Discover Siegmundsburg through its Werra springs and the history of its glassworks. The town also has historic memorial sites, a festival celebrated regularly and seasonal activities. This offers a range of reasons to stay, depending on whether you are interested in nature, local history or particular times of year.
Werra Springs and Waterways
The Werra Spring on the outskirts of Siegmundsburg is one of the town’s best-known destinations. It was first mentioned in a document in 1492. The Hintere Werraquelle (Rear Werra Spring) has its own history: it was officially inaugurated on 21 August 1910. Its fourth spring structure was built in 1992 to mark the 500th anniversary of its first recorded mention.
Another point of interest in the area’s waterways is the Dreistromstein (Three Rivers Stone). Streams rise in its immediate vicinity, and their waters eventually flow into the Elbe, Rhine and Weser. The three rivers give the area a distinctive hydrological connection, while the Werra Spring is a well-known destination right on the edge of town.
Glassmaking History and Historic Sites
Siegmundsburg’s history dates back to 1728. That year, master glassmaker Johann Michael Gundelach from Allzunah founded a glassworks on Hüfftenberg. This founding marks an early point of reference in the town’s history. Anyone interested in the history of glassmaking will find a tangible link to the local past here.
Historic stones and memorial sites mark another chapter. A Dreiherrenstein (Three Lords’ Stone) was erected at Saarzipfel near Siegmundsburg in 1733. The soldiers’ graves on the Rennsteig near Siegmundsburg are the final resting place of soldiers who fell near the Rennsteig in the last days of the war in April 1945. The Three Lords’ Stone and the graves represent different historical contexts and can therefore be viewed as separate stops in the town’s history.
Seasonal Activities
The Werrafest is held every year on the third weekend in July. If the festival is important to your travel plans, check the exact dates for your chosen year. This distinguishes the recurring timing from the specific festival dates for any given year.
Seasonal leisure activities also vary: in summer, a slope in Siegmundsburg is used as a summer tubing run; it is currently out of operation. Check its current status before travelling. In winter, Siegmundsburg has a ski lift. If you want to include it in your plans, check in advance whether it will be operating during your travel dates.
More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Neuhaus am Rennweg
Neuhaus am Rennweg offers further opportunities to explore the region’s hiking and culture. The Rennsteig high-altitude trail runs right through the town. The “Bogenpfad am Rennsteig” (Arch Trail on the Rennsteig) starts and ends at the Igelshieber sports ground, right next to the Rennsteighaus. The municipal tourist information office in Neuhaus am Rennweg offers bookings for hikes on the Rennsteig and to historically significant destinations, with or without a certified nature and landscape guide. Check the available dates if you are planning one of these hikes.
The area’s architectural and cultural history is also on display. The Gothic wooden church in the centre of Neuhaus am Rennweg was consecrated in 1892 and is one of the few entirely wooden churches in Germany. Its windows feature geometric and ornamental stained glass, with the colours arranged to match the ripening of the grapes. The Erlebnis Museum in the town centre presents the glassmaking and contemporary history of this Rennsteig town and invites visitors to immerse themselves in the life of the “Wäldler” (forest dwellers), listen, linger and take part. The Geißlerhaus, the birthplace of Dr Heinrich Geißler (1814–1879), also presents the glassmaking and contemporary history of this Rennsteig town.
Several routes are of interest to cyclists in Neuhaus am Rennweg: the Rennsteig Cycle Path and the Schwarzatal Cycle Path both reach the town. According to tourist information, the Werratal Cycle Tour also often starts there. Tourist information lists the SĂĽdthĂĽringen Railway or a bus from Saalfeld that carries bicycles as options for travelling with a bike. Check connections and journey times for your travel date.
For the wider travel overview: Neuhaus Am Rennweg.
