Ilm-Kreis: Rennsteig, Cycling Routes and Special Discoveries
Accommodation in Ilm-Kreis
Ilm-Kreis combines the ridges of the Thuringian Forest with cycling and hiking trails, special viewpoints and unusual museum themes. The Rennsteig crosses the district from Oberhof towards Masserberg; elevations of over 900 metres are part of the landscape in the Rennsteig region. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can first choose a base according to the discoveries you have planned: high-altitude trails and views, or cycling routes, culture and places with their own distinctive themes.
High-Altitude Trails and Views in the Thuringian Forest
Langer Berg is an 808-metre-high ridge in the northern Thuringian Forest. It is seven kilometres long and about two kilometres wide. As a watershed, it separates the Ilm catchment area to the west from the Saale catchment area to the east. This distinctive landscape feature makes it a prominent landmark for anyone interested in the region’s natural landscapes and watersheds.
The Reinsberge and Kickelhahn offer further, contrasting perspectives. The hiking area on the 600-metre-high Muschelkalkfelsen of the Reinsberge opens up views across the foothills of the Thuringian Forest. At 861 metres, Kickelhahn is the local mountain of the people of Ilmenau; in clear weather, the panoramic views extend across the Thuringian Forest as far as the Harz. When planning your holiday, it is worth treating these as distinct landscape experiences rather than inferring a walking time or level of difficulty from their elevations.
Hiking Trails with Art, Goethe and Long-Distance Routes
The Kleinbreitenbach Art Hiking Trail is two kilometres long. Along it, artworks adorn the Romanesque fortified church, the cemetery, the church forecourt, the village and the path at the edge of the village. You will therefore encounter art at several named locations in the village and along the trail. The Goethe Hiking Trail offers a different focus: it connects landscapes of the Thuringian Forest with places where Goethe worked in Ilmenau and the surrounding area, extending as far as Stützerbach.
For a longer hike, the 21-kilometre Pilzsteig is another option. It runs from Gehren via Langer Berg to the European Mushroom Park in Gillersdorf, then continues through the Reicheltal valley to Neustadt am Rennsteig. At 135 kilometres, the Panoramaweg Schwarzatal is considerably longer and passes through the districts of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Ilm-Kreis, Hildburghausen and Sonneberg. It connects the Rennsteig with the castle landscape along the Saale. The route lengths and destinations give you different scales to consider when planning your trip, without specifying a particular walking time.
Cycling Routes and Family Outings
Cycling routes also vary in length and course. The Ilmtal Cycle Route is 123 kilometres long, 45 kilometres of which run through Ilm-Kreis. The Ilm-Rennsteig Cycle Route follows a former railway line from Ilmenau to either Großbreitenbach or Neustadt am Rennsteig. It connects the Ilmtal Cycle Route with the Rennsteig Cycle Route, is almost entirely paved and is signposted as a cycle street. The Bach Cycling Adventure Route runs for 54 kilometres through places and landscapes in the districts of Gotha and Ilm-Kreis that shaped Johann Sebastian Bach’s childhood and youth.
The four-kilometre Zwergenpfad in Frauenwald is designed as a children’s trail; both the start and finish are at the Frauenwald Tourist Information Office. In Geraberg, the approximately 6.5-kilometre Climate Trail passes through topics relating to weather and climate, with more than 20 information panels. It is designed as an educational trail and explains natural phenomena in an accessible way, based on scientific evidence. The clearly stated themes and route lengths make it easier to take different interests into account when planning days out together.
Culture, Museums and Regional Specialities
In Arnstadt, the baroque doll city “Mon plaisir” is housed in the New Palace. In Großbreitenbach, the Thuringian Forest Creative Museum includes the 1st German Dumpling Press Museum. Other museums include the Bunker Museum in Frauenwald, the Rennsteig Museum in Neustadt am Rennsteig, the Thermometer Museum in Geraberg and the Dwarf Museum in Gräfenroda. In Gehren, the Town and Castle Museum tells the story of the princely house and the castle. Today, the castle ruins and park also serve as a cultural venue, including for the major Castle Park Festival in August.
Regional cuisine includes Thuringian dumplings, Thuringian Rostbrätel and Thuringian Rostbratwurst. The 1st German Bratwurst Museum is located in the district of Holzhausen. Culture enthusiasts can choose from attractions ranging from the doll city and regional history to culinary themes. For winter days, the Rennsteig region of Ilm-Kreis has groomed cross-country ski trails and ski touring routes for winter sports; as well as hiking and cycling, the region also offers designated winter sports activities.
More Places in Ilm-Kreis
Discover the places in Ilm-Kreis: Großbreitenbach, Neustadt am Rennsteig, Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig, Altenfeld, Geraberg, Wachsenburggemeinde, Herschdorf, Friedersdorf, Geschwenda, Ilmenau, Frauenwald, Großliebringen, Plaue, Ichtershausen, Gräfenroda, Langewiesen, Pennewitz, Wipfratal, Wolfsberg, Stadtilm, Elxleben, Bösleben-Wüllersleben, Möhrenbach, Gehlberg, Arnstadt, Stützerbach, Frankenhain, Bücheloh, Behringen, Elgersburg, Kirchheim, Elleben and Gehren.
For the broader travel overview: Thuringia.
