Discover Wallbach

The stream of the same name flows through Wallbach and gave the village its name. In the Wallbach Valley, the surroundings invite you to explore on foot. Another special place is the “Am Heiligenberg” memorial forest, which is used for tree burials. Experiencing nature and the memorial forest’s special purpose give you different points of interest to consider when planning your trip.

Hiking and Nature in the Wallbach Valley

The Wallbach Valley appeals to hikers and nature lovers who want to get to know the area on foot. A guided tour of the memorial forest offers a different way to explore: visitors learn about the site and can ask questions. This lets you choose between exploring the surroundings independently and joining a tour with explanations.

The “Am Heiligenberg” Memorial Forest

The memorial forest near Wallbach is used for tree burials and was the first of its kind in Thuringia in 2014. Its facilities include benches, a memorial site and parking. The memorial forest can be entered at any time from sunrise to sunset, at your own risk. Temporary closures may apply in severe weather or during maintenance work.

For guided forest tours, the information board near the parking area is the meeting point; sturdy footwear is required. No tours take place during storms, thunderstorms or natural disasters. Group tours can be arranged individually. If you would like to join a tour, you can explore the site and have the opportunity to ask questions.

Cultural and Nature Highlights in Meiningen

The wider travel destination of Meiningen has its own cultural highlights. Elisabethenburg Palace was built between 1682 and 1692 under Bernhard I as the residence of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen. Today, it houses the Meiningen Museums and is an important cultural monument under the patronage of the Meiningen-Eisenach Cultural Foundation. The palace museum displays works of painting, sculpture and decorative arts. In Meiningen’s old town, the town church, or “Our Lady” Church, with its 50-metre-high towers, forms a striking focal point. The “Zauberwelt der Kulisse” Theatre Museum displays a stage set around 14 metres long, costumes, theatre programmes and autograph manuscripts from the history of the Meiningen Theatre.

Gardens in Meiningen also bring together cultural history and time outdoors. At the suggestion of former Duke Georg II, the English Garden was adorned with monuments to Jean Paul, Johannes Brahms and Max Reger, including the world’s first monument to Johannes Brahms. The palace park was transformed into an English landscape garden; a stone arch bridge over the Werra, designed by Eduard Fritze in 1883, stands there. The park lies directly on the Werra and is a starting point for leisure activities and hikes. More than ten walking and hiking routes, ranging from three to twelve kilometres, follow in the footsteps of Johannes Brahms, Ludwig Bechstein and Friedrich Schiller in Meiningen.

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide what you would like to focus on: Wallbach is defined by the Wallbach Valley, the stream and the memorial forest; Meiningen offers its own museums, gardens and hiking. This lets you choose your destination based on the experiences that interest you most.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Trusetal, Bermbach, Hümpfershausen, Oberschönau, Benshausen, Kurort Brotterode, Henneberg, Oepfershausen.

Return to the wider travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.