Discover the Spa Town of Brotterode

Discover the spa town of Brotterode through several specific themes: the Schanzenblicke Nature Park Trail, the local history of winter sports and Inselbergbad. These offer different perspectives on a stay—from a moderately challenging hike and historical insights to the various indoor pools at the swimming complex.

Hiking with Views of Brotterode

The Schanzenblicke Nature Park Trail is a moderately challenging route around Brotterode. Along the way, you can enjoy views of the ski jumping facilities, Brotterode, the Rhön and Inselsberg. The route thus takes in views of the town and its ski jumping facilities, as well as the two other named sights. If you enjoy taking in different views while hiking, this route combines sporting and local history with landscapes.

Inselbergbad and Its Indoor Facilities

Inselbergbad is a popular destination for swimmers, sauna-goers, athletes and those seeking relaxation. The indoor area has a 25 m sports pool, a round non-swimmers’ pool, a paddling pool area for toddlers and an 80 m tube slide. The different pools offer a range of ways to enjoy a visit, from fitness swimming to splashing around. The swimming complex will be temporarily closed for renovation work from 27 July to 30 October 2026. Keep this period in mind when planning a visit.

Summer Resort, Winter Sports and Local History

Since around 1900, people have visited Brotterode as a summer resort or winter sports destination. Organised winter sports began in 1905 with the founding of an association to promote winter sports. These two dates mark different aspects of local history: Brotterode’s role as a summer resort or winter sports destination, and the beginnings of organised winter sports.

Another part of the town’s history is the little house by the “old pond.” It is one of the few houses to have survived the greatest tragedy in the local community unscathed. The house provides a tangible focal point for local remembrance, alongside the historical developments surrounding summer holidays and winter sports.

In the wider destination of Brotterode-Trusetal

The wider destination of Brotterode-Trusetal also has natural and cultural attractions to discover. Trusetal Waterfall plunges 60 metres over a granite formation in three cascades. It is switched off in winter. Visitors can also climb a staircase with 228 steps beside the waterfall. If the cascades are the main focus of your visit, bear in mind that they are turned off seasonally when planning your trip.

On the outskirts of Trusetal stands Wallenburg Tower, a monument to Romanesque architecture dating from the 13th century. The local heritage room in Trusetal was established and is run by the Trusetal Mining and Heritage Association. The history of architecture and the work of the local heritage room add further cultural themes to explore.

There are further options in the wider destination of Brotterode-Trusetal for finding your way along longer routes. The Inselsberg Cycle Path starts at the bus station in Brotterode and is about 17 kilometres long. The Rennsteig-Leiter Trusetal route runs from the waterfall via Fünf Gärten, Laudenbach and the Mining Educational Trail to the Rennsteig. A hut on the Nature Park Trail at Pfingstweide invites you to take a break.

After a guided tour of the “Hühn” visitor mine, visitors can dig for mineral stones at “Klonike am Hühn.”

Discover more destinations: Floh-Seligenthal, Springstille, Frankenheim/Rhön, Fambach, Erbenhausen, Steinbach-Hallenberg, Rotterode, Brotterode-Trusetal.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.