Heubach: Planet Trail and Observatory
The Planet Trail gives your stay in Heubach a clear focus: this 3.8 km adventure hike runs from Heubach to Masserberg and can start at the small observatory in Heubach. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Heubach, you can consider this starting point as one of the reasons for choosing the town. The route connects a clearly identified starting point in Heubach with Masserberg as its destination. In Heubach, the observatory and sports facilities are among the highlights; Masserberg has its own distinctive landscape and history.
The small observatory is located at the Heubach school and leisure camp. It opened on 14 May 2009. If you are interested in astronomy, you can include it as a point of interest in its own right. If you would like to visit the observatory, check access arrangements in advance. The possible starting point for the hike and planning a visit are two separate aspects of your stay.
Sports in Heubach
The Heubach Sports Centre includes a two-court indoor tennis hall with a Grand Prix court, as well as an adjacent squash hall. Tennis and squash are therefore other clearly defined interests to consider when choosing your destination. If you would like to include one of the facilities as a fixed item on your itinerary, check in advance whether the halls are currently available for use. This lets you plan sports separately from the hike and tailor your plans to your interests.
Masserberg: Landscape and culture
Masserberg lies right on the Rennsteig and is surrounded by woodland meadows and beech and spruce forests. Numerous well-signposted hiking trails and the Rennsteig offer opportunities for hiking through the Thuringian Forest Nature Park. Along the ridge, you can enjoy easy walks in various directions with little change in elevation, or take a horse-drawn carriage ride. Another option is the barefoot trail, which runs over natural forest soil, sharp wood chips, wooden tree discs and soft moss. The activities therefore differ not only in what you do, but also in the terrain and how you get around.
A prominent viewpoint is the Rennsteigwarte on the 842 m-high Eselsberg. From there, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Thuringian Forest and its foothills. The tower was built in 1974 after two earlier wooden towers were destroyed: one in 1951 by a storm and another in 1974 by a lightning strike. If you plan to include the panoramic views as a fixed item on your itinerary, check access arrangements in advance.
The Evangelical Mountain Church in Masserberg also tells the story of the town. The present church was consecrated on 9 October 1883, after the church that previously stood there was destroyed in a fire in 1880. Since the third Sunday of Advent in 1980, the “Masserberg Christ the King” has been on display in the mountain church. Greiz sculptor Elly-Viola Nahmmacher carved the artwork from a lime tree trunk. At 3 m high and 2.65 m wide, it is a large-scale work and a cultural attraction in its own right in Masserberg.
Discover more destinations: Ummerstadt, Eisfeld, Schleusingerneundorf, Veilsdorf, Heldburger Unterland, Gießübel, Schleusingen, Fehrenbach
See the overarching travel overview: Hildburghausen-Suhl.
