Emleben brings together cultural monuments, route connections and part of a protected natural area. The Leinakanal system, comprising the Leinakanal, Kleiner Leinakanal and Flößgraben, is listed as a cultural monument here. Along with the Flößgraben Circular Trail and the FFH area, it offers different points of interest when choosing a destination: cultural history, route and landscape.

Canal and Church as Cultural Monuments

The listed Leinakanal system comprises three named components: the Leinakanal, Kleiner Leinakanal and Flößgraben. This gives water engineering a distinct place among Emleben’s cultural monuments. The Protestant church on Kirchplatz is also listed as a cultural monument. This includes its furnishings, the churchyard, the enclosure and the historic gravestones in the cemetery. The scope of the monument is therefore not limited to the church building, but also includes the named features of the churchyard and cemetery. Those interested in local history can distinguish between these two subjects: the canal system as a single monument, and the church, with its furnishings and cemetery features, as a separate group of monuments.

Route and Connections

The route of the Flößgraben Circular Trail, as described in June 2020, passes through Emleben along Gartenstraße, by the Kleiner Leinakanal, and westward out of the village towards Gospiteroda. From Emleben, the trail also leads to the municipalities of Petriroda, Hohenkirchen and Herrenhof, which lie to the southeast and south. In Herrenhof, it connects with the Apfelstädt Cycle Path and Cycle Routes 1, “Three-Town Tour,” and 3, “Rennsteig Loop.”

When planning, it is helpful to distinguish the route through Emleben from the connections in Herrenhof: the first describes the trail through the village and its westward direction; the cycle paths and routes mentioned are connections in Herrenhof. Since the route description dates from June 2020, check current trail conditions before setting out.

Part of the FFH Area in the Emleben District

The northern part of FFH area no. 61, “Hirzberg-Wanningsrod-Kranichmoor,” covers 106 of a total of 279 hectares and lies within the Emleben district. This part includes the Wanningsrod oak-hornbeam forest and areas of the Kranichmoor bog. The figures refer to the northern part and the area as a whole: they do not equate the part in Emleben with the entire area of the FFH site. This adds a distinct landscape dimension to the cultural monuments and the Flößgraben Circular Trail.

More to Explore in the Gotha Destination

The Gotha destination offers further cultural and landscape attractions. Friedenstein Palace is a prominent landmark and features on the coat of arms of the district of Gotha. The district extends south to the Rennsteig and west to the 916.5-metre-high Großer Inselsberg.

The Marienglashöhle cave in Friedrichroda adds a distinctive geological feature: a 110-metre-long tunnel passes geological windows that reveal rock layers millions of years old. In its crystal grotto, gypsum crystals up to 90 centimetres long sparkle. In terms of cultural history, the Ekhof Theatre in Gotha dates back to 1775, when Duke Ernst II founded it as Germany’s first court theatre. For getting around the region, there is also the Thüringerwaldbahn, which runs from Gotha via Waltershausen and Friedrichroda to Tabarz. Check the current timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Gotha, Hörselgau, Emsetal, Döllstädt, Ballstädt, Gamstädt, Großfahner, Crawinkel

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