Exploring Thuringia, Austria: Activities And Attractions

what to do around thuringen austria

There are many things to see and do in and around Thuringia, Germany and Thueringen, Austria. In Thuringia, you can visit the Weimar library, Rokokosaal, which houses around 40,000 books. You can also take a guided or multimedia tour of the memorial site of a Nazi concentration camp and a Soviet Special Camp. Additionally, you can explore a beautifully decorated Baroque-style museum with an impressive collection of art, crafts, porcelain, and furniture. In Thueringen, Austria, you can explore the Austrian Alps and discover various outdoor activities and nature parks. Although specific details about attractions in and around Thueringen, Austria, are scarce, sources suggest there are unusual places to visit and unique experiences to be had.

Characteristics Values
Visit a concentration camp memorial site Humbling, educational experience
Zeiss Planetarium One of the first large planetariums in the world, operational since 1926
JenTower Observation deck at 128 meters with a wide view of the Saale Valley
Weimar Home to the Rokokosaal library, with approximately 40,000 books
Wartburg Built around 1067
Erfurt Known for its cultural treasures
Kochberg Castle Park Dedicated to Johann Wolfgang and Charlotte
Bauhaus Known for its art epoch
Tiefurt Castle and Park A place of art and music
Thuringian Slate Mountains/Ober Saale Nature Park Ideal for hiking, featuring the 74.4-kilometer Hohenwarte Reservoir Trail with challenging trails, dense forests, and rocky lookout points
Oberhof Known for winter sports

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Visit the JenTower observation deck and the Zeiss Planetarium

If you're looking for a thrilling way to experience the beauty of Thuringia, Austria, from above, look no further than the JenTower observation deck. Standing tall at 128 meters, the tower offers a breathtaking "sparkling panoramic view" of the city of Jena and the Saale Valley. Take in the sights while sipping on a glass of Riesling sparkling wine or a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage. The observation deck provides a unique perspective of the city, allowing you to admire its architectural wonders and surrounding natural landscapes.

After taking in the views from the JenTower, descend back to the heart of Jena and make your way to the Zeiss Planetarium. This planetarium holds a significant place in history as the world's first projection planetarium, introduced 100 years ago by Zeiss. The innovative company has since developed, built, and installed countless models worldwide, sharing their precision and quality with audiences across the globe.

As you step into the Zeiss Planetarium Jena, you'll be transported on a captivating journey through the universe. The planetarium showcases the night sky as closely as possible to its natural appearance, based on the latest scientific findings. Witness the brilliance of the stars, brighter star clusters, and nebulae, all projected with exceptional clarity. The planetarium's presentations are designed to evoke emotion and excitement, providing a truly immersive experience.

The Zeiss Planetarium also offers multimedia music shows, combining the beauty of the cosmos with the magic of music. Whether you're an astronomy enthusiast or simply seeking a unique entertainment experience, the planetarium promises an unforgettable journey that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the universe we inhabit.

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Explore the Wartburg, Erfurt and its cultural treasures

Thuringia, Germany, is a cultural region with many attractions. The Wartburg, a castle near Eisenach, is one of the most famous. It is known for its association with Martin Luther, who took refuge there for a year after being declared a heretic and sentenced to death. The castle is also tied to St. Elizabeth and Richard Wagner. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visitors can explore the well-preserved castle grounds, including the massive entrance gate, two courtyards, a three-story palace, half-timbered buildings, and Luther's room, which has been preserved as it was during his time. The castle offers spectacular views of the surrounding forest and town of Eisenach.

In Erfurt, Thuringia's capital, you can explore one of Germany's most beautiful old towns. Erfurt has a rich history, especially regarding Jewish life in the Middle Ages, as evidenced by the Old Synagogue, the oldest in Central Europe, dating back to the 11th century. The city also boasts the Krämer Bridge, the Fish Market, the City Hall, and the High Cathedral Church of St. Mary, which houses the world's largest free-swinging bell, the Gloriosa, dating from the Middle Ages.

Erfurt has a range of accommodation options, such as the Hotel Am Kaisersaal, located just a few minutes' walk from the Krämerbrücke. The hotel offers modern rooms and apartments built around a pleasant grassy courtyard.

Thuringia also offers natural attractions like the Thuringian Forest, ideal for cycling, and the SaaleHorizontale hiking trail, providing unique views of Jena.

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Stroll through the English landscape garden and the Orangery

The Schönbrunn Orangery, built around 1754, is one of the largest Baroque orangeries in Europe. At 189 metres long and 10 metres wide, it is a sight to behold. The western part of the Orangery serves as a winter home for exotic plants, such as bitter orange, olive trees, and myrtles, which are then moved outside to the Schönbrunn Palace Park during the summer. The Palace Gardens, designed by Empress Maria Theresa, were opened to the public in 1779 and feature intricate landscaping, ordered, symmetrical beds, and a mix of architecture and nature.

Adjacent to the Orangery is the Privy Garden, originally known as the Crown Prince Rudolf Garden. It boasts spectacular plants and flowers, thanks to its sheltered location by the east palace façade. The centrepiece of the Privy Garden is an ancient yew tree, with manicured lawns and landscaped flower beds surrounding it.

