Bauhaus architecture, border history and hiking offer different ways to experience Probstzella during a stay. If you’re planning your days, keep two things in particular in mind: tours that take place on request, and routes with a stated duration. This makes it easier to decide which activities need to be arranged in advance and where an approximate time frame can help with planning your day.
Bauhaus and railway history
The Haus des Volkes was built between 1925 and 1927 as a hotel and people’s house; the architect was Bauhaus student Alfred Arndt. It is the largest Bauhaus ensemble in Thuringia. Today, the building houses a theater and a concert hall. Its original dual function is part of its architectural history, while the halls provide another cultural point of interest. Architecture enthusiasts can explore the building period, architect and original purpose together here.
The GDR Border Railway Station Museum is housed in the old railway station building, dating from 1885. The history of the station building and the history of the border between East and West Germany therefore come together in one place, while remaining distinct topics from different periods. This historical perspective differs from that of the Haus des Volkes: here, the focus is on the Border Railway Station Museum; there, on Bauhaus architecture and the building’s original use as a hotel and people’s house. Including both in your cultural itinerary offers two distinct historical perspectives.
Local history and museum tours
The local history museum focuses on the town’s past. It recreates the former Probstzella post office and a colonial goods store, and provides background on the history of slate mining in the Probstzella area. The exhibition also includes about 120 metres of railway track and around 2,000 trees, as well as numerous faithful reproductions of Probstzella houses. Visitors can also follow the traces of the former inner-German border in the museum. Everyday history, mining, exhibition design and border history are presented as distinct themes alongside one another.
Tours of the local history museum exhibition are available on request; there are no regular opening hours. Guided hikes along the border around Probstzella can also be arranged on request with trained nature guides. If one of these tours is important to your stay, ask about the date and current availability in advance.
The Green Belt and hiking
The landscape near Probstzella is part of the Green Belt. Particularly well-preserved habitats developed along the former border strip during the decades when it was sealed off. Their formation connects the natural environment directly with the history of the border’s closure. This brings the ecological development of the landscape into focus alongside the cultural and historical themes.
The Slate Trail includes a short circular route around Probstzella, which takes about two to four hours. This range provides a rough guide for planning your day: treat the circular route as a hike in its own right rather than a brief stop. In the wider region, the Loquitz cycling trail can also be used on foot or by bicycle. When planning, you can therefore allow for the approximate duration of the circular route or choose between walking and cycling along the Loquitz cycling trail.
The wider Saalfeld-Rudolstadt destination offers hiking landscapes that stretch from the Saale Valley to the Thuringian Forest. Quiet forests, sweeping views and cultural and historical attractions along the trails describe this broader regional setting. The distinction can help you choose the focus of your stay: in Probstzella, the Green Belt and the circular route around the town take centre stage; Saalfeld-Rudolstadt offers a broader view of the landscape.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Rudolstadt, Oberweißbach/Thuringian Forest, Meuselbach-Schwarzmühle, Leutenberg, Bad Blankenburg, Saalfelder Höhe, Barigau, Leutnitz
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