Best of Thuringia

Thuringia Essentials

Thuringia preserves Germany's architectural and political history through its dense concentration of medieval structures and 20th-century sites. This collection features the Gothic Erfurt Cathedral and the neighboring St. Severi church, alongside the Buchenwald Memorial. It highlights the region's defensive heritage via the oldest of the Drei Gleichen ruins and hilltop fortresses like Leuchtenburg. Notable landmarks also include the Cold War-era border village of Mödlareuth and the Baroque elegance of Schloss Molsdorf.

Thuringia Essentials — Map

Mattana / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Erfurt Cathedral

Erfurt Cathedral, also known as St Mary's Cathedral, is the largest and oldest church building in the Thuringian city of Erfurt, central…

Stefan Kühn / CC-BY-SA-3.0

B

Buchenwald Memorial

Buchenwald was a Nazi concentration camp established on Ettersberg hill near Weimar, Germany, in July 1937.

Kiefer. / CC BY-SA 2.0

C

Stadtschloss Eisenach

Baroque palace on the northern edge of the market square. Built in the 1740s, it served as the residence of the Dukes of Saxe-Eisenach and now houses the Thuringian Museum Eisenach.

Varus111 / Public domain

D

Burg Creuzburg

Romanesque castle dating back to 1165. It served as a secondary residence for the Landgraves of Thuringia and is closely associated with St. Elizabeth of Hungary.

SehLax / CC BY 2.5

E

Leuchtenburg

A medieval hilltop castle near Seitenroda. Known as the 'Queen of the Saale Valley,' the site features a museum dedicated to the history of porcelain and a panoramic skywalk.

Misburg3014 / CC BY-SA 3.0

F

Predigerkirche

Predigerkirche is a Protestant church in Erfurt, Germany. It is a monastic church to the Dominican friary, Predigerkloster, adjacent to the…

Wikswat / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Sankt Severi

A five-aisled Gothic hall church located on Erfurt's Domberg. Built between 1270 and 1400, it stands directly adjacent to the cathedral and houses the 14th-century sarcophagus of Saint Severus.

CTHOE / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Burg Lauenstein

A 12th-century hilltop castle featuring a museum with over 20 rooms showcasing weapons, armor, and historical furnishings from the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Andreas Praefcke / CC BY 3.0

I

Mödlareuth

Mödlareuth is a German village situated partly in Bavaria and partly in Thuringia.

Michael Sander / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

Mühlburg

The oldest of the three 'Drei Gleichen' castles, first mentioned in 704. These ruins sit on a 375-meter spur offering views of the surrounding Thuringian landscape.

Störfix / CC-BY-SA-3.0

K

Roßbrücke

One of the oldest preserved stone bridges in Erfurt’s city center. This historical road bridge spans the Gera River near the cathedral district.

L

Thüringer Warte

A 26.5-meter tall observation tower located on the 678-meter summit of the Ratzenberg. It provides panoramic views of the Thuringian Forest and the Franconian Forest.

M

Schloss Molsdorf

An 18th-century Baroque palace commissioned by Count Gustav Adolf von Gotter. The estate features extensive gardens and ornate interiors reflecting the Rococo style.

Other Lists

Heritage Sites of Thuringia Castles and Ruins Historic Churches & Monasteries Historic Towers & Viewpoints Regional Cuisine in Thuringia