New hiking trails across Thuringia, Germany

This season, 54 certified routes across the republic  invite hikers to explore Germany by foot. And Thuringian trails represent the centerpiece of this renewed tourist attraction.

The paths with the title “Quality hiking trails of Germany”  are in total 6700 kilometers long and carry through Thuringia, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Lower Saxony, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. The German Hiking Association awarded this mark of excellence for three years, and will re-screen the routes before a possible extension.

And three recommendable trails pass through Thuringia: The Naturparkweg Leine-Werra leads over 100 kilometers, passing historic buildings in old villages and through quiet deciduous forests. Always close to the water by low mountain range runs the 45 kilometers long Talsperrenweg Zeulenroda.

A rising part takes the Panoramaweg Schwarzatal, which starts at the Rennsteig and drives through a stunning countryside with medieval castles on the Saale River.

It can be considered as the perfect travel connection between the Saale valley and the Rennsteig along the Schwarzatal and its heights and valleys. This special trail offers hikers spectacular panoramic views and sights. Romantic paths lead on a total of 135 kilometers while  alternating high peaks with magnificent views, secluded forests with colorful flowers, which are crisscrossed by clear streams and surrounded by rewarding destinations.

The trail touches four counties: Saalfeld-Rudolstadt with 63 percent, Sonneberg, with 22 percent, the Ilmkreis with 10.5 percent and 5.5 percent travel distance through Hildburghausen.