Discover Birx: the Black Moor and ski touring trails
Accommodation in Birx
The Black Moor is near Birx, and the village is also connected to the groomed ski touring trail network. Nature watching and walks across the moor offer one kind of experience, while ski touring offers another. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider the focus of your plans: for an outing in nature, proximity to the moor matters; for ski touring, it is Birx’s connection to the trail network.
The Black Moor: nature trail and boardwalk
The Black Moor is a 67-hectare nature reserve and one of the few remaining raised bogs in Europe. Sundews, sphagnum moss and low-growing birch trees grow there. There is a nature trail at the Black Moor. At the entrance, visitors are allowed to enter an artificial bog pool; ten panels featuring a dandelion motif provide child-friendly information about the moor and encourage activities.
The boardwalk at the Black Moor is about 2.5 kilometres long and has 23 information panels. You can also take a circular walk to the Black Moor from Birx. At the end of the circular route by the moor, an observation tower offers panoramic views of the moorland. This nature area therefore offers several specific points of interest: a nature trail, the boardwalk and views from the tower.
Walking, ski touring and choosing where to stay
Birx is connected to the groomed ski touring trail network. Seasonal conditions can vary, so check the current conditions before planning a ski tour. This winter activity differs from the nearby moorland, which offers the opportunity for a circular walk. You can choose a holiday apartment based on the activity you have in mind: for an outing to the Black Moor, its proximity to Birx is a useful guide; for ski touring, consider the village’s connection to the trail network.
Village life, history and places to eat
The village fair and the sports festival are among the traditional celebrations of the municipality of Birx. If one of these events is important for your travel dates, check the schedule in advance. The Kaltensundheim–Birx leg adds a historical perspective: along the route, you can see remnants of former border installations. This offers a different perspective on the wider region from the nature-related attractions around the moor.
In Birx, the Flechsenberger Hof and Rhönstübchen inns are known for home-style cooking and homemade cakes. If you would like to dine there, check whether the inns are currently open before you visit. This lets you plan a meal out as a separate part of your stay, without tying it to a fixed event or excursion schedule.
More experiences in the wider destination of Schmalkalden-Meiningen
The wider destination of Schmalkalden-Meiningen offers further attractions. In Schmalkalden, visitors can experience nougat being made at the Viba Nougat World’s glass-walled workshop. Hands-on confectionery courses offer the chance to pour chocolate, decorate nougat and create pralines. Course times and booking conditions may change; check them in advance if you are interested.
Industrial history is also part of Schmalkalden’s story: the “Neue Hütte” blast furnace museum includes a blast furnace installation dating from 1835. Local iron ores were smelted there using charcoal to produce pig iron until 1924. The exhibitions cover the nearly 1,300-year development of iron and steel goods production in the Schmalkalden region, including the well-known “Schmalkalder Artikel.” A 45-minute guided tour focuses on the history and function of the blast furnace operation. These regional cultural attractions offer a different focus from the nature trail and ski touring trail network in and around Birx.
Discover more destinations: Bermbach, Friedelshausen, Schwallungen, Trusetal-Laudenbach, Christes, Fambach, Trusetal, Jüchsen.
View the wider travel guide: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.
