Schleiz: Views, Culture and Motorsport

Schleiz combines views in the district of Burgk, hiking and cycling routes, church and museum history, and motorsport. If you are looking for a hotel in Schleiz, first consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay. The various destinations provide a basis for choosing what to explore according to your interests.

Views, Hiking and Cycling

The Saaleturm in the Schleiz district of Burgk is 43 metres high. Climb 192 steps to reach the viewing platform; visibility extends up to 32 kilometres in ideal conditions. Its height, the climb and the potential for long-distance views make the tower a clearly defined viewing destination.

There are numerous circular hiking trails in the Schleiz area. These include family-friendly routes through landscapes of meadows and forests, with views of the Saale Cascade lakes. Check local conditions and any temporary closures before setting out. One cycling route offers a different focus: the Oberland Cycle Path runs from Schleiz to the Thuringian Sea. For a specific ride, also check the current route and signage. This means circular walks in the Schleiz area and a named cycling route towards the Thuringian Sea offer different ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Town History and Culture

Dr Konrad Duden was headmaster of the Gymnasium im Rutheneum in Schleiz from 1869 to 1876. The “Alte Münze” tourist information centre has a permanent exhibition about Johann Friedrich Böttger and the history of the Meissen porcelain manufactory. Schleiz therefore offers both a biographical connection to its school history and a dedicated focus on the history of porcelain.

The Bergkirche St. Marien features rich Baroque decoration and a princely crypt containing the coffins of the Counts and Princes of Reuss. It has been used as a place of worship for eight centuries. The Vogts’ Culture Trail is a short walk through the town that showcases Schleiz’s cultural and historical sights. The church and the walk offer different ways to explore: one through the decoration and long history of a place of worship, the other along an urban route featuring cultural and historical sights.

Motorsport History and Burgk Castle

The Schleizer Dreieck is south of the small town of Schleiz and is Germany’s oldest natural race circuit. In the old start and finish building, the “motorwelt Schleizer Dreieck” displays vehicles from various eras of the road circuit’s more than 100-year history and invites visitors to the Schleizer Dreieck. As the exhibition content may change, check what is currently on display if you are planning to see particular vehicles.

Burgk Castle is one of the few surviving late-medieval castles in Thuringia. Its historic rooms include state rooms and living quarters; the castle also has a well-preserved collection of historic interior furnishings. The historical range thus extends from a road circuit with more than 100 years of history to a late-medieval castle and its interiors.

Bus Connections

Bus services from Schleiz bus station connect to Neustadt/Orla, Jena, Plauen, Zeulenroda, Saalburg-Ebersdorf and Bad Lobenstein. Timetables and service patterns may change, so check the current connections for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Langenorla, Ranis, Knau, Kospoda, Neustadt An Der Orla, Bucha, Gefell, Krölpa.

Go to the overarching travel guide: Saale-Orla.