Discover Goldisthal

Goldisthal brings together two themes that offer different perspectives on the area: the Thuringian Forest region and the use of hydropower. At Haus der Natur, the region is presented as the subject of an exhibition; the pumped-storage power station adds the topic of energy supply. This gives you a clear focus when choosing where to stay, balancing nature and technology.

Haus der Natur: Landscape and Hydropower

The exhibition at Haus der Natur vividly showcases distinctive aspects of the Thuringian Forest region, not far from the Rennsteig. The centre also offers a hands-on trail where visitors can explore different ways of using hydropower. The two features have different emphases: the exhibition presents regional landscape themes, while the trail explores various forms of hydropower use.

If you consider landscape and energy when choosing your destination, Goldisthal brings both together in the description of Haus der Natur. The trail is explicitly designed for hands-on participation, while the exhibition focuses on aspects of the Thuringian Forest region. These offer two different points of interest without covering the same subject.

Pumped-Storage Power Station and Circular Trail around the Reservoir

The pumped-storage power station in Goldisthal has been contributing to the energy transition since 2002 and supplies thousands of households with green electricity. This means hydropower is not only covered by the trail at Haus der Natur, but is also represented by an actual power station in Goldisthal.

Near Goldisthal, a well-signposted, 12-kilometre circular trail runs around the Goldisthal reservoir and takes about three and a half hours. This gives you the distance and an approximate timeframe for planning. The duration should be understood as an estimate. The circular trail offers a different way to engage with the area than the trail: here, the focus is on distance and time, while the trail involves hands-on activities related to hydropower.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Sonneberg

The district of Sonneberg lies within the Thuringian Forest Nature Park and the Slate Region National Geopark, and is also situated along the German Toy Road. This regional context opens up further cultural and landscape themes, distinct from Goldisthal’s exhibition and focus on hydropower.

The Museum of Glass Art in Lauscha presents the history of glass Christmas tree decorations, from baubles to various shapes, from 1860 to the present day. The production of mouth-blown glass Christmas decorations from Lauscha has been included in the nationwide Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Thus, in the wider destination of Sonneberg, traditional craftsmanship stands alongside landscape and energy as a distinct cultural theme.

The GeoPfad Bleßberghöhle offers another perspective on the region. It begins at the Bleßberghöhle Geopark information centre at Schalkau station and follows a 17.6-kilometre hiking route to Seltendorf station. Information boards along the way explain the cave’s discovery, the geology of the Franconian Line fault zone and karst features such as sinkholes, karst springs and disappearing streams. Unlike the circular trail around the reservoir, this route is described by its starting and finishing stations; the routes are 17.6 and 12 kilometres long, respectively.

Winter sports and a seasonal toboggan run are also among the attractions in the district of Sonneberg. The Thüringen Alpin Skiarena Silbersattel, near the slate-mining town of Steinach, is located in the district and is the largest and most snow-reliable ski area in Thuringia. At the summer toboggan run on Pappenheimer Berg near Ernstthal, a drag lift adapted for summer operation pulls a toboggan and its passengers 500 metres uphill to the start. As seasonal opening times may change, check the latest dates before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Steinheid, Neuhaus-Schierschnitz, Sonneberg, Föritz, Scheibe-Alsbach, Neuhaus Am Rennweg, Lauscha, Effelder-Rauenstein.

Go to the wider travel overview: Sonneberg.