Nationale Naturlandschaften - National Natural Landscapes in Thuringia

A real treasure for historical railway enthusiasts and nature lovers awaits in the wild and romantic Schwarza valley. The fully electrified Oberweissbach funicular railway has been serving the region since the early 20th century. In summer, an open-top carriage allows you to savour the fresh woodland air and enjoy the breeze on your face, while the ‘natural remedy train’ provides an interactive introduction to Thuringia’s herb country.

Rambling roses and old fruit trees are a common sight in the middle valley of the Ilm river, which flows at a leisurely pace past rolling hills, idyllic villages and meadows buzzing with bees – perfect for a laid-back cycling trip.

The whispering of the wind that blows through the leaves of the beech trees. The gentle rippling of the water that flows through the mountain brook. The quiet buzzing of the bees or the soft croaking of the pool frog. Otherwise, it is pleasantly quiet all around you. In Thuringia’s natural landscapes, you can recharge your batteries and enjoy a break from the hustle and bustle of urban or rural life. Thanks to the varied nature, everyone will find their own quiet place here: untouched nature in the primeval forest of the Hainich, flowering mountain meadows in the Thuringian Forest, a reservoir landscape in the Thuringian Highlands or grassy steppes in the Thuringian Basin. We would like to present our nature parks, biosphere reserves and national park to you.

Saving animals, looking for stars, or simply going for a stroll – the Rhoen hills in Thuringian have lots of new attractions for families. Here are our top five travel tips:

Since 1991, the Rhön has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve that extends across the borders of the states of Bavaria, Hesse and Thuringia. It is an ancient cultivated landscape of volcanic origins. The landscape is characterised by orchards, grassland, near-natural beech forests and unwooded mountaintops. In large calcareous low-nutrient meadows, the typical Rhön sheep graze and rare species of plants thrive . No wind turbines or power cables break through the landscape. At night, a natural darkness offers an unimpeded view of a sky full of stars.

What would the world look like without us? If there weren’t any people, just nature, completely untouched. Beech trees as far as the eye can see, the air filled with a fungal, earthy aroma. The Hainich region is one of the last remnants of the ancient woodland that once covered large swathes of central Europe. At around 130 square kilometres, it is Germany’s largest unbroken area of deciduous forest. Its southern section is a national park, which became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Ancient Beech Forests of Germany in 2011. Although at first glance its natural landscape might not seem quite as spectacular as chalk cliffs, coral reefs or canyons, it is nevertheless unique and provides a very special habitat for many rare species.

Europe’s largest continuous reservoir region is located in the Thuringian Slate Mountains/Upper Saale nature park. With its large expanses of water surrounded by dense forests it is reminiscent of Scandinavian fjords. The locals fondly refer to this area as the ‘Thuringian Sea’. And right at the heart of it is the Hohenwarte Reservoir Trail – a highly memorable 74.4 kilometre walking route.

As you’re walking along, it takes a while to realise that you can’t hear much for a change. Except for the buzzing of bees, the wind in the canopy and your own footsteps. It’s a quiet, but by no means uneventful tour from Oberhof to Allzunah.