Springstille: Elevation, Half-Timbered Church and Local History

Springstille combines a striking location at the foot of Stiller Stein and Stiller Berg with a rich church history. It is also mentioned in a document dating from 948, and a spring-fed pond of the small river “Stille” lies nearby. The geographical setting and historical traces offer different perspectives on the town.

Location and orientation

Springstille lies 380 meters above sea level at the foot of the eastern foothills of Stiller Stein and Stiller Berg. The spring-fed pond of the small river “Stille” is located near the town. Another specific landmark is right at the entrance to the town: the Gasthaus zur Hechel inn. This distinguishes the town’s location, its immediate surroundings and its entrance without conflating them into a single spot.

The Springstille Church: Architecture and history

The Springstille Church is one of the few unplastered half-timbered churches in the Schmalkalden church district. Its architectural character is therefore closely connected with its visible half-timbered construction. The building’s history also comprises several stages: the medieval predecessor church was dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, served as the parish seat of Steinbach-Hallenberg and was destroyed in 1285. The tower’s lowest levels are all that remain of it.

The nave was probably added to the tower in 1628. This date is explicitly considered probable. The predecessor church, the surviving tower levels and the nave thus represent different periods in the building’s history. Two other notable features of the church are the alms box and the baptismal font: both are attributed to the rustic Rococo style. Together with the half-timbered structure, they offer different points of reference for understanding the architecture and furnishings of the Springstille Church.

An early documentary mention

Springstille was first mentioned in a document in 948. This date adds an earlier historical layer to the church’s building history. The dates refer to different events: 948 marks Springstille’s first documentary mention, 1285 the destruction of the medieval predecessor church, and 1628 the probable addition of the nave to the tower.

Schmalkalden as a cultural destination in its own right

The wider travel destination of Schmalkalden has its own cultural and historical themes. Construction of St. George’s Church in Schmalkalden began in 1413/14, incorporating parts of a Romanesque predecessor church. At the most important meeting of the Schmalkaldic League in 1537, the best-known theologians of the time preached there; Martin Luther presented his Schmalkaldic Articles in the church. This Reformation context offers a different historical perspective from the history of the Springstille Church.

Wilhelmsburg Castle rises above Schmalkalden’s old town and houses a permanent exhibition about the time of Martin Luther and the Schmalkaldic League. At the Museum Schloss Wilhelmsburg, you can visit splendid reception halls, the richly decorated castle church, original room layouts with murals and stuccowork, the manor kitchen and the terrace garden. A historic wooden pipe organ can still be played. Check current opening hours and access arrangements before your visit.

The Viba Nougat World in Schmalkalden offers a different experience: visitors can watch soft, melt-in-the-mouth nougat being made in the glass-walled factory. In a range of workshops, you can make your own pralines, chocolate or a classic nougat bar. Check the latest booking details in advance. From April to October, public guided tours of Schmalkalden’s historic old town are also available; ask the Tourist Information office for dates and departure details.

Discover more destinations: Brotterode-Trusetal, Oepfershausen, Friedelshausen, Ellingshausen, Sülzfeld, Schmalkalden, Christes, Trusetal-Laudenbach.

Back to the wider travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.