The Breitunger lakes, the view from the Pleß and local cultural sites each add a different dimension to a stay in Breitungen/Werra. Those who want to focus on nature will find a hiking trail and a viewpoint with sweeping panoramic views. The museum and St. Mary's Church add local traditions and history to the mix. This makes it easy to shape your trip around the subjects that interest you most.
Nature at the Breitunger Lakes and Views from the Pleß
The Breitunger Lakes Nature Reserve has a 3.5-kilometre hiking trail with seating areas. The length gives you a clear idea of the distance, while the seating areas provide places to rest along the way. More than 150 bird species are found in the area. Individual sightings may vary, but the variety of species makes the nature reserve a special point of interest for nature lovers, too.
The 20-metre-high viewing platform on the Pleß offers a different perspective. In clear weather, the panoramic view extends, among other places, to the Thuringian Forest, Wartburg Castle near Eisenach, the Hoher Meißner near Kassel, the Hessian Kegelspiel, the Thuringian Rhön, the Wasserkuppe, the Geba and the Dolmar near Meiningen. Visibility affects the view; on clear days, you can take in several landscapes and prominent landmarks at once.
Cycling Route and Route Planning
For cycling plans, the exact route is important: the Werratal long-distance cycle route follows the road towards Bußhof along the area of the Breitunger lakes. Check the current route conditions before setting out. The hiking trail in the nature reserve and the cycling route described here are different ways to explore the area; this does not imply a connection or a shared route.
Museum, St. Mary's Church and a Weekend on the Pleß
The Aktivmuseum – Rural Traditions in Breitungen features period room displays of living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens, as well as a classroom from an earlier time. Hands-on stations in the writing room and the “Bauhütte” invite visitors to explore and try things out. If you would like to include these stations in your visit, confirm their current availability with the museum.
The winged altar in St. Mary's Church dates from 1518. Its decoration includes carvings and paintings based on Albrecht Dürer's Small Passion. Guided tours are available on Sundays after the service, at around 11 a.m., and by request with prior arrangement. Check the specific tour arrangements in advance. This lets you plan your visit around the scheduled time or an arranged tour.
The hiking hut on the Pleß has 45 seats and serves light meals and snacks at weekends. At these times, the tower and hut are staffed by volunteers from the Breitungen branch of the Rhön Club. Weekend refreshments and staffing are useful details for planning; as operating arrangements can change, check them before your visit.
More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Schmalkalden-Meiningen
The wider destination of Schmalkalden-Meiningen offers other cultural highlights. In Schmalkalden, visitors can see nougat being made at the Viba Nougat World in a glass-walled factory. Hands-on confectionery courses offer the chance to pour chocolate, decorate nougat and create pralines. Course times and booking conditions may change; check them if you are considering taking a course.
Another subject is presented at the “Neue Hütte” blast furnace museum in Schmalkalden. The blast furnace complex dates from 1835; local iron ore was smelted there using charcoal to produce pig iron until 1924. This is distinct from the exhibition’s focus on the region’s nearly 1,300-year history of iron and steel goods production, including the well-known “Schmalkalden articles.” A 45-minute guided tour covers the history and operation of the blast furnace. Nougat-making and ironworking thus offer different cultural highlights within the wider destination.
If you plan to visit several places, check connections and conditions for each one separately before finalising your trip.
Discover more destinations: Vachdorf, Meiningen, Brotterode Health Resort, Sülzfeld, Schmalkalden, Walldorf, Fambach, Struth-Helmershof.
Back to the main travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.
