Wasungen: Gardens, Carnival and Trails along the Werra

Wasungen combines botanical diversity, a strong carnival tradition and hiking trails with a protected historic town center. This gives you a range of starting points for your trip: nature, local customs and routes through the surrounding area.

Garden and Wasungen Carnival

The Wasungen Forest Botanical Garden is home to 162 woody plant genera, with 1,700 different species and forms, across an area of about 5 hectares. These figures give the garden a distinct botanical profile. If you would like to learn more about the plants, expert-led tours are available for a fee and by advance reservation.

The Wasungen Carnival offers a very different focus. Its highlight is a historic parade held every year on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday. Since the date follows the carnival calendar, it is worth checking the exact date when planning your trip.

The historic town center also defines Wasungen: it is protected as a historic ensemble. The collection of the Thuringian Carnival Museum, housed in the former convent for noblewomen in Wasungen, documents the diversity of carnival traditions in Thuringia through written and material evidence. Together, the town center, collection and parade offer different perspectives on local and Thuringian carnival culture.

Circular Trails, Long-Distance Hiking Trail and Cycling Route

The circular hiking trails around Wasungen lead to a range of destinations. Circular Trail 1 goes around the Forest Botanical Garden. Circular Trail 2 goes around the Rupperg to the Kleine Zehn Buchen; Circular Route 3 goes through the Mordtal to the Oberwallbachsmühle. The names and destinations can help you choose a route based on what you would most like to see.

The 96-kilometer HWO2 long-distance hiking trail also connects Wasungen with Schlitz. A section of the Heinrich Cotta Trail runs from the Forest Botanical Garden to Heinrich Cotta’s birthplace in Kleine Zillbach. Another hiking route goes via Maienluft Castle to the former Henneberger Haus and on to Schmalkalden. In addition to local circular routes, there are also longer-distance connections and trails leading to named historic sites.

The Werra Valley Cycle Route is another useful way to explore the area: it runs along the left bank of the Werra through Wasungen. Wasungen campsite, with recreational facilities and a fire pit, is also right by the Werra. When looking for accommodation, you could first consider whether botanical discoveries, carnival and town culture, or hiking and cycling will shape your trip.

More to Discover in the Wider Schmalkalden-Meiningen Destination

The wider Schmalkalden-Meiningen destination offers additional cultural experiences. In Schmalkalden, you can watch nougat being made in a glass-fronted workshop at Viba Nougat World. Hands-on confectionery courses include pouring chocolate, decorating nougat and creating pralines; check the course times and booking terms for your preferred date.

Schmalkalden is also home to the “Neue Hütte” blast furnace museum. The blast furnace complex dates from 1835; local iron ores were smelted there using charcoal to produce pig iron until 1924. Exhibitions explore the nearly 1,300-year history of iron and steel goods production in the Schmalkalden region, including “Schmalkalder Artikel.” A 45-minute guided tour covers the history and operation of the blast furnace.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Grabfeld, Benshausen, Springstille, Viernau, Trusetal-Laudenbach, Oepfershausen, Zella-Mehlis, Kühndorf.

Back to the main travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.