Reichenbach – Porcelain and Local History

Reichenbach brings together a porcelain tradition and a building with a clearly documented date. This gives you two distinct points of interest when choosing your destination: a cultural tradition and the history of the Church of Christ in Reichenbach.

Porcelain Tradition and Architectural History

Reichenbach is a porcelain village on the Thuringian Porcelain Route. The town has been closely associated with Thuringian porcelain painting since 1830. Alongside its connection to the route, it therefore has a locally rooted painting tradition. For travelers interested in porcelain, Reichenbach offers a specific connection to the town as well as the broader perspective of the Thuringian Porcelain Route.

The Church of Christ in Reichenbach was built in 1726. Its construction predates the beginning of the town’s association with Thuringian porcelain painting, which dates back to 1830, by more than a century. The town’s profile thus brings together two distinct historical points of reference: the history of a building and a cultural tradition that has developed over a longer period.

A hands-on look at porcelain production was part of Thuringia’s Porcelain Day on April 6 and 7, 2024. On those days, visitors could see how porcelain is made at the manufactories in Reichenbach. This dated event weekend adds to the ongoing porcelain tradition.

The Reichenbach Porcelain Manufactory’s factory outlet is a separate offering, where porcelain is sold directly from the manufacturer. While the 2024 Porcelain Day showcased production, the factory outlet is for buying porcelain. Check the manufactory’s information before visiting.

Culture and Landscape in the Wider Saale-Holzland Destination

The wider Saale-Holzland destination offers further cultural attractions. The Dornburg Palaces form an ensemble of three palaces representing different stylistic periods. The Bauhaus Workshop Museum Dornburg is also located within the Dornburg Palace grounds. It is housed in the Marstall building, in the former Bauhaus ceramics workshop. The palace ensemble and the museum offer different perspectives: the architecture of three periods in one, and the history of a Bauhaus ceramics workshop in the other.

Ceramics and craftsmanship are also part of the region’s cultural offerings. The permanent exhibition at the Bürgel Ceramics Museum illustrates the history of Bürgel’s pottery from its beginnings in the mid-17th century to the present day. Schkölen Water Castle is a castle complex with a museum and changing exhibitions. These examples range from a long-term perspective on a craft to exhibitions in a castle complex.

The Holzland is a hilly landscape with extensive wooded areas. In the Saale-Holzland district, the SaaleHorizontale quality hiking trail runs north–south along the Saale. The Saale Cycle Route also follows the river through the district in the same direction. The routes differ in that one is for hiking and the other for cycling; they share a north–south orientation and a route along the Saale. Canoeing and inflatable-boat tours are also among the most popular outdoor activities in the Saale-Holzland district.

Discover more destinations: Weißenborn, Hummelshain, Großlöbichau, Jenaprießnitz, Jena, Serba, Dornburg-Camburg, Mörsdorf.

Go to the wider travel overview: Saale-Holzland.