Discover Weimarer Land: Trails, culture and regional diversity

Hiking trails with a variety of themes

In southern Weimarer Land, the Thüringer Drei Türme Weg (Thuringian Three Towers Trail) is a circular hiking route through the protected landscape of the central Ilm Valley. It connects the Paulinenturm near Bad Berka, the Hainturm in the Belvederer Forst near Weimar and the Carolinenturm near Blankenhain. The three named towers provide the circular route with its distinctive destinations; the trail itself passes through a protected landscape. This makes it a way to make nature and viewpoints the focus of your stay.

The Goethe-Erlebnisweg (Goethe Experience Trail) offers a different emphasis: it follows Goethe’s route to Charlotte von Stein, connects Weimar and Großkochberg, and features twelve experience stations between nature and culture. The number of stations creates a sequence of specific stopping points, while the connection to Goethe provides the cultural context. If you are interested in both aspects, this offers a different thematic approach from the Drei Türme Weg. Stage 25 of the Lutherweg is another distinct hiking option: it leads from Weimar to Apolda.

Near Bad Berka, the four VitalParcours routes are also available for Nordic walking. In 2011, they were certified as quality trails by the German Nordic Walking Association; the routes are described as passing through varied landscapes. The certification applies to these four routes. When choosing, this means you can distinguish between a circular hiking trail, themed experience trails and Nordic walking routes, rather than treating all trails as the same kind of tour.

Cycling through cultural and natural landscapes

Cycling trips offer another focus. The cycle paths between Weimar, Apolda and Bad Sulza combine experiences of nature, cultural history and regional cuisine, and are suitable for multi-day cycling trips. If you are planning several days of cycling, these places and the themes mentioned there can help structure your itinerary. Another themed cycle route follows in the footsteps of the artist Lyonel Feininger. At 23 locations in Weimarer Land, colourful lecterns provide information about his paintings. On this route, information about art is therefore an explicit part of the cycling experience at several locations.

The Ilmtal cycle path passes through the Thüringer Weintor (Thuringian Wine Gate) in Bad Sulza. This specific route adds another named point of reference to the cycle paths between Weimar, Apolda and Bad Sulza. The routes therefore offer different thematic connections: Feininger’s work, nature and cultural history, or the Thüringer Weintor.

Museums and regional history

In Hohenfelden, the Thuringian Open-Air Museum displays more than 40 historic buildings dating from the 16th to the 20th century. In Apolda, the GlockenStadtMuseum (Bell City Museum) explores the cultural history of bells and the region’s textile industry. Since 1995, Kunsthaus Apolda Avantgarde has presented exhibitions by international and regional artists; it also hosts talks, auctions, book readings and film screenings. The cultural offering thus ranges from historic buildings and regional industrial history to exhibitions and events.

The Coudray-Haus in Bad Berka explores 200 years of the development of spa and healthcare services in the town in its permanent exhibition. The Bad Sulza Saltworks and Local History Museum presents the tradition of salt boiling, which dates back to 1046. At the Wielandgut Oßmannstedt, a memorial to Wieland and a multimedia museum offer insights into Wieland’s life, work and influence; the renovated estate is open to visitors. These subjects are quite distinct: one focuses on the history of healthcare, another on salt boiling, and another on the life and work of a writer.

Regional cuisine offers another way to explore the area: at the Thuringian Dumpling Museum, seminars or training sessions for up to 80 people can be booked year-round. At the dumpling cookery school and the potato pancake school, you can prepare Thuringian classics. This is a practical way to learn about regional dishes.

Getting here and choosing where to stay

Weimar is connected to Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance rail network. In the Mittelthüringen transport network, buses, trains and trams can be used with a single fare system and one ticket. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can therefore first consider which of the different themes you would like to shape your stay and which places you would like to include. The trails, museums and cultural offerings each have their own focus; choosing nature, a cycling trip or culture will lead to different travel plans.

Other places in Weimarer Land: Niedergrunstedt, Possendorf, Mellingen, Kranichfeld, Nohra, Tonndorf, Gaberndorf, Kleinobringen, Ilmtal-Weinstraße, Ettersburg, Lehnstedt, Kapellendorf, Niedertrebra, Schwerstedt, Berlstedt, Niederzimmern, Großheringen, Kleinschwabhausen, Auerstedt and Magdala.

For the overview of the wider region: Thuringia.