The Schönbrunn Palace is also home to Vienna's zoo, the oldest in the world. What started as a menagerie now attracts over 2 million visitors annually to see its collection of rare animals. The palace also has a Children's Museum, where visitors can learn about the lives of children during the Austrian Empire, both within the palace and in the poorer neighbourhoods of Vienna.

The Gloriette, a colonnaded building with wings, arches, and an imperial eagle, offers a unique vantage point for spectacular views over the gardens and palace. The inner hall, originally a dining room in the 19th century, now houses a charming café for guests to enjoy.

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Tour the memorial site of the Nazi concentration camp

While there do not appear to be any Nazi concentration camps in the immediate vicinity of Thueringen, Austria, there are a couple of sites in Germany that are accessible from Austria.

One of the closest Nazi concentration camp memorial sites is the Mauthausen concentration camp, which is located 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Linz in Upper Austria. This was a German Nazi concentration camp that was in operation from 8 August 1938 until 5 May 1945, when it was liberated by the US Army. It was one of the first massive concentration camp complexes in Nazi Germany and had nearly 100 subcamps throughout Austria and southern Germany. The camp is now a museum and national memorial site, where visitors can take a guided tour or download a multimedia guide to their phone to learn about the history of the camp and the atrocities committed there.

Another option is the Dachau concentration camp, which is located northwest of Munich, Germany. This was the first regular concentration camp established by the Nazi regime in 1933 and was liberated by American forces on 29 April 1945. There were approximately 30,000 starving prisoners in the camp at the time of its liberation. The camp has been preserved as a memorial and serves as a reminder of the horrors of the Nazi regime. Visitors can explore the campgrounds, view memorials constructed by survivors, and learn about the camp's history and the people who were imprisoned there.

In addition to these memorial sites, there are other ways to learn about and pay respects to the victims of the Nazi regime in the area. For example, the town of Thueringen offers a variety of attractions, including beautifully decorated Baroque-style rooms that house a museum with an impressive collection of art, crafts, porcelain, and furniture from the same era. Visitors can also take a stroll through the vast park, which includes an English landscape garden, an Orangery, and a pleasure garden.

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Hike the Thuringian Slate Mountains/Ober Saale Nature Park

The Thuringian Slate Mountains/Ober Saale Nature Park offers a variety of trails for hikers and backpackers of all skill levels. The park spans 800 square kilometres in the districts of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt and Saale-Orla and is known for its "Blue Gold", or Dachschiefer, the slate that covers the roofs and facades of the region and glows in the setting sun.

For family-friendly hikes, there are two easy trails to choose from. The first is the Rennsteig trail, which runs 17.7 miles from Steinbach am Wald to Blankenstein, with an elevation gain of 1,909 feet. The second is a trail north of the Eichicht reservoir, which takes hikers through the forest and up to the Steinhuegel, with highlights including the Saale Valley and the view from Heinrichstein.

For more advanced hikers, there are 30 other trails, some of which reach 8,464 feet in elevation gain. The Saale-Orla-Hunderter boasts the most elevation gain in the park, with 8,464 feet of ascent. The Radtour Steinach nach Hof trail is the longest in the park, at 65.4 miles long, and offers 8,005 feet of elevation gain. The loop trail around the Bleilochtalsperre, the largest reservoir in Germany in terms of capacity, is another popular option, as is the Hohenwart loop trail H2 "Nature and Structure", which takes hikers through the Saale Valley and past the dam walls of the upper basin and the Hohenwart reservoir.

In addition to its hiking trails, the park offers other attractions, including the Feengrotten caves in Saalfeld, the Obernitzer Bohlen, the Steinerne Rose, and Schloss Burgk.

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Frequently asked questions

There are many things to do in Thuringia, Germany, such as:

- Visiting the memorial site of the Nazi concentration camp and the Soviet Special Camp.

- Going to the Zeiss Planetarium, one of the first large planetariums in the world.

- Hiking the Thuringian Slate Mountains/Ober Saale Nature Park.

- Exploring the city of Weimar, home to the Rokokosaal library.

- Skiing in Oberhof.

Thuringia has several historical sites, including:

- Wartburg, a castle built around 1067.

- Tiefurt Castle, a place of art and music.

- Kochberg Castle Park, which has connections to Johann Wolfgang and Charlotte.

Yes, Thuringia has several notable parks and natural areas:

- Thuringian Slate Mountains/Ober Saale Nature Park, which offers hiking trails, dense forests, and lookout points along the Saale River.

- Hainich National Park, where you can walk among the tree crowns.

Thuringia is home to several museums, including:

- The Light Castle, a porcelain museum.

- The Bauhaus art museum in Weimar.

- The art and history museum housed in a Baroque-style room.

Some other attractions in Thuringia include:

- The Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes, where you can see stalactites and minerals.

- The city of Jena, which features the JenTower observation deck and the Zeiss Planetarium.

- Erfurt, known for its cultural treasures.

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