Winterstein Palace Park is home to the castle quarter with its castle ruins and ramparts, the Vogtei and the manor house. The estate barn is now used as a visitor centre. This brings together different historical elements in a designated area, each with a specific connection to the present: the barn has a current use, while the castle ruins, ramparts, Vogtei and manor house define the character of the ensemble.

A Dog’s Grave with a Historical Date

Below the castle ruins is a gravestone for Stutzel, a loyal dog. The dog’s grave was established in 1630. It adds a personal story to the larger ensemble: rather than a castle or manor house, the focus here is on a single dog, associated with a name and a specific year. Visitors interested in local history will find a range of perspectives, from the castle quarter to this distinctive gravestone.

Falconry and a Circular Trail as Further Reasons to Visit

The Rennsteig Falconry offers a bookable experience day as a falconer. Children can get close to birds of prey there and earn a Junior Falconer certificate. This gives visitors a different focus from the historical sites in the palace park: the emphasis is on birds of prey and an experience day that can be booked as a falconer. If you would like to include this in your stay, check the current booking details in advance.

Hiking is another reason to choose Winterstein. The “Inselsbergblick” circular trail opened on 24 July 2021 and also passes through the village. A bookable experience at the falconry and a circular trail that passes through Winterstein therefore appeal to different interests. The historical ensemble, birds of prey and hiking trail are distinct themes you can use to shape your stay.

More Cultural Attractions in the Wider Waltershausen Destination

The wider Waltershausen destination offers further cultural and sporting attractions. In Schnepfenthal, the GutsMuths Memorial Hall is a venue for sport and culture. It provides information about history, nature, GutsMuths and the Rennsteiglauf, and has become established as a gallery with special exhibitions. Outside, information panels explain GutsMuths and his pupils, alongside trees from every continent. The hall thus combines educational displays, special exhibitions and an outdoor exhibition.

Other attractions in Schnepfenthal include the historic cemetery in Hardt, an old manor house and the Salzmannschule Gymnasium. These are further cultural attractions in the wider Waltershausen destination and are not part of Winterstein Palace Park.

Tenneberg Castle also offers a distinctive architectural landmark in the wider Waltershausen destination. The banqueting hall dates from 1719 and is one of the castle’s three surviving Baroque rooms. Its ceiling painting was created by Johann Heinrich Ritter, a court painter from Thuringia. The date and painting give the room a clear connection to Baroque art and architectural history.

Waltershausen is also home to the town church “Zur Gotteshilfe.” It is considered Thuringia’s first major Baroque central-plan church and a forerunner of Dresden’s Frauenkirche in its floor plan and construction. The organ also offers a specific point of interest for visitors interested in culture: it has three manuals, 53 sounding stops and 2,806 pipes. The different themes are clear: here, Winterstein is represented by its palace park, dog’s grave, falconry and circular trail, while the wider Waltershausen destination adds its own attractions in sports history, architecture and organ building.

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