The circular tour around Altersbach starts at Altersbach railway station, where parking is available. It climbs gently to Geißkoppe and then follows the edge of the forest past Bench No. 4 and the bench beneath the chestnut tree (No. 5), continuing to Bench No. 6, which offers a beautiful view. This makes it possible to plan the route using its waypoints.

Circular Routes Around Altersbach

Another route option is the approximately 5-kilometre circular trail around Arzberg. It connects Steinbach-Hallenberg with the district of Altersbach. The two descriptions offer different ways to find your bearings: the Altersbach circular tour focuses on its starting point and route, including Geißkoppe and the benches, while the Arzberg circular trail focuses on its approximate length and the connection between the two places.

The route through Altersbach also passes the charcoal kiln site, with its small open-air stage. It adds another local point of interest to the route descriptions. The stage is part of the charcoal kiln site.

In the Wider Destination of Steinbach-Hallenberg

For trip planning, the wider destination of Steinbach-Hallenberg offers further themes related to craftsmanship, history and landscape. At the Metalworking Museum Steinbach-Hallenberg, visitors can see original workshops preserved in their original condition and learn how people worked in earlier times. The museum includes three historic workshops: a nail forge, a corkscrew workshop and a file-making workshop. The permanent exhibition “Ons Schdaaimicher,” which opened in January 2022, offers insights into the way of life, language development and club life of the people of Steinbach-Hallenberg.

From April to October, blacksmithing demonstrations take place at the Metalworking Museum on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. As this is a seasonal offering, check the dates for your stay before travelling. The Steinbach-Hallenberg Tourist Information Centre is centrally located in the town centre, directly opposite the museum. Free parking for longer stays is available on Bismarckstraße or on Hennebergstraße, behind the town church.

History, Views and Nature

Hallenburg Castle in the wider destination of Steinbach-Hallenberg was built around 1212 on older building remains. A walk up to the castle offers views of the town and the surrounding mountains. You may need to collect the key from the Tourist Information Centre to access the tower. In honour of Hallenburg Castle, the Burgfest is held every five years as a large town festival; if you would like to plan your trip around it, check the specific date.

The wider destination of Steinbach-Hallenberg includes the Unterlautenberg wildlife enclosure in the district of Unterschönau, which is bordered by a circular trail of about 3 kilometres. Red deer, fallow deer, mouflons and goats can be seen there. The animals and the circular trail offer a different focus from the routes with their viewpoints or the insights into the history of craftsmanship.

Knüllfeld is part of the wider destination of Steinbach-Hallenberg and is known as its hiking plateau. During the summer holidays, regular horse-drawn carriage rides to Knüllfeld and back to the town centre are offered in the wider destination of Steinbach-Hallenberg in partnership with Fuhrbetrieb Falk Nattermann. During the ride, you can enjoy views down into the valley and of the surrounding mountains. Dates are published in the events calendar; check in advance which rides fall within your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Schmalkalden, Hümpfershausen, Rosa, Schwallungen, Springstille, Kurort Brotterode, Oberhof, Friedelshausen

To the wider travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.