Thüringen Tourism

Fascinating Nature Right in the Middle of Germany

Hiking, biking, winter sports in Thüringen

Winter and summer are good times alike to visit the varying landscapes of Thüringen with their mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, and nature reserves. Nicknamed the Green Heart of Germany, Thüringen is the ideal place for hiking: breath-taking landscapes topped by mountains up to almost 1,000 metres, wonderful, endless meadows and forests and nature reserves such as Thüringer Wald or Hainich National Park with its famous Treetop Walkway enthral visitors by their beauty. No less than 19,312 km is the total length of Thüringen’s hiking trails, of which twenty-two are certified premium trails. 85 high-spec hotels along these trails are certified to be quality hiking accommodation.

Thüringen is an ideal place for hiking.

Good to Know

Thüringen’s “Premium Trails” crisscross all hiking areas people appreciate in Thüringen: Thüringer Wald, Thüringen’s part of the Rhön Mountains, Thüringer Schiefergebirge, Thüringen’s portion of the Vogtland region, Hainich National Park, Kyffhäuser Heights, Harz Mountains, and the Eichsfeld area.

Thüringer Wald is Germany’s largest, continuous wooded and forest area and, being also a middle mountain range, one of the most beautiful. Across the entire crest of the range, from the Saale River in the east to the Werra River in the west, visitor can hike what is possibly Europe’s most popular long-distance trail, the Rennsteig, of which the history stretches back some 1,200 years. A total of approx. 170 kilometres are covered by hikers in up to seven days, always on the crest of the Thüringer Wald mountains. Along the Rennsteig and on 6,000 km more of other trails, all of which are clearly signposted, visitors can reach splendid vistas and points of natural interest everywhere in the Thüringer Wald area. The most sought-after destinations include Oberhof, Thüringen’s winter sports hot spot, Eisenach and the world-famous Wartburg Castle, Meiningen and its theatre of international standing and Elisabethenburg Castle, the “toy city” of Sonneberg, the glassblower town Lauscha, and, of course, Suhl and its arms and weapons museum. It is exactly this combination of natural and cultural heritage that turns hiking in Thüringen into such a unique and exceptional experience. You can trace the steps of great personalities such as Goethe or Bach and experience German Classicism hiking; the history of the two Germanys can be experienced in your boots on the premium hiking trail Point Alpha, which follows the former borderline between the two Germanys, crossing through a former U.S. observation installation.

The Rennsteig trail is Thüringen's most famous hiking route.

In June 2011, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decide to include the Hainich National Park as a World Natural Heritage site. As part of the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany site, it is one of five beech forests in Germany awarded that status.

A must-see in the Hainich National Park, which can be reached from the capital, Erfurt, by a one-hour drive, is the 500-metre-long Treetop Walkway. 24 metres above ground, visitors get a fascinating insight in the tops of deciduous trees and a unique panoramic view of the surroundings from an open platform.

Hainich National Park is a world natural heritage site.

Thüringen has more, among it attractive and well-entertained cycling trails or paths that are in line with all levels of visitor expectations. Little or moderately difficult tours have cyclists enjoy a multitude of charming landscapes along the Werra, Saale, Unstrut, and Ilm rivers. More ambitious riders can opt for the Rennsteig bike trail, which crosses the Thüringer Wald mountains almost fully parallel to the famous long-distance hiking trail. Less strenuous are the well-entertained cycling paths in the plains and hills of Thüringen, such as the Städtekette (Chain of Welcoming Cities) bike path. Many a path or trail does not only cross landscape worth enjoying, but also reaches tourist attractions in historic cities and delightful towns.

Cycling paths and trails take you along rivers and across mountains.

Good to Know

A total of 1,700 km of long-distance cycling paths and trails crisscross the state of Thüringen. This include 13 attractive tourist routes for visitors arriving on the bike. 140 Bednbsp;& Bike places mean that Thüringen offers visitors a broad selection of accommodation to choose from.

Did you know that in Thüringen you can learn ski jumping and at Oberhof can race down the ice run in a bobsleigh like a professional? Located in the very centre of Germany, Thüringen is worth a visit in the winter too, of course. First snowfalls can usually be expected by mid-November. As skiing goes, the number one sport is cross-country skiing. Whether you opt for a leisurely tour or a high-end run on a groomed course, yours is an almost limitless choice in a total of 1,100 km of pistes and 200 km of tracks. They let you discover Thüringen’s mountains and valleys in the Rhön area, mount Inselsberg, and along the Rennsteig just as in the Thüringer Schiefergebirge mountains.

The number one skiing sports in the winter is cross-country.

Internet: www.thueringen-entdecken.de