Page 108 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Germany

106 BACK ROADS GERMANY

2 Friedrichroda
Thuringia; 99894
Spa waters have attracted
holidaymakers to Friedrichroda
for the past two centuries. In 1835,
Britain’s Princess Victoria came here
to take a cure and fell in love with
Duke Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha,
her future husband. Tour the
gardens of the Neo-Gothic Schloss
Reinhardsbrunn (May–Oct: open Sat &
Sun), where the two royals met. Return
to Tabarz to visit the Marienglashöhle
(open daily) grotto. It literally means
“Mary’s Glass Cave”, which alludes to
the gypsum crystals found here that
were mined for altar decoration.
Above Bachhaus with its lovely garden, ª Return to Tabarz, then turn left
Eisenach Below The Wartburg, perched 1 The Wartburg at the brown panorama symbol and
on top of a hill, Eisenach Thuringia; 99817 drive through the town centre. Drive
Clasped to a ridge south of Eisenach, uphill, following signs to turn right
VISITING THE WARTBURG the Wartburg (open daily) is a well- towards Grosser Inselsberg.
Parking spring of German identity. The
Park in the castle’s car park. castle’s Romanesque Palas, or Great 3 Grosser Inselsberg
Alternatively, visitors can park in Hall, is rich with 19th-century murals Thuringia; 98599
Eisenach’s old town and take mini-trains and mosaics. According to legend, A patchwork of woodland and
or bus No. 10 from the main square. medieval bards once battled for their meadow spreads out beneath one
Tourist Information (Eisenach) lives in singing con tests roman ticized of the highest mountains in the
Markt 24, 99817; 03691 792 30; in Wagner’s opera, Tannhäuser. The Thuringian Forest. At 918 m (3,012 ft),
www.eisenach.info
exiled Martin Luther hid here while it has forested hills to the south and
transla ting the New Testament into foothills rolling north to Eisenach.
VISITING GROSSER INSELSBERG
German in 1521. In 1817, student Well-known as a winter ski resort,
fraternities from across the country Grosser Inselsberg is also a pop ular
Tourist Information
Tabarz, Theodor-Neubauer-Park 3, gathered here to demonstrate for destination in summer. Adven ture
99891; 03625 96 10 87 a united Germany. Drive to the old enthusiasts can try walk ing a section
Hiking town of Eisenach on the B19 to pay of the Rennsteig, Germany’s most
03613 74 20; www.thueringen- tribute to Johann Sebastian Bach, by popular long-distance footpath, to
tourismus.de visiting the Bachhaus (open daily), the climb to the summit or whizz down hill
museum built on what was thought through the pine trees on a summer
WHERE TO STAY to be the site of his birth. toboggan run (Mar–Oct: open daily).
ª Follow signs for Naturpark-Route ª Return to the main road and head
THE WARTBURG Thüringer Wald on the B7 then the B88. to Brotterode. Turn left in the town
Hotel auf der Wartburg expensive At Thal, take the B88 to Seebach, Tabarz centre, following signs to Schmalkalden.
This luxurious small hotel has and then Friedrichroda. Turn right at the Parking is available in the Pfaffenwiese
indivi d u ally styled rooms. T-junction and park on the main square. car park, past the roundabout.
Auf der Wartburg, 62298; 03691 79 70;
www.wartburghotel.de
SCHMALKALDEN
Patrizier moderate
A half-timbered building in the town
centre, this hotel is decorated with floral
wallpaper and antique-style furnishings.
Weidebrunner Gasse 9, 98574; 03683
60 45 14; www.stadthotel-patrizier.de
MEININGEN
Sächsischer Hof moderate
Elegant Biedermeier-style furnishings
and spacious dimensions reflect this
hotel’s early 1800s vintage.
Georgstrasse 1, 98617; 03693 45 70;
www.saechsischerhof.com

106-107_175705_BR_GER.indd 106 18/07/16 12:15 pm
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