Erlau: Hiking, Swimming and Local History

For a trip to Erlau, nature, outdoor activities and local history offer different areas of focus. The hiking trail network and the town’s location on the edge of the Vessertal UNESCO Biosphere Reserve appeal to travelers who want to explore the landscape; swimming pools and St. Laurentius Church offer other points of interest.

Hiking and Landscape

Erlau has a well-developed network of hiking trails and lies on the edge of the Vessertal UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The trail network makes the area a destination for hiking trips, while its location on the edge of the reserve highlights its connection to the landscape. If you are planning a specific hike, take the current trail conditions into account, as they can vary. This lets you consider outdoor activity and nature as two related but distinct aspects of your trip planning.

Swimming in Erlau

Erlau Swimming Pool has a children’s playground with a slide, carousel and rocking horse. The facilities are listed here in detail in case playground equipment is relevant to your trip planning. Erlau Forest Swimming Pool is a public outdoor pool operated by the town of Schleusingen and is located directly in front of the campsite in Erlau. This is a municipal outdoor pool and its location in relation to the campsite; the playground facilities belong to Erlau Swimming Pool.

Local History and St. Laurentius Church

According to available records, Erlau is the oldest district of the town of Schleusingen; it was first mentioned in 1144. In earlier centuries, forestry, charcoal burning and agriculture provided livelihoods. Blacksmithing, woodworking, weaving and glassmaking were added later. This sequence traces a shift from earlier sources of livelihood to a broader range of crafts.

The overall structure of St. Laurentius Church in Erlau was built mainly around 1500. Its large winged altarpiece dates from the same period and features carved, painted and partially gilded figures, as well as twelve painted panels. Dating both the building and the altarpiece to around 1500 links the history of the church with a specific description of its interior. Erlau’s cultural history is thus represented both by the district’s early recorded history and by a building with a detailed description of its altarpiece.

In the wider destination of Schleusingen

Bertholdsburg Castle in Schleusingen is a Renaissance building flanked by four towers and featuring magnificent portals. Until 1583, the castle was the seat of the Counts of Henneberg; today, it houses the Natural History Museum. The cultural context of the wider destination therefore encompasses both the castle’s former function and its present-day use as a museum.

The Natural History Museum presents three large exhibitions across nearly 2,000 square meters in the east, north and west wings of the castle. Highlights include the five- to six-meter-long skeletons of dinosaurs from southern Thuringia. As exhibitions may change, check the museum’s current visitor information and displays before your trip.

The market square in the center of Schleusingen also offers its own historical point of interest: linden trees line the square, at the center of which stands a market fountain dating from 1710, topped by a statue of Countess Elisabeth of Henneberg. The castle, museum and market square offer distinct perspectives on architectural history, natural history and urban space.

Discover more destinations: Schnett, Goldlauter, Heldburger Unterland, Schleusingerneundorf, Eisfeld, Oberstadt, Straufhain, Sachsenbrunn

Back to the wider travel overview: Hildburghausen-Suhl.