Delicate nougat melting in your mouth at a glass-fronted workshop and a historic blast furnace mark two unusual ways to explore Schmalkalden-Meiningen: culinary delights and industrial history. Add hiking trails, river landscapes and opportunities to get active yourself.
Experience Nougat and Craftsmanship
At the Viba Nougat-Welt in Schmalkalden, you can watch nougat being made in a glass-fronted workshop. If you’d like to do more than watch, hands-on confectionery courses are available: you’ll pour chocolate, decorate nougat and create pralines. This brings together insights into the production process and the chance to get creative yourself. Check course times and booking conditions before making your plans.
Industrial History and Workshops
The “Neue Hütte” blast furnace museum focuses on iron rather than nougat. The furnace complex dates back to 1835; until 1924, local iron ore was smelted there using charcoal to produce pig iron. The exhibitions cover almost 1,300 years of iron and steel goods production in the Schmalkalden region, including the well-known “Schmalkalder Artikel” (Schmalkalden products). A 45-minute guided tour explores the history and function of the blast furnace.
The Metalworking Museum also offers an introduction to working with specific materials and objects: original workshops show how nails, pliers and corkscrews have been made for centuries. Together, these topics tell different sides of the history of craftsmanship—from smelting local ores to making everyday metal goods.
Explore the Landscapes on Foot and by Bike
The district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen, known as the “Prachtregion” (Splendid Region), encompasses four landscapes: the Thuringian Forest, the Rhön, the Werra Valley and the Grabfeld. Explore them on foot, whether you’re looking for a sporting adventure or a relaxed family outing. In the Breitungen Lakes nature reserve, a 3.5-kilometre hiking trail with seating areas offers a specific route for discovering the landscape.
The Rennsteig is a hiking trail in the Prachtregion where you can discover natural treasures. For cycling, the Werra Valley Cycle Path and the Rennsteig offer different experiences: the Werra Valley Cycle Path passes through an impressive river landscape and is well suited to multi-day rides. In the Thuringian Forest, the Rennsteig offers natural cycling routes with beautiful views and fast-paced, sporty descents. When choosing a route, you can therefore consider river landscapes and high-altitude trails as distinct experiences.
Water, Rocks and Caves
The Trusetal Waterfall cascades down 60 metres over a granite formation in three tiers. Visitors can also climb 228 steps alongside the waterfall. The waterfall and the steps offer two different perspectives on this place.
In Breitungen, outings on the water take centre stage: pedal boats and rowing boats can be rented at the Kiessee lake. Stand-up paddleboarding is also available at Breitungen lido, where you can also rent pedal boats and rowing boats. As visitor services of this kind may change, it’s a good idea to check current availability before making plans.
Beneath the surface, the Goetz Cave awaits in Meiningen. It is Europe’s largest accessible fissure and crevice cave; its fissures and crevices reach heights of up to 50 metres, and the cave is 500 metres deep. These dimensions offer a different perspective from waterfalls, lakes and hiking trails.
Winter Experiences in Oberhof
Oberhof has alpine ski slopes for fast-paced descents. Their seasonal operation depends on snow and facility conditions. Germany’s first indoor cross-country skiing hall in Oberhof makes cross-country skiing possible even in summer, offering a different timeframe from descents on snow. Check the hall’s operating schedule and booking conditions before making plans; the alpine slopes, meanwhile, depend on the relevant snow and facility conditions.
Discover more destinations: Altersbach, Bermbach, Fambach, Friedelshausen, Schmalkalden, Steinbach-Hallenberg, Struth-Helmershof, Wasungen, Wernshausen, Oepfershausen, Oberhof, Floh-Seligenthal, Oberschönau, Trusetal, Kleinschmalkalden, Rohr / Thuringia, Zella-Mehlis, Meiningen, Erbenhausen, Kühndorf, Sülzfeld, Schwarza, Christes, Rotterode, Trusetal-Laudenbach, Breitungen/Werra, Viernau, Jüchsen, Unterschönau, Rosa, Birx, Brotterode-Trusetal, Springstille, Benshausen, Walldorf, Roßdorf, Unterkatz, Ellingshausen, Obermaßfeld-Grimmenthal, Kaltensundheim, Grabfeld, Schwallungen, Rhönblick, Frankenheim/Rhön, Henneberg, Vachdorf, Hümpfershausen, Wallbach, Brotterode health resort.
See the overarching travel guide: Thuringia.
