Springstille lies 380 meters above sea level at the foot of the eastern spur of Stiller Stein and Stiller Berg. The source pond of the small river Stille lies near the village; the Gasthaus zur Hechel inn is right at the entrance to the village. Together, these local landmarks offer an initial orientation to Springstille’s landscape and local history. The village was first mentioned in a document in 948.
Church and History in Springstille
Springstille Church combines a long building history with distinctive features in its furnishings. Its medieval predecessor church was dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, served as the parish seat of Steinbach-Hallenberg and was destroyed in 1285. The tower’s lowest stories are all that remain of it. The nave was probably added to the tower in 1628, so this date is uncertain.
Springstille Church is one of the few unplastered half-timbered churches in the Schmalkalden church district. Unplastered half-timbering leaves the structure visible; here, the term “peasant Rococo” refers to two items of church furnishings: the alms box and the baptismal font. This makes it possible to consider the building style and interior furnishings as distinct aspects of the church. Those interested in regional church architecture will find both the surviving lower stories of the tower and the nave, probably added later, as well as Rococo furnishings.
Culture in the wider destination of Schmalkalden
In Schmalkalden itself, the town’s history leads to a different church. Construction of St. George’s Church began in 1413/14, incorporating parts of a Romanesque predecessor church. At the most important meeting of the Schmalkaldic League in 1537, the best-known theologians of their time preached there; Martin Luther presented his Schmalkaldic Articles in the church. The history of Springstille Church and the Reformation history of Schmalkalden thus represent distinct historical themes.
Wilhelmsburg Castle rises above Schmalkalden’s old town and houses a permanent exhibition on the time of Martin Luther and the Schmalkaldic League. At the museum, visitors can see the banqueting halls, the decorated castle church, historic room layouts with wall paintings and stucco, the lord’s kitchen and the terrace garden. A historic wooden-pipe organ there can still be played. If you are planning a museum visit, check current opening hours and accessibility in advance.
Manufacturing, Museums and Industrial Heritage
At the Viba Nougat World, visitors can watch nougat being made through a glass-walled workshop. Various workshops offer the chance to make pralines, chocolate or a classic nougat bar; check current booking details in advance. Schmalkalden bus and train station is a few minutes’ walk from the Viba Nougat World. This gives you an idea of how to get around within Schmalkalden, without implying a walking time to another destination.
Those interested in industrial heritage rather than crafts and nougat can visit the Neue HĂĽtte in Schmalkalden. It is one of the last sites where an early industrial blast furnace can still be understood in its entirety, thanks to its excellent state of preservation. Visitors can walk all the way around the original furnace and climb to a height of over 11 meters. The Historicum Zinnfigurenmuseum offers a different scale: across 400 square meters, it displays more than 20,000 fully three-dimensional, hand-painted tin figures in staged scenes from world history.
From April to October, public guided tours of Schmalkalden’s historic old town are offered. Confirm dates and departure details in advance with the Tourist Information Office.
Discover more destinations: Erbenhausen, Oberschönau, Viernau, Bermbach, Schmalkalden, Rotterode, Altersbach, Unterschönau.
Go to the wider travel overview: Schmalkalden-Meiningen.
