Discover Blankenhain

Blankenhain combines local history with opportunities to spend time outdoors. Blankenhain Castle dates back to the 7th century; the outdoor pool, woodland walks and cycling connections offer other ways to enjoy the area. There are also insights into the history of pharmacy and excursions into the natural surroundings of the Middle Ilm Valley. You can shape your stay around culture, activity or a mix of both.

Castle, Pharmacy Museum and Local History

Blankenhain Castle originated as a Frankish circular castle in the 7th century. The Blankenhain Pharmacy Museum offers a different perspective on the town’s history: it displays historic pharmacy fittings in a vaulted room, documents and photographs about the history of the Blankenhain town pharmacy, a tea and herb room, and pharmaceutical glass and porcelain vessels. The collection thus brings together different aspects of the history of pharmacy.

A memorial in a public space also has a clear historical date: a sandstone memorial column was erected in the courtyard garden in 1878. Since 1880, this garden has been known as Carl-Alexander-Platz. The castle, museum and memorial column thus represent different historical subjects and periods in Blankenhain.

Nature, Swimming and Routes Around Blankenhain

Excursions into the “Middle Ilm Valley” protected landscape offer the chance to experience unspoilt nature, a diverse and species-rich animal and plant world, and numerous springs. For a more active outing, a hike of around 10 kilometres leads through the forest, starting just behind the Blankenhain outdoor pool. The approximate distance and route provide a guide for planning your day without prescribing a particular pace.

The Blankenhain outdoor pool has six 25-metre lanes in its sports area. The diving facilities include a 1-metre springboard and a 3-metre diving platform. Swimming and diving offer a different focus from a walk through the forest. As operating conditions may vary seasonally, check the current opening times before your visit.

There are also mapped cycling connections: a cycle path runs from Blankenhain via the golf course and the district of Saalborn to the Ilm Valley Cycle Route, continuing on to the Thuringian Cities Chain. There is a connection to the Saale Cycle Route towards Neckeroda. Check current route conditions before setting off on a bike ride. The Blankenhain Castle Festival is traditionally celebrated on the second Saturday in September; check the latest details before travelling.

These different themes can be incorporated into your own travel plans without reducing them to a single type of outing.

More Routes and Culture in the Weimarer Land

The wider destination of Weimarer Land offers additional routes to choose from. The Thuringian Three Towers Trail is a circular hiking route through the protected landscape of the Middle Ilm Valley in the southern Weimarer Land. It connects the Paulinenturm near Bad Berka, the Hainturm in the Belvederer Forst near Weimar and the Carolinenturm near Blankenhain. The VitalParcours Bad Berka offers Nordic walking routes through varied landscapes; all four routes were certified as quality routes by the German Nordic Walking Association in 2011.

The Goethe Adventure Trail follows Goethe’s route to Charlotte von Stein, connects Weimar and Großkochberg, and features twelve experience stations combining nature and culture. Another regional stage is Section 25 of the Luther Trail in the Weimarer Land, which runs from Weimar to Apolda. Cycling routes between Weimar, Apolda and Bad Sulza combine nature, cultural history and regional cuisine; they are suitable for multi-day cycling trips. The Ilm Valley Cycle Route passes through the Thuringian Wine Gate in Bad Sulza.

Cultural attractions also illustrate the diversity of the Weimarer Land: the GlockenStadtMuseum Apolda explores the cultural history of bells and the region’s textile industry. Since 1995, the Kunsthaus Apolda Avantgarde has hosted exhibitions by international and regional artists; its programme also includes talks, auctions, readings and film screenings. The Thuringian Open-Air Museum Hohenfelden presents more than 40 historic buildings dating from the 16th to the 20th century. The Hohenfelden Museum Trail in the Hohenfelden Reservoir Adventure Region combines relaxation and discovery in the Weimarer Land.

For a culinary experience, the Thuringian Dumpling Museum offers a bookable programme: seminars or training sessions for up to 80 people are available year-round, subject to booking and scheduling. At the dumpling cookery school and potato pancake school, you can prepare Thuringian classics. Alongside routes and exhibitions, regional cooking traditions are another distinct theme to explore in the Weimarer Land.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Possendorf, Bad Berka, Weimar, Schwerstedt, Tonndorf, Gaberndorf, Großheringen, Auerstedt.

Return to the main travel overview: Weimarer Land.