Camping by Rennsteig

Camping on the Rennsteig stands for pure hiking pleasure in the Thuringian Forest. Germany's oldest long-distance hiking trail stretches from Hörschel on the middle reaches of the Werra to Blankenstein on the upper reaches of the Saale. Anyone travelling here on foot or by bike will be rewarded with unforgettable impressions: quiet, densely wooded low mountain ranges, fragrant mountain meadows, picturesque valleys, dreamy villages and historic towns. Lovers of mighty castles will also get their money's worth.

Special features of camping on the Rennsteig

The campsites on the Rennsteig are ideal starting points for actively savouring the scenic beauty of the Thuringian Forest. In the climatic health resort of Georgenthal, north of the Rennsteig, there is a family-run campsite with 35 pitches and direct access to a modern outdoor pool, which is open from the beginning of March to the end of October. The family-friendly campsite in Leinatal, which is surrounded by rustling coniferous forests and has a swimming pond and a small petting zoo, is open all year round. The forest campsite in Manebach also attracts visitors in both summer and winter. The 10-hectare campsite in Frankenhain, not far from the winter sports resort of Oberhof, offers a wide range of leisure activities for young and old. Campers can sweat it out in the sauna at the Rennsteig caravan site in Friedrichroda.

How to get there

Some call the Rennsteig a myth, others a cult. The long-distance hiking trail is 169.3 km long and runs at altitudes between 196 and 972 metres. If you want to hike it in its entirety, don't forget to put a pebble from the Werra in your pocket and carry it to the Saale - that's the tradition. Before the stony pleasure can begin, you need to travel by motorhome or caravan.

Holidaymakers can reach Hörschel, the western starting point of the Rennsteig, via the A4 motorway to the Eisenach-West exit in the direction of Stedtfeld/Hörschel. Coming from the north, Oberhof can also be reached via the A4 motorway to the Erfurter Kreuz junction, from there on the A71 motorway towards Schweinfurt/Suhl/Meiningen, through the Rennsteig tunnel and onwards on the B247 federal road to the destination. From the south, campers take the A71 motorway to the Oberhof exit.

Travellers to Blankenstein, the end point of the Rennsteig, take the A9 motorway to the Rudolphstein exit. Various country roads lead through wide plateaus and idyllic valleys to the other villages along the legendary ridge trail. Incidentally, it is impossible to lose your bearings on the Rennsteig, as the main route is marked with a white R.

Destinations

Gut Runst! is the greeting that hikers shout to each other on the Rennsteig. But you can also make incomparable encounters off the trail, for example in the winter sports resort of Oberhof or in the information centre of the UNESCO Thuringian Forest Biosphere Reserve in Schmiedefeld.

On the western Rennsteig

The region on the western Rennsteig begins at the middle reaches of the Werra and is not only ideal for hiking, but also for an extensive spa holiday. The state-recognised brine spa Bad Salzungen is located here, as is Bad Tabarz, known for its Kneipp treatments. Lovers of historical sights are drawn to the Wartburg town of Eisenach, the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach. The romantic half-timbered town of Schmalkalden is also worth discovering.

Along the middle Rennsteig

The middle Rennsteig trail runs from Oberhof to Neuhaus am Rennweg. In Bad Blankenburg at the beginning of the picturesque Schwarzatal valley, Greifenstein Castle attracts visitors with its own falconry and rustic tavern for knightly dinners. In the Eisfeld Museum, visitors can learn all about the origins of the Thuringian Porcelain Route. Not far from Frankenhain is the Lütsche reservoir, the largest bathing lake in the region.

On the eastern Rennsteig

The moor spa Bad Lobenstein with the ARDESIA thermal baths is located in the eastern region of the Rennsteig. Visitors can encounter traditional glass art in the coloured glassworks in Lauscha, while Lichte is known for its porcelain. Near Steinbach am Wald, known for its traditional church festivals and good winter sports facilities, the Rennsteig leads through Bavaria.

Activities and excursions

Herbert Roth's Rennsteiglied with its famous line Ich wandre ja so gerne am Rennsteig durch das Land is considered Thuringia's secret anthem. The other leisure activities in the active region also deserve a hit of their own.

Lace up your hiking boots and off you go!

The Rennsteig is divided into eight stages. The shortest stretches over 14.3 km from Hörschel east of Eisenach to Hohe Sonne and offers magnificent views of the historic Wartburg Castle, where Martin Luther once translated the New Testament. Designated adventure trails such as the Rennsteig Planet Trail between Heubach and Masserberg combine hikes with exciting themed areas. A total of 44 Rennsteig ladders also provide access to the side valleys of the high-altitude hiking trail that are well worth discovering.

Fast-paced fun on the Rennsteig

Holidaymakers can actively immerse themselves in nature on excursions around the Rennsteig, for example in the Bad Tabarz climbing forest or on the Oberweißbacher Bergbahn mountain bike trail. The summer tubing track in Siegmundsburg offers sliding fun for young and old alike, while Oberhof is completely dedicated to winter sports. The country town has the only cross-country ski centre in Germany, where visitors can ski 365 days a year. For a pure thrill, take a guest bobsleigh ride through the ice channel of the Oberhof racing sledge track.

Gastronomy

Thuringia's traditional cuisine is hearty and down-to-earth. Thuringia's culinary trademark are the Thuringian dumplings, which consist of one third boiled and two thirds grated potatoes. The old song line "A Sunday without dumplings would lose its greatness" still holds true today, although the doughy balls are also delicious on any other day of the week, for example in combination with a sauerbraten and red cabbage. Another tasty dish is mashed potatoes with bacon, known as stupper. After a hike on the Rennsteig, if you stop for a gourmet break in a cosy mountain inn, you will also find typical regional dishes such as potato pancakes, lentil stew and beer meat on the menu, not forgetting Thuringian roast sausage. In the land of 1,000 ponds, carp and trout are also very popular.

Best time to travel

The Rennsteig is considered Thuringia's national treasure, for which good footwear and weatherproof clothing are essential. This is because the Thuringian Forest is located in a transitional area between oceanic and continental climates, which can be described as cold and temperate.

From spring to autumn, the Rennsteig trail is ideal for hiking and cycling. In the summer months of June to August, average maximum temperatures of a mild 17 degrees Celsius are reached. If you start your tour in a valley with sunshine, you may well be surprised by rain and fog on the ridges. Winters on the Rennsteig are characterised by low temperatures and guaranteed snow, with the white splendour often lasting until April. Between Aschersbrück and Brennersgrün, the Rennsteig is transformed into the longest long-distance ski trail in Central Europe with a distance of 142 kilometres.