Discover Altersbach

In Altersbach, the circular route leads from the train station up to Geißkoppe and continues along the edge of the forest. There is also a small open-air stage at the charcoal-burning site. The walking routes and cultural destinations offer different ways to explore the town and the wider destination of Steinbach-Hallenberg.

Circular Routes with Different Landmarks

The circular route around Altersbach starts at Altersbach train station, where parking is available. From there, the path climbs gently to Geißkoppe. It then follows the edge of the forest, passing Bench No. 4 and the bench beneath the chestnut tree, No. 5, before reaching Bench No. 6. From there, you can enjoy a lovely view. The sequence of the climb, forest edge and numbered benches makes the route easy to follow and gives your outing several specific landmarks.

Another option is the approximately 5-kilometre circular route around Arzberg. It connects Steinbach-Hallenberg with the district of Altersbach. The circular route around Altersbach is defined by its described course via Geißkoppe and the benches; the approximate distance is a specific point of reference for the Arzberg circular route. So you can first decide whether the route description or an approximate distance is more important to you when planning. No walking time is provided for the Arzberg circular route.

The Charcoal-Burning Site as a Cultural Highlight

There is a small open-air stage at the charcoal-burning site in Altersbach. It adds a cultural highlight to the town alongside the route descriptions. If you are interested in the circular route, you can include the charcoal-burning site as a separate destination while exploring Altersbach; the stage complements the themes of Geißkoppe, the forest edge and the view with a venue associated with performances. No specific events or visiting hours are implied.

More to Discover in the Wider Destination of Steinbach-Hallenberg

The wider destination of Steinbach-Hallenberg also offers reasons to plan your stay beyond Altersbach. At the Metalworking Museum, you can visit workshops preserved in their original condition and learn how people used to work. The museum includes a nail forge, a corkscrew workshop and a file-making workshop. The permanent exhibition “Ons Schdaaimicher” opened in January 2022 and offers insights into the way of life, language development and club life of the people of Steinbach-Hallenberg. Blacksmithing demonstrations take place on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from April to October; check the dates before your trip.

Another highlight is Hallenburg, built around 1212 on older structural remains. A walk up offers views of the town and surrounding mountains. You may need to collect the key from the Tourist Information office to access the tower. The office is centrally located in the town centre, directly opposite the Metalworking Museum. In honour of Hallenburg, a large town festival called the Burgfest is held every five years.

For wildlife watching, head to Unterschönau: at the Unterlautenberg wildlife park, you can see red deer, fallow deer, mouflons and goats. A circular path of around 3 km runs alongside the enclosure. Knüllfeld is considered the hiking plateau of Steinbach-Hallenberg. During the summer holidays, regular horse-drawn carriage rides there and back to the town centre are offered in cooperation with Fuhrbetrieb Falk Nattermann. The ride offers views into the valley and of the surrounding mountains; dates are listed in the events calendar.

These different interests can help you choose your accommodation: circular routes and the charcoal-burning site shape the themes in Altersbach, while the museum, Hallenburg, wildlife park and seasonal activities offer further options in the wider destination of Steinbach-Hallenberg.

Discover more destinations: Obermaßfeld-Grimmenthal, Springstille, Schwallungen, Walldorf, Struth-Helmershof, Oberhof, Floh-Seligenthal, Schwarza.

Back to the regional travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.