Magdala: Ruins Hill, Town Church and Renaissance Portal

Castle Remains and Architectural History in Magdala

St. John’s Town Church is also a worthwhile stop on a stroll. In the town centre, the Renaissance portal at the town hall catches the eye. It was the town hall’s former entrance and bears the carved date 1571. The castle remains, church and portal each offer a different perspective: one takes you to the remains of a moated castle, another to a striking detail of Renaissance architecture.

The local history of development also includes the Theatre and Beautification Association. Founded in 1890, it built a site a little below the Pfarrholz woodland. Together, these places offer several reasons to explore Magdala—from looking out over the moated castle ruins to taking a closer look at the town hall portal.

Walking and Cycling Routes in the Weimarer Land

The wider travel destination of the Weimarer Land offers further attractions, with its own walking and cycling routes. The Thuringian Three Towers Trail is a circular hiking route through the protected landscape of the Central Ilm Valley in the southern Weimarer Land. It connects the Paulinenturm near Bad Berka, the Hainturm in the Belvederer Forst near Weimar and the Carolinenturm near Blankenhain. So alongside a stroll to individual sights, visitors can choose a circular route or visit three named towers, depending on their travel interests.

The Goethe Adventure Trail follows Goethe’s route to Charlotte von Stein and offers twelve experience stops combining nature and culture. It connects Weimar and Großkochberg. Another option is Stage 25 of the Luther Trail in the Weimarer Land, which runs from Weimar to Apolda. Cycling routes between Weimar, Apolda and Bad Sulza focus on nature, cultural history and regional cuisine, and are suitable for multi-day tours. The Ilm Valley Cycle Route passes through the Thuringian Wine Gate in Bad Sulza.

Cultural Destinations and Regional Themes

Apolda’s attractions include both bell-making and textile history: the Bell Town Museum focuses on the cultural history of bells and the region’s textile industry. Since 1995, the Apolda Avantgarde Art House has presented exhibitions by international and regional artists. Its events also include lectures, auctions, book readings and film screenings. In Bad Berka, the permanent exhibition at the Coudray House covers 200 years of the development of spa and healthcare services. The Thuringian Open-Air Museum in Hohenfelden features more than 40 historic buildings dating from the 16th to the 20th century.

Regional cuisine can also be planned as a focus in its own right. Seminars or training sessions for up to 80 people can be booked year-round at the Thuringian Dumpling Museum. Visitors can prepare Thuringian classics at the dumpling cooking school and the potato pancake school; these activities require booking and scheduling. This means the Weimarer Land offers routes, cultural history and hands-on insights into regional cuisine.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Trip

When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to decide first which places you want to visit: Magdala offers buildings and castle remains to explore on a stroll, while the regional destinations feature their own walking, cycling and cultural themes. Before visiting, check the latest visitor information for museums and the conditions for each tour.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Ilmtal-Weinstraße, Lehnstedt, Blankenhain, Berlstedt, Niedertrebra, Kranichfeld, Possendorf, Niederzimmern.

For the broader travel overview: Weimarer Land.