In Tonna, specifically in the district of Gräfentonna, historic architecture and art history sit alongside a distinctive motorsport theme. The New Castle was built in 1684; the new church later acquired a carved altar, which the municipality describes as one of the most magnificent in central Germany. There is also a motocross racing facility at the Fasanerie, where Thuringian state championships and German championships can be held. This means you can plan your trip around the castle and altar or—depending on a specific competition—around motorsport. In 2005, Gräfentonna station gained a modern interchange between bus and rail.
History in Gräfentonna
The New Castle in Gräfentonna was built in 1684. Its exact year of construction provides a clear point of reference for the local history of the castle. The new church in Gräfentonna later acquired a carved altar, which the municipality describes as one of the most magnificent in central Germany. This distinction adds a separate note alongside the dated castle and draws attention to the art of woodcarving. Together, the castle and church offer two different cultural and historical perspectives: a building with a specific year of construction and an altar whose craftsmanship the municipality particularly highlights. When choosing a theme, you can therefore consider whether you are more interested in the castle’s architectural history or the carved altar. Both are part of Gräfentonna, but appeal to different interests.
Motocross as a reason to visit
There is a motocross racing facility at the Fasanerie in Gräfentonna. Thuringian state championships and German motocross championships can be held there. This offers a different focus from castle history and church art: motorsport can be a reason in its own right to plan a trip, while the historical attractions remain independent of it. If you would like to plan your stay around a race, check the event dates for your preferred period. A specific competition can serve as a fixed point in your planning. This lets you choose between a stay focused on culture and a trip prompted by a motorsport event.
Station and timetable
In 2005, Gräfentonna station gained a modern interchange between bus and rail. For your specific journey, check the current timetables for your chosen travel date. This is especially useful if you want to coordinate your travel with a possible event: the timetable and the competition date answer different planning questions, so check both for the same period. The years have different significance: 1684 dates the construction of the New Castle, while 2005 marks the creation of the interchange. For a specific connection, the timetable for your travel date is also important.
Gotha: the wider regional setting
The wider Gotha destination offers further points of interest in their own right. Friedenstein Castle is a prominent landmark and features in the coat of arms of the District of Gotha. The district extends south as far as the Rennsteig and west as far as GroĂźer Inselsberg, which rises to 916.5 metres. This regional setting brings together a castle as a landmark and two named geographical features.
The Marienglashöhle cave in Friedrichroda adds a geological dimension to the wider Gotha destination. Its 110-metre-long tunnel passes through geological windows that reveal rock layers millions of years old. Gypsum crystals up to 90 centimetres long sparkle in the Crystal Grotto. These geological features offer a distinct regional focus alongside the local themes in Gräfentonna: castle history, the carved altar and motocross. You can consider these themes separately when planning your trip, without combining different places into a single visit itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Tambach-Dietharz, Friedrichroda, Leinatal, Seebergen, Finsterbergen, Laucha, Crawinkel, Hörselgau.
Go to the wider travel overview: Gotha.
