Steinbach Between Half-Timbered Houses and Mountain Scenery

Steinbach combines densely packed half-timbered houses in the town center with a landscape that opens out widely to the south. From there, the panorama stretches across the Werra Valley and the Rhön; to the north and west, forests, woodland meadows and mountains shape the scenery. This gives you several focal points for planning your trip: trails through the landscape, the historic townscape and insights into local craft traditions.

Landscape and Trails Around Steinbach

The Rennsteigleiter, Luther Trail and Knife Trail pass through Steinbach. The remains of a grinding mill can still be seen in the Schleifkotengrund valley. Hikers can follow the Knife Trail or Luther Circular Trail there. The landscape and trails intersect with a tangible trace of local history: the remains of the grinding mill recall an earlier form of the grinding trade, while blades are still made at the Messerhaus Schleifkotengrund.

The Rennsteig-Leiter also descends to Steinbach. When choosing routes, you can consider the trails mentioned as different starting points for days outdoors. The panorama to the south and the forests, woodland meadows and mountains to the north and west offer two different perspectives on the landscape.

Half-Timbered Houses and a Protected Townscape

Numerous densely packed half-timbered houses stand in the town center. Together with the Baroque church, the freestanding bell house and one of Europe’s steepest mountain cemeteries, they form a protected historic ensemble. The houses define the town center; the church, bell house and cemetery add further distinctive elements to the protected ensemble. If you are interested in the history embodied in a town’s buildings, Steinbach offers not just a single building, but a cohesive townscape.

Knife-Making and a Craft Brewery

High-quality blades, including the famous “Luther knife,” are still made at the Messerhaus Schleifkotengrund in Steinbach. If you plan to visit the Messerhaus, check the arrangements in advance. The remains of the grinding mill in the Schleifkotengrund valley and today’s blade production offer two different insights into Steinbach’s knife-making tradition: a visible trace in the landscape and a craft that is still practiced.

The Stupps craft brewery offers another local experience, regularly holding tours and tastings. If you would like to include this in your plans, check the current visiting arrangements before your visit. This lets you explore craftsmanship and brewing culture as topics in their own right, alongside the trails and townscape.

Bad Liebenstein: Park, Castle and Culture

Bad Liebenstein offers a different focus. Altenstein Palace and its 160-hectare landscaped park are part of Bad Liebenstein. Landscape gardeners Hermann Fürst von Pückler-Muskau, Eduard Petzold and Peter Joseph Lenné all contributed to the design of the park. The Historic Spa Park in Bad Liebenstein is a separate site: it was laid out in 1799 and, together with the adjoining castle hill, covers almost 30 hectares.

The ruins of Bad Liebenstein Castle stand on a 460-meter-high hill above the town. A hiking trail leads from the Bad Liebenstein Kurhaus up to the castle hill near the ruins in about 25 minutes. Visits to the castle ruins are possible by prior arrangement. For route planning, the Kultur-NaTour provides specific details: the moderately challenging circular route is 11.0 kilometers long, includes 225 meters of ascent and descent, and takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes. The start and finish are at the Bad Liebenstein Tourist Information Office; along the way, the route passes Altenstein Palace and descends to the Luisenthal Waterfall.

Bad Liebenstein’s cultural offerings also include historic buildings and theater. The Comödienhaus is one of the oldest theater buildings in Thuringia and was built in spring or summer 1800 at the behest of Duke Georg I of Saxe-Meiningen. Since opening, it has been a venue for theater, with comedies, operettas, operas and other performances. The Wandelhalle in Bad Liebenstein was built in 1913 in the Neoclassical style. The Bad Liebenstein animal park is home to around 300 animals representing approximately 60 species across 5 hectares; there is also a playground for children.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bad Liebenstein, Krayenberggemeinde, Wiesenthal, Fischbach, Geisa, Ebenshausen, Kaltennordheim, Dankmarshausen

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