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