Discover Unterschönau

Unterschönau combines a long history with buildings that shape the village’s character and an animal enclosure in one of its districts. The Hohe Brücke stands in the village centre; the Peter und Paul Church adds a different architectural accent with its half-timbered style. There is also the Unterlautenberg wildlife enclosure. You can explore historical details and observe animals as distinct highlights of your stay.

Bridge building, half-timbering and local history

Unterschönau was first mentioned in records in 1362. The Hohe Brücke offers a particularly tangible glimpse into the village’s history: the stone arch bridge stands in the village centre and was built in 1807/1808 by French engineers in Napoleon’s army. The Peter und Paul Church was built in 1900 in the Henneberg-Franconian half-timbered style. The two buildings showcase different forms: the stone arch bridge on the one hand, and the half-timbered church on the other. Visitors interested in architecture will find two clearly distinct features of Unterschönau here.

Animal watching at the wildlife enclosure

Red deer, fallow deer, mouflons and goats can be seen at the Unterlautenberg wildlife enclosure in the Unterschönau district. Which animals you see may vary. A circular route of around 3 km runs alongside the enclosure, giving you a specific distance to bear in mind when planning your outing. Seasonal opening times of April to August are listed for the route through the wildlife enclosure on the Lautenberg; check the times before your visit. Animal watching and the circular route raise two practical questions for the day: which animals would you like to see, and how does the walk fit into your plans?

There is also something for food lovers in the surrounding area: a nearby farm shop sells game products made in-house.

More experiences in the wider Steinbach-Hallenberg destination

In the wider Steinbach-Hallenberg destination, the Metalworking Museum offers insights into former working methods and original, preserved workshops. These include a nail forge, a corkscrew workshop and a file-making workshop. The permanent exhibition “Ons Schdaaimicher”, which opened in January 2022, focuses on the Steinbach-Hallenberg way of life, the development of the local dialect and club life. From April to October, blacksmithing demonstrations take place at the museum on Wednesdays between 10 am and 12:30 pm. Check the dates before your visit.

Also in the wider Steinbach-Hallenberg destination is Hallenburg Castle, built around 1212 on older foundations. A walk up to the castle offers views of the town and the surrounding mountains. You may need to collect the key from the Tourist Information office to access the tower. Every five years, the Burgfest is celebrated as a major town festival in honour of Hallenburg Castle.

Knüllfeld is considered Steinbach-Hallenberg’s hiking plateau. During the summer holidays, regular horse-drawn carriage rides there and back to the town centre are offered in cooperation with the Falk Nattermann transport company. The ride offers views down into the valley and of the surrounding mountains. You can find the dates in the town’s events calendar. The wider destination offers a range of experiences: workshop history at the museum, views on a walk and a seasonal ride to Knüllfeld.

Find accommodation to suit your travel plans

When looking for accommodation, you can first consider whether you mainly want to experience Unterschönau’s local history and wildlife enclosure, or whether you also want to include the museum, Hallenburg Castle and Knüllfeld in the wider Steinbach-Hallenberg destination. These priorities can help guide your search; when choosing a specific place to stay, its actual location is what matters.

Discover more destinations: Springstille, Zella-Mehlis, Schwallungen, Bermbach, Oberhof, Kleinschmalkalden, Unterkatz, Meiningen.

Go to the wider travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.