Schwallungen: Canoe Tours and Local History

Town Centre and Regional Museum

The Kemenate, the Protestant parish church, and the municipal administration building together form the town centre of Schwallungen. The Kemenate is located in the centre of town near the church and is a listed individual cultural monument. Those interested in local history will find another point of interest at the Werratal Regional Museum: its permanent exhibition explores the history of the local community through archaeological finds. The town thus offers both a historic group of buildings and an exhibition focused on the local past.

Canoe Tours to Schwallungen

Pfannstiel Outdoor-aktiv offers two guided canoe tours on the Werra, both of which end in Schwallungen. The 11-kilometre route runs from Walldorf to Schwallungen and takes about 4.5 hours, including transfer. The tour from Meiningen to Schwallungen covers 18 kilometres and takes about 6.5 hours, including transfer. The longer tour therefore covers around seven kilometres more and takes approximately two additional hours within the stated overall timeframe. For both tours, the meeting point is arranged by agreement. Check the latest tour details with the provider before travelling and agree on the meeting point.

Half-Timbered Houses, Cycling and Hiking

Schwallungen lies between Meiningen and Bad Salzungen. Many tourists use the town and its restored half-timbered houses as a base for longer cycling and hiking tours through the surrounding countryside. This complements the guided canoe trips with another way to experience the area: on the water or on longer excursions by bike and on foot. When choosing your holiday apartment, consider whether you want to focus mainly on Schwallungen’s town centre and the canoe tours that end here, or whether other topics in the wider destination are important to your plans.

More to Discover in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen Destination

The wider Schmalkalden-Meiningen destination also offers distinctive cultural and nature experiences. In Schmalkalden, visitors can see nougat being made at the Viba Nougat World glass-fronted factory. Hands-on confectionery courses cover chocolate moulding, nougat decorating, and praline making; check course times and booking conditions in advance.

Also in Schmalkalden is the Neue Hütte blast furnace museum: the blast furnace complex dates from 1835, and local iron ores were smelted there using charcoal to produce pig iron until 1924. Exhibitions explore the nearly 1,300-year history of iron and steel goods production in the Schmalkalden region, including the well-known “Schmalkalder Artikel” (Schmalkalden products). A 45-minute guided tour covers the history and function of the blast furnace operation. Alongside local history, the wider destination thus offers a choice of interests, including nougat making, crafts, and industrial history.

For days spent in nature and being active, the destination offers further contrasts: the scenic region of Schmalkalden-Meiningen district encompasses the Thuringian Forest, the Rhön, the Werra Valley, and the Grabfeld, all of which can be explored on foot on sporting outings or relaxed family excursions. The Breitunger Seen nature reserve has a 3.5-kilometre hiking trail with seating areas. The Trusetal Waterfall plunges 60 metres over a granite formation in three cascades; visitors can also climb the 228 steps beside it. The Werratal Cycle Route, with its river scenery, is another option for multi-day cycling tours in the wider destination.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Schwarza, Kleinschmalkalden, Floh-Seligenthal, Brotterode Health Resort, Oepfershausen, Trusetal-Laudenbach, Wernshausen, Grabfeld.

Return to the main travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.