Thuringia

The "Green Heart of Germany," where Weimar, Erfurt and the Wartburg carry a rich cultural and Reformation history.

Thuringia lies in central Germany and is extensively forested; the Thuringian Forest is a hiking paradise. Weimar was the home of Goethe and Schiller and the birthplace of the Bauhaus, and the related sites are a World Heritage listing. The capital, Erfurt, is known for the Krämerbrücke and Cathedral Square, while the Wartburg in Eisenach, where Luther translated the New Testament, is also a World Heritage site. The Thuringian bratwurst is the region's signature dish. Spring through autumn is good for city sightseeing and forest hikes, and winter brings Christmas markets. Erfurt is a high-speed rail hub, with easy connections to Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt.

Destinations

• Erfurt
• Weimar
• Eisenach
• Harz Mountains & Wernigerode

Itineraries

• Classic East Germany Cities Rail Journey – Travel west by train from Berlin, connecting Dresden, Leipzig, Weimar, Erfurt, and Wartburg Castle.
• Classic Thuringian Towns Road Trip – Drive from west to east connecting Wartburg Castle, Gotha, Erfurt, Weimar, and Jena, with very short daily drives.
• Luther & Protestant Reformation Trail – A road trip tracing Martin Luther's life from Wittenberg via Torgau and Eisleben to Erfurt and Wartburg Castle.
• Bauhaus & Modernism Journey – Follow the migration of the Bauhaus school from Weimar and Chemnitz to Dessau and Berlin, visiting iconic campuses and…
• Harz Mountains Historic Towns & Narrow-Gauge Steam Railway – Depart from Hanover to traverse the northern foothills of the Harz, exploring half-timbered towns and riding a narrow-g…