Schleiz offers a range of reasons to stay: views in the district of Burgk, cultural history in the town and motorsport south of the small town. When planning your trip, you can prioritise these themes according to your interests. A walk through the town offers a different focus from the view from the Saaleturm, the history of the Schleizer Dreieck or a hike with views of the Saalekaskaden.
Views and trails around Schleiz
The Saaleturm Burgk tower is 43 metres high. Its observation platform is reached by climbing 192 steps and offers a maximum viewing distance of 32 kilometres. This lets you add a viewpoint to your stay in Schleiz; the tower’s height, the climb and the possible viewing distance give you concrete points to consider when planning.
There are numerous circular hiking trails in the Schleiz municipal area. These include family-friendly routes through meadows and woodland, with views of the Saalekaskaden. So the options go beyond a single viewpoint: you can make trails through the landscape a focus in their own right. Before setting out on a hike, check local conditions and any temporary closures.
For a different kind of activity, the Oberland Cycle Path runs from Schleiz to the ThĂĽringer Meer. The cycle path and circular hiking trails are different ways to include the surrounding area in your travel plans. If you are planning a bike tour, you can make the Oberland Cycle Path a focus in its own right.
Town history, church and castle
The town itself also offers several cultural points of interest. Dr. Konrad Duden was director of the Gymnasium at the Rutheneum in Schleiz from 1869 to 1876. The “Alte Münze” town information centre houses a permanent exhibition about Johann Friedrich Böttger and the history of the Meissen porcelain manufactory. The short Kulturweg der Vögte town walk leads to cultural and historical attractions in Schleiz. These stops offer different points of focus: a notable figure and his work, the history of porcelain, and a broader look at the town.
St. Mary’s Hill Church has been used as a place of worship for eight centuries. Its notable features include rich Baroque decoration and a princely crypt containing the coffins of the Counts and Princes of Reuss. Its long history and Baroque details give the church a distinct place alongside the town walk and exhibitions.
Schloss Burgk is one of the few surviving late-medieval castles in Thuringia. Historic state rooms and living quarters, along with a well-preserved collection of historic interior furnishings, define the castle. Visitors interested in rooms and furnishings will find a different way to explore history here than at the Alte MĂĽnze exhibition or along the Kulturweg.
The Schleizer Dreieck and its exhibition
The Schleizer Dreieck, Germany’s oldest natural race circuit, lies south of the small town of Schleiz. In the former start and finish building, the “motorwelt Schleizer Dreieck” displays vehicles from different periods in the street circuit’s more than 100-year history and welcomes visitors. The exhibition content may change, so check the latest information before visiting. This lets you consider racing history and the other cultural and landscape themes as different travel interests, without combining them into a single itinerary.
Getting here and planning your visit
Bus services from Schleiz bus station connect to Neustadt/Orla, Jena, Plauen, Zeulenroda, Saalburg-Ebersdorf and Bad Lobenstein. Timetables and services may change, so check current departure times if you plan to use one of these connections. For hikes, likewise take local conditions and possible closures into account. This will help you choose Schleiz based on the themes that matter to you—views and trails, town history, the castle or motorsport.
Discover more destinations: Burgk, Plothen, Neustadt An Der Orla, Saalburg-Ebersdorf, Tanna, Triptis, Bucha, Langenorla
Return to the main travel overview: Saale-Orla.
