday objects add the work of metal craftspeople to the story of ironworking: here, the material is transformed into practical tools and household items.

Waterfalls, lakes and trails

At Trusetal Waterfall, water plunges 60 metres down three cascades over a granite formation. Visitors can also climb the 228 steps beside the waterfall. The site offers a nature experience with a distinctive built and natural character. A 3.5-kilometre hiking trail runs through the Breitunger Seen nature reserve, passing seating areas along the way. If you enjoy walking, it’s another way to spend time outdoors in the landscape.

There are also opportunities to get out on the water in Breitungen: pedal boats and rowing boats can be hired at Kiessee lake for an outing. Stand-up paddleboarding is available at Breitungen lido, where pedal boats and rowing boats can also be rented. Check the current offer before your visit. For longer trips, the Werra Valley Cycle Path offers a different pace amid impressive river scenery and is well suited to multi-day rides. On the Rennsteig, you can discover the Prachtregion’s natural treasures on foot; in the Thuringian Forest, it also offers scenic, unpaved cycling routes with lovely views and fast-paced descents.

Active days in every season

If you’re interested in winter sports, Oberhof has alpine slopes for fast-paced descents. Their seasonal operation depends on snow and facility conditions. Oberhof Snowpark offers freestyle skiers and snowboarders features such as straight boxes, butter boxes, A-frame boxes and various tubes. Another option is Germany’s first indoor cross-country skiing facility, in Oberhof, where you can ski even in summer. Check the facility’s operating schedule and booking conditions in advance.

Canoeing on the Werra offers a different perspective on the river. Together with the waterside activities in Breitungen, the hiking trails and cycling routes, there’s a range of ways to choose how you spend your time. Culture and traditional crafts, walks in the countryside, multi-day cycling trips and watersports each offer a different focus—you don’t have to make every activity about the same thing.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wallbach, Altersbach, Bermbach, Fambach, Friedelshausen, Schmalkalden, Steinbach-Hallenberg, Struth-Helmershof, Wasungen, Wernshausen, Oepfershausen, Oberhof, Floh-Seligenthal, Oberschönau, Trusetal, Kleinschmalkalden, Rohr / Thuringia, Zella-Mehlis, Meiningen, Erbenhausen, Kühndorf, Sülzfeld, Schwarza, Christes, Rotterode, Trusetal-Laudenbach, Breitungen/Werra, Viernau, Jüchsen, Springstille, Unterschönau, Rosa, Birx, Brotterode-Trusetal, Benshausen, Walldorf, Roßdorf, Unterkatz, Ellingshausen, Obermaßfeld-Grimmenthal, Kaltensundheim, Grabfeld, Schwallungen, Rhönblick, Frankenheim/Rhön, Henneberg, Vachdorf, Hümpfershausen, Brotterode health resort.

Back to the regional travel overview: Thuringia.