Silent mountain forests, clear mountain streams, flowering meadows, lonely moors: in southwestern Thuringia, nature is king.
Übernachtungsgäste von elf Gemeinden im Thüringer Wald können mit ihrer Gästekarte und dem darin inkludierten Rennsteig-Ticket Bus fahren und am Wochenende den Rennsteig-Shuttle nutzen. Kombiniert mit der bequemen Bahnanreise genießt ihr einen erholsamen und autofreien Urlaub im UNESCO-Biosphärenreservat.
Stand still. Pause. Take a deep breath and come to yourself first: The Thuringian Forest is a piece of nature like something out of a storybook. Blooming mountain meadows and extensive mixed forests, mysterious moors and bubbling streams combine to create a mystical natural landscape that you just want to dive deep into. To sniff flowers, listen to the buzzing of wild bees, look for warblers and black woodpeckers - just two of the many rare species here - wade through foaming streams and make a pilgrimage from village to village in well-laced hiking boots.
Schon seit 1979 ist dieses Stück Thüringen zwischen Oberhof, Ilmenau, Masserberg und Suhl ein von der UNESCO anerkanntes Biosphärenreservat. Heute gilt es als Modellregion für nachhaltige Entwicklung und klimafreundlichen Naturtourismus. Als eines von 23 Fahrtziel-Natur-Gebieten in Deutschland ist die Region direkt mit der Bahn erreichbar; vor Ort kommt ihr mit dem „Rennsteig-Ticket“ unkompliziert per Bus und Zug weiter – für Übernachtungsgäste sogar kostenlos.
And what else goes on in this area of the Thuringian Forest? Hiking, of course, which is a special pleasure here. In 36 hours you could walk around the area once completely. But it's even nicer to walk right through the middle of it, of course. On the Rennsteig for example, Germany's oldest long-distance and high-altitude hiking trail, which runs along here for 30 kilometers. You can also go with rangers or nature guides to impressive places or on a fragrant herb hike. On the high moor nature trail near Oberhof you can get to know the plants and animals of these mysterious landscapes safely and on dry feet. The primeval forest trail near Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig, which leads along picturesque streams through untouched forests in five hours, is - especially on warm summer days - a hot and refreshing tip. Cool end: the forest pool in Breitenbach.
And if you're really curious afterwards, the Biosphere Reserve Information Center in Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig provides you interactively with lots of background knowledge about this remarkable protected area in the Thuringian Forest. And you can find out, for example, how the region is connected to other UNESCO protected areas around the world.
Eleven friends: In the Thuringian Forest, eleven communities have joined forces and, with the guest card, simultaneously offer the Rennsteig ticket an: The bus and the Schwarzabahn are free of charge within these eleven regions, and on weekends the Rennsteig Shuttle also includes the train. The Rennsteig ticket is handed out together with the guest card directly at the check-in in your accommodation. You can find more information here.
Cover photo: The biosphere reserve measures about 16 by 18 kilometers and is located in the heart of the Thuringian Forest © Dominik Ketz
