Winterstein: Castle Ruins, Falconry and Circular Trail

Historic Sites in the Palace Park

Winterstein’s palace park is home to the castle quarter with its castle ruins and defensive ditch, the Vogtei and the manor house. The manor barn is now used as a visitor center. Together, these places offer a tangible insight into Winterstein’s historic heritage, while the manor barn’s present-day use provides a connection to the present. The various buildings and structures are individually named parts of the palace park.

One special detail of the town’s history is the gravestone for Stutzel, a faithful dog. It is located below the castle ruins. The dog’s grave was established in 1630. The connection between the castle ruins and the gravestone makes the dog’s story a subject in its own right within the historic townscape, rather than grouping it with the other buildings. If you are interested in history, you can include this special place in your exploration of Winterstein.

Falconry on the Rennsteig

Falconry on the Rennsteig offers a bookable experience day as a falconer. Children can get close to birds of prey there and earn a junior falconry certificate. Both the falconer’s work and the encounter with birds of prey are concrete aspects of the experience. When planning your stay, it is important to note that this is a bookable experience day; details of the offer may change. Therefore, check the booking information with the provider before making firm plans for the day.

A visit to the falconry is a possible focus distinct from the town’s history or the circular trail. When looking for a hotel, you could consider whether falconry should be a fixed part of your itinerary or whether you would rather plan your stay around the historic sites and the trail. The activities described can help guide you without assuming any particular features of your accommodation.

“Inselsbergblick” Circular Trail

The “Inselsbergblick” circular trail opened on July 24, 2021, and also passes through Winterstein. Both its name and its connection to the town are clearly stated. The opening date places the trail in time; when planning, you can consider it as a possible focus in its own right, alongside the falconry and historic sites.

First, consider whether you would like to include the circular trail in your personal plans; you can make further decisions about your route using information relevant to your visit.

Waltershausen as a Broader Context

The broader destination of Waltershausen offers additional cultural and historical points of interest that should be distinguished from Winterstein’s attractions. In Schnepfenthal, the GutsMuths Memorial Hall is a venue for sports and culture. It provides information about history, nature, GutsMuths and the Rennsteig Run, and has established itself as a gallery with special exhibitions. Schnepfenthal’s attractions also include the historic cemetery in Hardt, an old manor house and the Salzmannschule secondary school.

The grounds of the GutsMuths Memorial Hall in Schnepfenthal also have their own cultural significance: there are information panels about GutsMuths and his pupils, as well as trees from every continent. In Waltershausen itself, the ballroom at Tenneberg Castle dates back to 1719. It is one of the castle’s three surviving Baroque rooms and features a ceiling painting by Johann Heinrich Ritter, a court painter from Thuringia. These examples add to the regional context, but are not features of Winterstein.

The “Zur Gotteshilfe” Town Church in Waltershausen is considered Thuringia’s first major Baroque centralized church building and a forerunner of Dresden’s Frauenkirche in its floor plan and construction. Its organ has three manuals, 53 sounding stops and 2,806 pipes. If you would like to consider your stay in a context extending beyond Winterstein, these architectural and cultural attractions offer a distinct focus in Waltershausen.

As a broader destination, Waltershausen adds further cultural points of interest. Base your search on the focus that matters for your stay, and check the latest booking details if you are planning a day at the falconry.

Discover more destinations: Schmerbach.

Back to the broader travel overview: Emsetal.