The ruins of Ehrenburg Castle, Plaue’s landmark, stand on the 394-metre-high Hausberg. Three hiking trails of different lengths and the Church of Our Lady give you further specific points of reference to help you choose the focus of your trip.
Hiking by Distance and Starting Point
The approximately 4.5-kilometre trail “From the Spring Source via Gebörn to Zimmertal” starts at Postplatz. The route passes the Spring Source, Gebörn and Zimmertal; the return to Plaue is via the lower Weinbergweg. With its shorter stated distance, this trail is one way to plan a hike around a manageable distance.
“Around the Vineyard” also starts at Postplatz. The approximately six-kilometre hiking trail runs via Zimmertal, Kirschallee, Langes Abstel, a shelter and Spalthöhle, before returning to Plaue. Compared with the Spring Source route, both the stated distance and the trail’s stopping points differ.
At approximately seven kilometres, “On the Heights and at the Foot of the Reinsberge” is the longest of the three hikes described. It starts and ends at Plaue station. The named stops include the swimming pool, Haases Ruh’, Schöne Aussicht, Kanzel and the Reinsberge, Reinsburg, “Reinsberger Dorf”, Roter Graben and Wanderers Ruh’. You can compare the routes by their approximate lengths and starting points: two start at Postplatz, while the longer one starts and ends at the station.
Landmark and Building History
The ruins of Ehrenburg Castle are located on the city’s 394-metre-high Hausberg. As a landmark, they are a prominent part of Plaue’s local history. The Church of Our Lady, meanwhile, is the oldest building in the city; it was built in the 13th century during the monastic period. Those interested in Plaue’s architectural history will find two distinct historical points of reference: Ehrenburg Castle, preserved as a ruin, and the church, with its long history.
The grounds of the Church of Our Lady also include a small nature trail: one of the church walls is planted with rock garden plants, and slate plaques identify the plants. The church’s winged altar is one of the few altars in Thuringia from the transition between the 14th and 15th centuries to have been preserved almost in its entirety. The building’s history, the altar and the labelled planting each offer a different focus, without requiring you to add other places to your itinerary.
Swimming Pool and Cycling Trail
Plaue outdoor swimming pool has a swimming pool, a non-swimmers’ pool and a paddling pool. There is also a large sunbathing lawn, two volleyball courts and table tennis tables. The pool reopened in 2026 after renovation work was completed; as a seasonal facility, it should be taken into account when planning the timing of your stay. Check whether the pool is open during your intended travel dates before visiting.
For a cycling trip, a longer route is also worth considering: the 75-kilometre Gera Cycle Route runs in five sections from SchmĂĽcke on the Rennsteig to Gebesee. Plaue is on the second section, which follows the Gera past fields and meadows. Alongside the three shorter hiking trails, this offers a different scale for planning: the Plaue hikes are described by their individual lengths, while the cycle route covers a total distance across five sections.
Discover more destinations: Neustadt Am Rennsteig, Frauenwald, Geraberg, GroĂźbreitenbach, Schmiedefeld Am Rennsteig, StĂĽtzerbach, Gehlberg, Kirchheim.
See the broader travel overview: Ilm-Kreis.
