Spechtsbrunn can be explored through two distinct themes: the Baroque architectural history of its church and trails along the Green Belt, which connect nature with the history of the former inner-German border. There are also opportunities for winter tours and an annual village festival held in May.

Baroque church and Rennsteig Festival

St. Matthew’s Church in Spechtsbrunn was built in 1746/47 as a Baroque church, replacing a medieval predecessor. Its lavish decoration makes it a remarkable example of the heyday of Baroque church architecture in the Thuringian Slate Mountains. The construction date and predecessor give the church two clearly distinct historical layers: its medieval origins at this site and the later Baroque replacement.

The Rennsteig Festival is associated with a different kind of tradition. It is held every year in May in the district of Spechtsbrunn. As the exact festival dates may vary, check the dates for your travel period.

Hiking along the Green Belt

The short border hike along the Green Belt begins at the Spechtsbrunn Nature Park and Geopark Information Centre; the circular route follows the Rennsteig for its first few metres. It then leads through the natural surroundings of the Green Belt National Natural Monument. The circular route is well signposted and can be walked on snowshoes in winter. The Green Belt runs directly alongside the Nature Park Information Centre, offering opportunities there to hike and cycle in the footsteps of inner-German history.

The centre also offers the “Green Belt – from Death Strip to Habitat” backpack school programme. This is a hike exploring the history and present-day character of the Green Belt for 3rd and 4th grade classes. If you would like to include the backpack school programme in your plans, confirm its current availability with the centre in advance.

Another option along the former inner-German border is the “German Unity” ski hiking trail in the district of Spechtsbrunn. It invites visitors to enjoy an active exploration tour. As winter conditions may vary, check conditions before setting out.

More topics in the wider destination of Sonneberg

The wider destination of Sonneberg also offers its own cultural and nature-related attractions. At the German Toy Museum, the “Thuringian Fair” is part of the permanent exhibition: a group of 67 lifelike figures depicting a typical rural folk festival in the Thuringian-Franconian region in the 19th century. The museum also displays 5,000 toys illustrating the history of toys from their origins to the present day; there are also three play areas. The number of toys on display may change.

Sonneberg City Park was laid out in the 19th century as a private citizens’ park by a Sonneberg toy manufacturer and covers 1.4 hectares. A roughly 250-metre-long trail with seven stations on the theme “Small Animals, Larger Than Life” runs through the park. Developed in 2026, the trail is designed for children and is almost barrier-free; some sections have gravel paths with slight inclines. The stations and the trail’s limitations go hand in hand: the stated accessibility is expressly not without restrictions.

The Historic Mile offers further insights into Sonneberg’s history: a walking tour through the old town to the roots of the former toy manufacturing sites. Its 16 panels cover the history of the toy industry, its buildings, and the lives and work of local residents.

Discover more destinations: Steinach, Lauscha, Neuhaus Am Rennweg, Sonneberg, Scheibe-Alsbach, Steinheid, Schalkau, Frankenblick.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Sonneberg.