Back Roads Germany (Dk Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

105

Ettersberg

1,565 ft

Riechheimer Berg

1677 ft

Flughafen

Erfurt

Becken

Thüringer
Wald

Talsperre

Heyda

Talsperre

Schönbrunn

Gera

Gera

Wipfra

Im

Ilm

ILMENAU

ARNSTADT

ERFURT

WEIMAR

SCHLOSS

BELVEDERE

Ollendorf

Ettersburg

Troistedt

Isseroda

Rockhausen

Elxleben

Kranichfeld

Alkersleben

Wüllersleben

Gutendorf

München

Martinroda

Tröbsdorf

Eichelborn

Tiefengruben

Siegelbach

Dosdorf

Roda Unterpörlitz

Cottendorf

Oehrenstock

Möhrenbach

Gillersdorf

Gehren

Neustadt

am Rennsteig

Frienstedt Urbich

Linderbach

Schwerborn

Nohra

Mönchen-

holzhausen

Rudisleben

Plaue

Langewiesen

Büssleben

Angelhausen

Kirchheim

Schmira

Kerspleben

Schöndorf

Alach

Tiefthal

Vieselbach

Grossmölsen

Gaberndorf

Kromsdorf

Klettbach

Rhoda

Möbisburg

Ichtershausen

Bösleben

Osthausen

Gräfinau-

Angstedt

Neusiss

Altenfeld

Grossbreitenbach

Bad Berka

Stadtilm

Blankenhain

PLAN YOUR DRIVE

Start/finish: The Wartburg to

Schloss Belvedere.

Number of days: 3–4 days, allowing

half a day to explore Weimar.

Distance: 155 miles (250 km).

Road conditions: Roads are generally

good in the Thuringian Forest. In

winter, snow can be a problem.

When to go: The best time to visit

is summer (June to August), when

flowers carpet the meadows, festivals

are in full swing, and hiking is idyllic.

The ski season is from mid-December

to February.

Opening times: Most shops are

open from 9am to 5pm Monday to

Friday. Many museums in Weimar

are closed on Mondays.

Main market days: The Wartburg:

Wed & Thu; Ilmenau: Thu & Fri;

Arnstadt: Tue, Fri & Sat; Erfurt:

Mon–Sat; Weimar: Wed, Thu–Sun.

Major festivals: Erfurt:

Krämerbrückenfest (merchant’s

bridge medieval festival), Jun; Musicals/

theater on Domplatz steps, Jul–Aug;

Weimar: Wine Festival, Aug; Weimarer

Zwiebelmarkt (onion festival), Oct.

DAY TRIP OPTIONS

Meiningen is an ideal base for

outdoor activities in the Thuringian

Forest, with skiing in Oberhof and

walks around Ilmenau. Visit Weimar

to see splendid art galleries, and

aristocratic palaces, then stop by

Erfurt’s Gothic cathedral and take

a side-trip to Arnstadt. For full

details, see p111.

DRIVE 10: Hilltop Castles and Lush Landscapes

Above left Straw bales on a meadow, Drei

Gleichen, see p108 Above right Shops and

cafés on Krämerbrücke, Erfurt, see p109 Below

Sculpture at Dom St. Marien, Erfurt, see p109