Discover Remda-Teichel

History of the royal residence, theatre and churches

Heidecksburg Palace in Rudolstadt was the residence of the counts and princes of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. One of the most magnificent Baroque palaces of the 18th century, it combines this historical role with collections on art, cultural and natural history. The Heidecksburg Cabinet of Curiosities is also part of what it offers. Those interested in a range of fields will therefore find more than a single historical focus here.

The theatre’s history began with the construction of Rudolstadt Theatre in 1792/93: at the behest of the princely court, it was initially built as a summer theatre on the Anger. Goethe later directed the ensemble, which performed from Weimar, as its artistic director from 1794 to 1805. St. Andrew’s Church offers a different view of history. This three-aisled late Gothic hall church was built between 1463 and 1475 by converting a place of worship that had already existed since the 12th century. “Three-aisled” describes the division of the church interior into three aisles; its construction history thus reaches visibly further back than its late Gothic form.

Museums, kitchens and herb gardens

The Thuringian Farmhouses in Rudolstadt are considered Germany’s oldest open-air museum. A guided tour with the Hunchbacked Apothecary introduces visitors to a character from the former Principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. There is also a tour of the farmhouse kitchens and herb garden. It covers old useful and ornamental plants, herbs associated with health, and the revival of long-forgotten recipes. This allows visitors to explore the museum not only through its houses, but also through its historical plants and culinary themes.

Hiking trails and events

For time outdoors, there are two different trail options in the wider destination. The Hain Adventure Trail starts at Heidecksburg Palace, is freely accessible at all times and can be visited in every season. Please take local conditions into account when visiting. The Schiller Hiking Trail is a signposted circular route that can be started at any point along the trail. It follows natural forest paths and hilly terrain with elevation changes of around 50 metres twice; sure-footedness is required. When planning, you can therefore weigh the Hain Trail’s year-round accessibility against the circular route format and the explicitly stated requirements of the Schiller Hiking Trail.

The Rudolstadt Festival lasts four days in July. Artists from around 40 countries perform on nearly 30 stages throughout the town. The programme includes dance or singing workshops, artist talks and a symposium; a lively children’s festival is also part of the event. Individual programme items vary from year to year, so check the festival dates and programme for your travel dates. Independently of this, the summer theatre at Heidecksburg Palace is an annual highlight of the theatre programme.

Discover more destinations: Probstzella, Katzhütte, Middle Schwarzatal, Bad Blankenburg, Meuselbach-Schwarzmühle, Schwarzburg, Gräfenthal, Sitzendorf.

Back to the wider travel overview: Saalfeld-Rudolstadt.