Schnett on Simmersberg: Nature and local traditions
Accommodation in Schnett
Schnett lies on the southern slope of the 780 m-high Simmersberg; from the summit, the views stretch across Thuringia and Franconia. There is also a nature trail, a toboggan run and a tradition that shapes the turn of the year. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Schnett, these different attractions may help you decide where to spend your stay: mountain scenery, outdoor activities or local culture.
Simmersberg, nature and outdoor activities
Schnett has a nature trail that also serves as a fitness trail. Both names refer to the same trail and emphasise different aspects: its natural setting and physical activity. So you do not need to plan for two separate routes. Schnett also has a 150 m-long toboggan run on Simmersberg. It is available for sledging when snow and operating conditions allow; both can vary. If sledging is an important reason for your trip, check the conditions before you visit. This helps distinguish between the trail’s combined focus on nature and exercise and the separate attraction of sledging.
Church art and local traditions in Schnett
Visitors to St. Oswald’s Church in Schnett often admire its interior paintings, which are considered unique throughout the region. The church thus adds a distinctive art attraction to the town’s profile. At the turn of the year, attention turns to Hullefraansnacht and its “wild run into the new year”. It takes place every year in Schnett and is considered a cultural highlight of the local traditions. Young and old among the local population actively keep this custom alive. The interior paintings and the New Year tradition appeal to different interests: one focuses on a cultural feature of the church, the other on a recurring local tradition. If you are planning to attend Hullefraansnacht, check the specific event date in advance.
Masserberg: the Rennsteig, views and mountain church
Masserberg has its own landscape and cultural profile. The present-day Evangelical Mountain Church in Masserberg was consecrated on 9 October 1883, after the church that previously stood there was destroyed in a fire in 1880. Since the third Sunday of Advent in 1980, the “Masserberg Christ King” has been on display in the church. Greiz sculptor Elly-Viola Nahmmacher carved the artwork from a lime-tree trunk; it is 3 m high and 2.65 m wide.
The Rennsteigwarte adds another distinctive feature: it was built in 1974 on the 842 m-high Eselsberg. Two earlier wooden towers had been destroyed: one by a storm in 1951 and the other by a lightning strike in 1974. The observation tower offers panoramic views across the Thuringian Forest and its foothills. Masserberg lies directly on the Rennsteig and is surrounded by forest meadows and beech and spruce woods. Numerous well-signposted hiking trails and the Rennsteig make it possible to hike through the Thuringian Forest Nature Park.
Another of Masserberg’s trails is the barefoot path created by the tourist association. It crosses natural forest soil, sharp wood chips, wooden tree slices and soft moss. Along the ridge, you can walk comfortably in several directions with little change in elevation; a horse-drawn carriage ride is also possible. Masserberg thus brings together landscapes, trail experiences and cultural history, while Schnett’s attractions focus on Simmersberg, the toboggan run and local traditions.
When looking for a holiday apartment, this distinction can help you choose where to stay: consider which town’s profile should be the focus of your trip, and tailor your search accordingly.
Discover more destinations: Ehrenberg, Oberstadt, Fehrenbach, Biberschlag, Eisfeld, Gießübel, Ummerstadt, Langenbach
Go to the overview of the wider travel region: Hildburghausen-Suhl.
