Blankenhain – History and Nature

Blankenhain combines historical themes with opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The castle and pharmacy museum offer different ways to explore the town’s history; the outdoor swimming pool, cycling routes and hiking options complete the picture. Be sure to take seasonal conditions and individual event dates into account when planning your trip.

History and Culture

Blankenhain Castle traces its origins to a Frankish circular castle dating from the 7th century. The Blankenhain Pharmacy Museum offers another way to explore the town’s history. It displays historic pharmacy furnishings in a groin-vaulted room, as well as documents and pictures relating to the history of the town pharmacy in Blankenhain. There is also a tea and herb room, along with pharmaceutical glass and porcelain vessels. The collection thus combines insights into historic pharmacy furnishings with the history of the town pharmacy.

A sandstone commemorative column is another historical feature with a specific date: it was erected in the rear courtyard garden in 1878. The garden was not called Carl-Alexander-Platz until 1880. The column was therefore erected before the square was given its later name.

Swimming, Cycling and Hiking

The sports area at Blankenhain outdoor swimming pool has six 25-metre lanes and a diving facility. The facility includes a 1-metre springboard and a 3-metre diving platform. As operating conditions can vary by season, check which opening times apply to your planned travel dates before your trip. Just behind the outdoor pool, a hike of about 10 kilometres also leads through the forest. Take the approximate distance into account when planning your day, and check current trail conditions before setting out.

A cycling route runs from Blankenhain via the golf course and the district of Saalborn to the Ilmtal Cycle Route, continuing on to the Thuringian City Chain. This sequence of stops and connections may be helpful for navigating when planning a cycling trip. Check current route conditions before setting out. The connection to the Saale Cycle and Hiking Trail towards Neckeroda is a separate route.

On excursions into the “Mittleres Ilmtal” landscape protection area, visitors can experience unspoilt nature, diverse and species-rich flora and fauna, and numerous springs. These themes offer nature enthusiasts another point of reference for planning a trip, in addition to the cycling and hiking trails described above.

Events and Regional Hiking

The Blankenhain Castle Festival is traditionally held on the second Saturday in September. If you would like to plan your stay around the event, check the details before you travel.

In the Weimarer Land region, the Thuringian Three Towers Trail is a circular hiking route through the protected landscape of the Mittleres Ilmtal in the southern part of the Weimarer Land. It connects the Paulinenturm near Bad Berka, the Hainturm in the Belvederer Forst near Weimar, and the Carolinenturm near Blankenhain. This regional hiking trail complements the local forest hike behind the outdoor pool with a circular route featuring three named towers.

Discover more destinations: Großheringen, Ilmtal-Weinstraße, Nohra, Kleinschwabhausen, Berlstedt, Bad Berka, Ettersburg, Niederzimmern.

For the regional travel overview: Weimarer Land.