In the municipality of Georgenthal, attractions range from the Dinosaur Adventure Trail and traces of monastic history to activities at Hammerteich pond. These themes focus on different things: geological history, historic buildings, or time by the water. When planning your trip, you can first consider which of these you would like to shape your stay.
Dinosaur Adventure Trail and GeoPark Tour
The Dinosaur Adventure Trail runs for 4.5 kilometers from Georgenthal via the “Bromacker” dinosaur fossil site to Lohmühle. Dinosaur figures line the route, each accompanied by an information board. Bromacker lies along the way as an intermediate point; from there, the route continues to Lohmühle. This clearly identifies the trail’s starting point, intermediate destination, and endpoint. If you are particularly interested in the fossil site, you can include it as part of this route.
Another way to explore the past is to take a guided tour with an experienced GeoPark guide. The guide accompanies visitors who have booked in advance. This tour is a separate activity; check the booking requirements and tour details before your trip.
Monastery Ruins, Granary, and St. Elisabeth Church
Pillar stumps and wall remains survive from the former three-aisled Georgenthal Monastery. The north gable of the granary features a stone rose window. Its lapidarium houses stone finds from the ruins, including keystones, Romanesque capitals, vault ribs, cornices, and window arches. These terms refer to different architectural elements; capitals, for example, form the upper part of columns, while keystones are part of arches or vaults. If you would like to visit the exhibition in the granary, you can do so by arrangement.
St. Elisabeth Church is also connected with the history of the monastery grounds. It once served as a chapel for the farmers who settled there and the monastery staff. Construction began in 1235, the year Elisabeth was canonized. This chronological connection makes the year a specific reference point in the church’s history, while the surviving monastery ruins offer a separate glimpse of the former complex.
Hammerteich: Boating or a Walk
At Hammerteich pond, there are several ways to spend time by the water: modern pedal boats or traditional rowboats are available to rent. Since this is a service that is offered, it is advisable to check current boat availability before arriving. If you would rather stay on land, the pond has a promenade with benches, suitable for walks and a rest. This lets you choose between a boat trip and a walk with a break, without combining both activities into a single activity.
The Surrounding Landscape
The area of the Georgenthal district lies within the Thuringian Forest Nature Park and extends as far as the Rennsteig. This geographical description outlines the district’s broader landscape setting and complements the specific destinations within the municipality with a regional perspective.
The individual activities also have different planning requirements: the GeoPark tour requires advance booking, visits to the granary exhibition are by arrangement, and current boat availability at Hammerteich should be checked in advance. This makes it possible to plan historical and active highlights around the specific arrangements for each visit.
Discover more destinations: Tonna, Gamstädt, Ohrdruf, Wandersleben, Emleben, Apfelstädt, Emsetal, Gierstädt.
For the broader travel overview: Gotha.
