Germany: Thuringia, an Insider Tip – Where Nature Meets Culture and Cuisine
Aerial view of the Wartburg (© Dominik Ketz, Regionalverbund Thüringer Wald e.V.)
Satisfying your curiosity
Anyone looking for a charming destination will quickly find one in Thuringia's towns and cities. A good example is Erfurt: even if you know that the old town is one of the largest historic town centres in Germany, its beauty is ultimately still a surprise. Visitors can look forward to an attractive mix of beautiful architecture, short distances and everything that makes a holiday pleasant. A beer garden by the river, live music in a cosy pub or shopping on a medieval bridge – nothing here is far from anything else. And since 2023, Erfurt's medieval Jewish heritage has even been part of UNESCO World Heritage.
Surrendering to fascination
Who hasn't stood in a place that immediately fired the imagination? A feeling you don't forget in a hurry. Exactly such moments can be found in Thuringia's palaces and castles – above all at the legendary Wartburg in Eisenach. This classic German castle is historically significant, full of fascinating stories, and impressive. Set on a hilltop and surrounded by dense forest, even the way up offers wonderful views. Here Richard Wagner found inspiration for his opera Tannhäuser, Martin Luther translated the New Testament, and Saint Elisabeth lived here too.
At the pulse of nature
In Thuringia there are places where you simply set off walking and hear nothing but birdsong and the rustling of the trees. The hiking trails lead through tranquil countryside, past historic sites and time and again to wonderful viewpoints. Particularly impressive are the primeval beech forests in the Hainich, the upper Saale valley with its almost fjord-like river landscapes, and the heights of the Thuringian Forest, which offer panoramic views you will happily linger over. Thuringia's diverse nature is ideal for switching off, taking a deep breath and leaving everyday life far behind for a while.
Joining the club
Who knows their way around Bauhaus, Bach or German Classicism? Thuringia offers the perfect opportunity to discover it all at a relaxed pace – right where it originated. In Weimar, for example: Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus here in 1919, and today the modern Bauhaus Museum shows an impressive collection and asks the question ‘How do we want to live?’ Around 200 years earlier, J. W. Goethe came to Weimar; together with Friedrich Schiller he shaped the city, and still does today. Their homes and many literary traces are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage site ‘Classical Weimar’.
Moments of indulgence
Saffron and watercress, fine wine, delicate nougat, spicy whisky and aromatic cornflower honey – Thuringia surprises with an abundance of delicacies that you would not expect at first glance. Behind every product lie cherished tradition and craftsmanship. Anyone who associates Thuringia only with grilled sausage and dumplings is overlooking a culinary world full of ideas and enjoyment. This region in the heart of Germany invites you to try something new, to feast and to be delighted by the food.
Find out more now: www.thueringen-entdecken.de
