Steinbach: High Forest, Far-reaching Views and Hiking Trails

Steinbach is the highest-altitude village in the municipality of Schleusegrund and is nestled in the high forest. From Steinbach, you can enjoy far-reaching views of the Franconian countryside. This gives you clear landscape features to consider when choosing a destination; there is also a historical connection and a link to an open-air theatre. If you are looking for a hotel in Steinbach, these connections can help you get a sense of the destination.

Local History and Culture

Steinbach was first mentioned in 1406. This date gives the village’s history a specific point of reference. Steinbach is also connected with Thuringia’s largest open-air theatre. This brings together several perspectives: the first mention provides a historical reference point, the high forest and far-reaching views reflect the landscape, and the open-air theatre represents the cultural aspect. If you choose destinations based on several interests, you can weigh these aspects separately.

Hiking Around Steinbach

There is a hiking car park on the edge of Steinbach. Marked hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels run through the surrounding area. When planning your hikes, you can use the intended distance and difficulty level as separate selection criteria. This helps you choose a specific route based on the desired length and level of challenge. Also check the current trail conditions before setting out.

Routes in the Wider Area

In the wider region, a mountain race has been held annually since 2008 along the natural route from Waldau to Steinbach. If you are planning to travel specifically for this race, check the date for the year you want to attend before making your plans.

A circular hiking trail runs from Schönbrunn Grenzbrücke via Hühnersbachtal, Insel, Buchenkopf and Steinbach (Naturtheater Steinbach-Langenbach) to Langenbach (Ferienanlage „Wandersruh“) and Lichtenau, before returning to Schönbrunn via the panoramic cycle path. The two routes differ in their format: the mountain race runs from Waldau to Steinbach, while the circular hiking trail returns to Schönbrunn and includes several stops. Steinbach is a reference point along a longer regional route in both cases.

Schleusegrund as the Regional Setting

The wider destination of Schleusegrund extends beyond Steinbach. Schleusegrund lies on the southwestern slope of the Rennsteig, in side valleys at elevations of 450 to 800 metres, and is one of the most appealing recreation areas in the Thuringian Forest UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. These details provide the regional setting: the high forest and far-reaching views refer to Steinbach, while the Rennsteig slope, side valleys and elevation range refer to Schleusegrund.

The certified Schleusegrund Tourist Information Centre is located in Schönbrunn, within the wider destination of Schleusegrund. Schönbrunn is also home to the Schönbrunn outdoor pool. It has a sports pool, a non-swimmer area with a stainless-steel slide, and a toddlers’ area. If the pool is important to your plans, check its current opening hours in advance.

Discover more destinations: Engenstein, Schönbrunn.

Go to the wider travel overview: Schleusegrund.