Fehrenbach and the Fehrenbach Switzerland

A rocky landscape with a musical connection

The Fehrenbach Switzerland is more than just a name for a landscape: folk music composer Herbert Roth wrote a song about it. Roth also composed the Rennsteig song. This brings two different interests together in Fehrenbach: the distinctive shape of the rocks and a musical connection to this very natural setting.

If you are out and about with children, this can prompt a simple question to explore together: How does a distinctive place become the subject of a song? The landscape remains the tangible starting point, while Roth’s song adds a cultural perspective. This way, Fehrenbach can be discovered not only through its natural surroundings, but also through the artistic engagement with them.

The source of the Werra and a nearby place to stop

A geographical point of interest nearby is the source of the Werra. It rises between Fehrenbach and Masserberg, in the middle of the forest near Zeupelsberg. This location is a distinct point in the landscape between the two places, adding a water-related natural feature to the picture of the Fehrenbach Switzerland.

Also nearby is the Werraquell Hut, built in 2019. It welcomes skiers, hikers and cyclists to stop for refreshments. If you plan to stop there, check in advance whether it is open during your visit.

Masserberg as a wider regional destination

The wider destination of Masserberg offers a different perspective on the Thuringian Forest. Masserberg lies directly on the Rennsteig and is surrounded by forest meadows and beech and spruce forests. Numerous well-marked hiking trails and the Rennsteig make it possible to hike through the Thuringian Forest Nature Park.

There are various ways to spend the day in Masserberg: You can enjoy an easy hike along the ridge with little change in elevation, or take a horse-drawn carriage ride. The barefoot path laid out by the local tourism association leads over natural forest soil, sharp wood chips, wooden tree discs and soft moss. These two descriptions highlight different experiences: a ridge hike or carriage ride on the one hand, and changing surfaces underfoot on the other.

The Rennsteigwarte on the 842-metre-high Eselsberg offers panoramic views over the Thuringian Forest and its foothills. Its history goes back to two wooden predecessor towers: one was destroyed by a storm in 1951, the other by a lightning strike in 1974. The present-day Rennsteigwarte was built in 1974. If you are planning a visit specifically, check in advance whether it is currently open to visitors. In the wider area, just behind the Turmbaude at the Rennsteigwarte, there is a small playground for younger visitors.

The Evangelical Mountain Church of Masserberg also combines a historic site with a striking work of art. The church that previously stood there was destroyed in a fire in 1880; the present church was consecrated on 9 October 1883. Since the third Sunday of Advent in 1980, it has housed the “Masserberg Christ the King,” a work carved from a linden trunk by sculptor Elly-Viola Nahmmacher of Greiz. It is 3 metres high and 2.65 metres wide.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can use this to clarify your choice of location: Should Fehrenbach’s rocky landscape and its musical connection to Herbert Roth take centre stage, or are you particularly interested in the Rennsteig, hiking and cultural experiences based in Masserberg? Focus your search on the aspects you want to shape your trip.

Discover more destinations: Suhl, Sachsenbrunn, Hildburghausen, Goldlauter, Schleusingen, Masserberg, Straufhain, Veilsdorf.

Back to the regional travel overview: Hildburghausen-Suhl.