Lichte: between the Slate Mountains and creative culture

Lichte stretches along the Lichte and Piesau streams, with the ridges of the Thuringian Slate Mountains surrounding the town. This combination of waterways and ridges shapes the landscape. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider whether you want to discover Lichte mainly for its natural scenery or for its creative and local-history themes.

Creative activities and local history in Geiersthal

Geiersthal is home to a drawing and modelling school considered unique in Thuringia. Visitors can create objects from porcelain, ceramics, glass, wood, clay or plaster under expert guidance. The range of materials gives the activities a clear creative focus: rather than simply looking, you can get hands-on and make something yourself. Sessions can be arranged by appointment.

The same building also houses the local history room, which brings the town’s history to life. This means two different perspectives on Lichte sit side by side in Geiersthal: creating something yourself and learning about the town’s history. If you are weighing up an active pursuit against a historical theme, you will find both under one roof.

Draisine rides on the Max and Moritz Railway offer another way to experience Lichte and the surrounding landscape. If you are planning a ride, check the current dates in advance. This lets you distinguish the creative side of Geiersthal from an activity where views of the town and its landscape are part of the experience.

Water in the wider region

Water also plays a role in the wider region: it flows into the Lichte-Leibis reservoir, with the Deesbach pre-dam. The reservoir was commissioned in 2005 to supply drinking water. This broader perspective on water management complements the view of the two streams along which Lichte stretches.

Neuhaus am Rennweg: a distinctive regional highlight

The wider destination of Neuhaus am Rennweg brings in further themes. The Rennsteig high-altitude trail runs right through the town. The architecture is another striking feature: the Gothic wooden church in the town centre was consecrated in 1892 and is one of Germany’s few entirely wooden churches. Its windows feature geometric and ornamental stained glass, with the colours arranged to reflect the ripening of the grapes.

The Erlebnis Museum in Neuhaus am Rennweg lets visitors immerse themselves in the life of the “Wäldler” and invites them to listen, linger and take part. It also presents the glassmaking and local history of the Rennsteig town. In Lichte, the focus in Geiersthal is on creative activities and local history; Neuhaus am Rennweg adds church architecture, glassmaking history and the Rennsteig to this range of themes.

For walks, Neuhaus am Rennweg offers practical guidance: the Bogenpfad trail on the Rennsteig starts and ends at the Igelshieb sports ground, close to the Rennsteighaus. The town’s tourist information office can arrange hikes on the Rennsteig and walks to historically significant destinations, either with or without a certified nature and landscape guide. If a guided tour is important to your plans, check current availability.

Cyclists will also find several route connections in Neuhaus am Rennweg. The Rennsteig Cycle Route and the Schwarzatal Cycle Route lead into the town. According to tourist information, the Werratal Cycle Tour often starts in Neuhaus am Rennweg; for travelling with a bicycle, it lists the Südthüringen-Bahn or a bicycle-transport bus from Saalfeld. Check connections and timetables in advance if you are planning to travel this way.

Discover more destinations: Schwarzburg, Deesbach, Uhlstädt-Kirchhasel, Piesau, Sitzendorf, Drognitz, Leutnitz, Mellenbach-Glasbach.

Go to the regional travel overview: Saalfeld-Rudolstadt.