Discover Probstzella: Bauhaus, the border and nature

Bauhaus architecture and local history

The Haus des Volkes was built between 1925 and 1927 as a hotel and community centre; the architect was Alfred Arndt, a Bauhaus student. Dating from 1927, the Haus des Volkes is the largest Bauhaus ensemble in Thuringia. The building contains a theatre and concert hall. Its construction history and original purpose as a hotel and community centre give it a special place among Probstzella’s cultural attractions. If you are interested in architecture, it offers a tangible starting point for learning more about the town’s Bauhaus connections.

The GDR Border Station Museum offers a different perspective. It is located in the old station building dating from 1885 and focuses on the history of the border station. At the local history museum, you can also follow the traces of the former inner-German border. The museum also explores the history of slate mining in the Probstzella area. It recreates the former Probstzella post office and a colonial goods shop—two vivid glimpses of the town’s former institutions.

The exhibition at the local history museum includes around 120 metres of track, approximately 2,000 trees and numerous faithful reproductions of houses in Probstzella. These dimensions and details give the exhibition a distinct character alongside its themes of postal history and slate mining. If you want to discover different aspects of the town on your trip, you’ll find local history, border history and an extensive display with links to Probstzella here.

The Green Belt and hiking trails

The landscape around Probstzella is part of the Green Belt. During the decades when the former border strip was sealed off, particularly well-preserved biotopes developed along it. Both border history and nature are therefore important themes when exploring the surrounding area. Guided border walks around Probstzella can be arranged on request with qualified nature guides. This offers a way to explore the history of the border while out hiking.

The Slate Trail includes a short circular route around Probstzella, which takes approximately two to four hours. The full Slate Trail is a circular route of around 60 kilometres, linking Probstzella with Lehesten, Ludwigsstadt and Gräfenthal. These two options can help you decide whether to include a shorter circular walk or the longer route in your travel plans. In the wider region, the Loquitz cycle trail can be explored on foot or by bicycle.

Other places to include in your plans: Kaulsdorf, Schwarzburg, Meuselbach-Schwarzmühle, Unterhain, Königsee-Rottenbach, Kamsdorf, Unterweißbach and Barigau.

For the broader travel overview: Saalfeld-Rudolstadt.