Thuringian Forest on summer holiday
Summer in the Thuringian Forest
Even Johann Wolfgang von Goethe appreciated the beauty of the Thuringian Forest. “The area is magnificent, magnificent,” said Germany’s most famous poet during a visit to Ilmenau in Thuringia. A few years later he added: “Where else can you find so much good in such a narrow spot? With so many good things, it is no wonder that the Thuringian Forest is the most visited holiday region in Thuringia. Every year, thousands of people come to spend the summer in the Thuringian Forest hiking, Nordic walking, cycling, mountain biking, swimming and boating. Of course, holidaymakers can also simply enjoy peace and relaxation in one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Germany. The Thuringian Forest offers visitors numerous hiking and cycling trails, densely forested heights with picturesque panoramic views and idyllic valleys with lovely villages.
Hiking in the Thuringian Forest
The Thüringerwxald is a true paradise for hikers. There is hardly any other region in Germany where hiking fans will find so many, so long and so beautiful hiking trails as here. The pearl among the forest’s hiking trails is the Rennsteig. It is probably the most famous and oldest continuous high-altitude hiking trail in Germany. With around 100,000 hikers setting out every year, the Rennsteig is also the most popular long-distance hiking trail in Germany.
It stretches for 168 kilometres from the Eisenach district of Hörschel on the banks of the Werra to Blankenstein on the Saale. The risk of getting lost on the Rennsteig is very low. The trail is well marked everywhere with trail signs with a white R. Those who take the long way are rewarded with numerous lookout points and platforms offering a fantastic view of the scenic beauty of the Thuringian Forest.
Since 2000, cyclists have also been able to enjoy the Rennsteig experience. Since then, the Rennsteig cycle path has been in existence, which is about 30 kilometres longer than the historic hiking trail. In order to avoid too steep climbs, the route of the cycle path deviates a little from the historic footpath.
Holiday in Oberhof
A hotel in Oberhof is the ideal starting point for an active or relaxing holiday in the Thuringian Forest. All the attractions of the holiday region can be reached from Oberhof in a short time.
In the village itself there are some of the most interesting attractions of the holiday region which can be reached on foot from a hotel in Oberhof. Especially families with children will get their money’s worth in Oberhof. Reptile fans will enjoy the Exotarium, where snakes, lizards and many other reptiles are presented in the largest animal exhibition of its kind in Central Germany on an area of around 600 square metres, according to the most modern zoological aspects. One of the highlights of the Exotarium is the Amazons large aquarium with a capacity of 40,000 litres.
Those who prefer swimming or going to the sauna will find one of the most beautiful bathing landscapes of Thuringia in Oberhof with the H2Oberhof wellness bath. The wellness bath offers its bathing guests an adventure pool with waterfall, a grotto and three whirlpools. The 110-metre-long giant slide provides a real adrenalin rush. For the little guests there is a baby pool and an indoor playground. Outside the pool area there is a heated swimming pool, a sunbathing lawn, a children’s play area and a beach volleyball court. And sauna-goers can work up a sweat in eight different saunas in the wellness pool.
In bad weather, the Yoki Ahorn Children’s World provides the ultimate in children’s fun. The indoor play world guarantees a day of fun for big and small children on 1,200 square metres. The Children’s World will delight you with a play tower on three levels, a double slide, a go-kart track, a bouncy and climbing castle, a climbing mountain, a trampoline facility and a multifunctional field for hockey, football and basketball.
Experiences in the holiday region Oberhof
The Oberhof holiday region also offers active holidaymakers, hikers and families numerous experiences for an unforgettable summer in the Thuringian Forest. Guests can get the best overview of the region from the summit of the Schneekopf. The observation tower on the Schneekopf is the only point in Thuringia which is above a height of 1.000 metres. From the tower, visitors enjoy a magnificent view over the surrounding Thuringian Forest. Who seizes the hunger with so much panorama, can strengthen itself in the new Gehlberger hut, the highest situated managed hut of Thuringia.
In the direct vicinity of Oberhof are also the two reservoirs of the Lütschatal and Ohratal dams. The Ohratalsperre is especially popular because of its close-to-nature character. Numerous hiking and cycling trails lead around the scenic reservoir. The Lütschetal Reservoir is even more popular with tourists. The 1,000 metre long and up to 300 metre wide reservoir is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts who can swim, row and paddle here. The campsite at the Lütschetalsperre offers a wealth of other activities.
Those who like to spend their day outdoors in the company of animals should visit the game reserve on the Lautenberg, just a short distance from Oberhof. On an area of seven hectares, fallow deer, red deer, mouflons and goats are at home on the meadows, pastures and in the woods of the game reserve. Visitors can explore the enclosure on a circular hiking trail.
For a summer day with bad weather, the holiday region around Oberhof also has some interesting museums to offer. If you can’t make up your mind, you should pay a visit to the Thuringian Museum Park, which houses several museums at once. Here guests can find a glass museum, a poacher’s museum, a post office museum, a weather museum, a mineral cabinet and a knowledge trail.
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