Pennewitz is a good starting point for easy hikes and bike rides. Local highlights also include a Neo-Romanesque village church, striking viewpoints and an airfield for sport and recreational flying. If you want to plan your trip around a recurring event, the fair on the first weekend in November gives you a specific date to work with. This makes it easy to factor outdoor activities, local history and events into your plans.
Hiking Trails and Views Around Pennewitz
Pennewitz is connected to the Pilzsteig and Lutherweg hiking trail networks, as well as the Waldrandroute, opened in 2017. The village is a good starting point for easy hikes and bike rides. These trails and activities offer different options for planning your day: you can focus on a hike or a bike ride without having to combine both into a single route.
The viewpoints also provide a clear sense of the surrounding landscape. From the 499-meter-high Buchenberg, the view extends south toward the Langer Berg. North of Pennewitz, the airfield and the Paulinzella monastery forest offer a panorama of the Reinsberge and Singener Berg. These two descriptions offer different views of the surrounding area. The striking FĂĽrst-Karl-GĂĽnther-Denkmal is also located on the Langer Berg, close to Pennewitz, and is considered a popular destination in the region.
Village Church and Recurring Events
The Protestant village church of Pennewitz was built in the Neo-Romanesque style and consecrated in 1867. Its chancel features stained-glass windows. The style, consecration year and windows give the village church a distinctive architectural and historical character.
The annual fair takes place on the first weekend in November and is organized by the Pennewitz 2001 Fair Association at the village community center. The playground and ball field are also used for local celebrations, including the annual New Year's bonfire, where refreshments are served. This means there is both a fixed fair weekend and another recurring event in the calendar. If events are a deciding factor in your trip, check the dates and arrangements for the year in question in advance.
Airfield and Scenic Flights
Pennewitz has an airfield for sport and recreational flying. It is used mainly for gliders, motorized aircraft and ultralights. Scenic flights offer a chance to explore Pennewitz and its surroundings from the air—a different perspective from the views from Buchenberg and from the area north of the village. If you are considering a scenic flight during your stay, check current booking options in advance.
More Destinations in the Wider Ilmenau Travel Region
Ilmenau also offers its own nature and outdoor destinations. Kickelhahn, Ilmenau’s local mountain, is 861 meters high, and its 21-meter-high observation tower is one of the city’s landmarks. Three different trails in the Lindenberg Trail Park are open to mountain bikers. As facilities can change, it is advisable to check current local information before setting out. The 20-kilometer Goethewanderweg links places associated with Goethe, from Ilmenau to Stützerbach. These destinations are part of the wider Ilmenau travel region and should be distinguished from the local trails and viewpoints in Pennewitz.
Discover more destinations: Stadtilm, Ichtershausen, Elleben, Behringen, Bösleben-Wüllersleben, Kirchheim, Neustadt Am Rennsteig, Elgersburg
Return to the wider travel overview: Ilm-Kreis.
