Discover Sonneberg: Glass, Geology and Trails

The travel destination of Sonneberg combines glass art and geology with hiking trails and experiences for both winter and summer. The Sonneberg district offers many different reasons to visit: the Lauscha Glass Art Museum, the Bleßberg Cave Geotrail, the Silbersattel ski area, a summer toboggan run and an experience brewery. You can tailor your stay to your interests, from culture and craftsmanship to active days outdoors. When choosing accommodation, it helps to first decide which experiences you want to shape your stay.

Glass art and Lauscha craftsmanship

The Lauscha Glass Art Museum traces the history of glass Christmas tree decorations from 1860 to the present, featuring baubles and a variety of shapes. The craft itself also holds recognized cultural status: the production of mouth-blown glass Christmas tree decorations in Lauscha has been included in the nationwide Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The museum and the cultural heritage focus on different aspects: one highlights the history and its objects, the other the tradition of making them. Together, they give Lauscha glass art a distinct place among the region’s cultural experiences.

Regional perspectives

The Sonneberg district lies within the Thuringian Forest Nature Park and the Slate Country National Geopark. The German Toy Road also runs along the district. Nature, geology and a themed route thus offer different ways of experiencing the region. These connections provide context for your trip; the specific experiences can be found at the places named below.

Geotrail and hiking routes

The Bleßberg Cave Geotrail begins at the Bleßberg Cave Geopark information point at the railway station in Schalkau and runs for 17.6 kilometres to Seltendorf railway station. Information boards along the route explain the cave’s discovery, the distinctive geology of the Franconian Line fault zone, and karst features such as sinkholes, karst springs and disappearing streams. The route combines a clearly defined trail with geological topics explained along the way. Its start, finish and length provide practical reference points for planning your hike. If you’re looking for a hike with a strong focus on geology, this route offers just that. Another route in the district is the Iron Curtain Trail (Green Belt Border Hiking Trail), one of the certified hiking and cycling routes in Sonneberg district.

Winter, summer and regional experiences

The Thüringen Alpin Skiarena Silbersattel lies in the Sonneberg district, near the slate-mining town of Steinach. It is Thuringia’s largest and most snow-reliable ski area. In summer, there is a toboggan run on Pappenheimer Berg near Ernstthal: a drag lift adapted for summer use pulls sleds and their riders 500 metres uphill to the start. These two attractions offer different seasonal experiences. Check current operating information before planning to make sure your visit suits the activity you have in mind.

In Steinach, the Ankerbräu experience brewery offers beer tastings and a beer bath. This adds a culinary experience to the range of hiking and winter sports activities. Check the brewery’s current opening status before making specific plans.

Choose the right focus for your trip

The attractions mentioned are at clearly identified locations: glass art in Lauscha, the start of the Geotrail in Schalkau, Silbersattel and the experience brewery in Steinach, and the summer toboggan run near Ernstthal. When looking for accommodation, first consider whether culture, hiking or seasonal activities will shape your stay. This way, you can choose where to stay based on the experiences that matter to you, rather than starting with an abstract list of accommodation features.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Föritz, Neuhaus Am Rennweg, Spechtsbrunn, Effelder-Rauenstein, Steinheid, Lauscha, Steinach, Sonneberg, Neuhaus-Schierschnitz, Judenbach, Schalkau, Mengersgereuth-Hämmern, Goldisthal, Scheibe-Alsbach and Frankenblick.

Back to the regional travel overview: Thuringia.