Discover Bad Liebenstein

Bad Liebenstein combines historic parkland with hiking trails, theatre history and attractions to suit a range of interests. Altenstein Castle and its 160-hectare landscaped park are part of the town, as is the Historic Spa Park. Other attractions include the castle ruins on a hill above the town and the Comödienhaus, whose history dates back to 1800.

Explore parks and caves

Garden designers Hermann Fürst von Pückler-Muskau, Eduard Petzold and Peter Joseph Lenné all contributed to the grounds of Altenstein Castle. The Historic Spa Park is a different kind of parkland: it was laid out in 1799 and, together with the Burgberg, covers almost 30 hectares. The different sizes give you a clear idea of the range of the grounds, without confusing the two parks.

The Historic Spa Park has a Kneipp facility and a barefoot path. Check access arrangements related to construction work before visiting these facilities. If you are interested in underground landscapes, you’ll find the Altenstein Cave in Schweina, a district of Bad Liebenstein. It is considered Thuringia’s oldest show cave. Its special features include a cave dome, an underground lake, a stream, light and sound installations, and a 3D model of the cave. It is also home to several protected bat species.

Hiking to suit different time budgets

The Kultur-NaTour is a moderately difficult circular route measuring 11.0 kilometres. The ascent and descent are each listed as 225 metres, and the walk takes around three hours and 30 minutes. The start and finish are at the Bad Liebenstein Tourist Information Office. Along the way, the route passes Altenstein Castle and descends to the Luisenthal Waterfall. This makes it possible to plan a longer hike with several named stops; allow for the stated duration and elevation gain when planning your day.

For a shorter walk, a hiking trail leads uphill from the Kurhaus to the Burgberg near the Bad Liebenstein castle ruins in about 25 minutes. The ruins stand on a 460-metre-high hill above the town. Visits are possible by prior arrangement; check access arrangements before your trip. Three terrain trails offer further opportunities to get out into nature. The distances and times differ considerably, so you can choose between a longer circular route and the roughly 25-minute climb to the Burgberg when planning your day.

Theatre history and architecture

The Comödienhaus Bad Liebenstein is one of the oldest theatre buildings in Thuringia. It was built in the spring or summer of 1800 at the behest of Duke Georg I of Saxe-Meiningen. Since opening, it has been a venue for theatre, including comedies, operettas, operas and other performances. The Wandelhalle adds another historic perspective on the town: it was built in 1913 in the Neoclassical style. Together, the two buildings offer different points of interest if you are interested in theatre and architecture.

Bad Liebenstein Animal Park and the Schweina Torch-Burning Tradition

Bad Liebenstein Animal Park covers five hectares and is home to around 60 animal species and approximately 300 animals. There is a playground for children. This gives you a practical point of reference when planning a day out with younger travellers, without making the animal park an attraction for just one particular group.

Another annual event takes place in Schweina: the torch-burning event on Antoniusberg is held every year on 24 December and draws many visitors on Christmas Eve. If you’d like to include this tradition in your travel plans, check the programme for that Christmas Eve before you set off.

Choose the focus of your trip

Plan your search around your own itinerary rather than treating every option as equally important. Bad Liebenstein offers specific reasons to visit, spanning nature, outdoor activities and culture.

Discover more destinations: Ruhla, Barchfeld-Immelborn, Berka Vor Dem Hainich, Bischofroda, Wutha-Farnroda, Kaltenlengsfeld, Gerstungen, Geisa.

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