Neustadt am Rennsteig: Hiking and History

In Neustadt am Rennsteig, landscape and local history come together. The Rennsteig connects both themes: it runs through the middle of the town as a high-altitude trail and also played a role in the region’s historical border history. Neustadt am Rennsteig lies in the southeastern part of the Thuringian Forest Nature Park; from here, you can enjoy panoramic views across the vast expanses of the Thuringian Forest. If you are looking for a hotel, these aspects offer two distinct focuses for your stay: hiking and landscape, or the town’s historical traces.

Between the Rennsteig and Side Valleys

The Rennsteig high-altitude trail runs through the middle of Neustadt am Rennsteig. There is also a well-signposted network of hiking trails leading from Neustadt am Rennsteig into the surrounding side valleys. These offer two different approaches to planning your hikes: one follows the high-altitude trail running through the town, while the other takes you into the side valleys. Neustadt am Rennsteig also offers panoramic views across the vast expanses of the Thuringian Forest. Conditions on individual hiking trails can change; check them before setting out on a specific hike.

Local History on the Rennsteig

Neustadt am Rennsteig is more than 530 years old. In earlier times, charcoal burners, pitch makers, glassmakers, sponge beaters, and match makers worked here. These varied occupations give a concrete picture of the activities that once took place in the town. Its political history is also closely connected to the Rennsteig: until 1923, in Neustadt am Rennsteig the trail also ran along the border between the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen and the Principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen.

Großbreitenbach: Landscape and Architectural History

Großbreitenbach itself stretches across a plateau between the Lange Berg, the Schwarza Valley, and the Rennsteig high-altitude hiking trail. The state-recognized health resort lies about 50 kilometers south of Erfurt and approximately 15 kilometers southeast of Ilmenau. Großbreitenbach is home to St. Trinity Church, with 600 seats; it is the largest half-timbered church in Thuringia. Construction began in 1679 to replace the dilapidated St. John’s Church. Built in 1570, it collapsed in 1771, leaving only its church tower standing. St. Trinity Church was built to the plans of Andreas Rudolphi, the state master builder of Saxe-Gotha, and was consecrated in 1690. It is entirely clad in slate. A roof turret is a tower on a roof; St. Trinity Church’s is hexagonal and sits on the steep roof of the broad nave. The wooden baptismal stand also tells a story of the church’s construction: it dates from 1677 and was transferred from the old St. John’s Church.

The difference can be summed up briefly to help you decide: in Neustadt am Rennsteig, the Rennsteig running through the town and its former role as a border take center stage; in Großbreitenbach, the highlights are the plateau and St. Trinity Church.

Discover more destinations: Großbreitenbach, Stützerbach, Frankenhain, Ilmenau, Arnstadt, Geraberg, Bösleben-Wüllersleben, Wachsenburggemeinde

For the overview of the wider region: Ilm District.