Winterstein: Castle Ruins, Falconry and Circular Walk

Castle ruins and a remarkable dog’s grave

Winterstein Castle Park is home to several notable historical sites: the castle quarter with its castle ruins and defensive moat, the bailiwick and the manor house. The former estate barn is now used as a guest house. The different buildings and their names offer several points of interest for a culturally focused stay.

Below the castle ruins, a gravestone commemorates Stutzel, a loyal dog. The dog’s grave was created in 1630. Its precise date and special dedication make it a distinctive historical detail alongside the buildings in the castle park.

Birds of prey and a walk through Winterstein

The Rennsteig Falconry offers a bookable experience day as a falconer. Children can get close to birds of prey and earn a junior falconer certificate. If you would like to include this experience in your trip, check the booking details in advance; the offer’s details may change.

Another idea for your holiday is the “Inselsbergblick” circular walk, which also passes through Winterstein. It opened on 24 July 2021. These different options offer distinct ways to plan your trip: on the one hand, there is the bookable falconry experience day; on the other, the circular walk. You can decide which better suits your plans: a wildlife experience or a walk.

Culture in the wider destination of Waltershausen

The wider destination of Waltershausen also offers other cultural attractions. The GutsMuths Memorial Hall in Schnepfenthal is a venue for sport and culture. It provides information about history, nature, GutsMuths and the Rennsteiglauf, and has established itself as a gallery with special exhibitions. Outside, information panels about GutsMuths and his pupils stand alongside trees from every continent. The hall’s themes, as well as the outdoor panels and trees, are among Schnepfenthal’s special places to visit.

Schnepfenthal’s sights also include the historic cemetery in Hardt, an old manor house and Salzmannschule grammar school. These places add further historical and architectural features to the cultural offerings of the wider destination.

In Waltershausen, the town church “Zur Gotteshilfe” is considered Thuringia’s first major Baroque central-plan church 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. These figures add a specific musical detail to the church’s architectural significance.

Tenneberg Castle also contributes to Waltershausen’s cultural character: its ceremonial hall dates from 1719, is one of the castle’s three surviving Baroque rooms and features a ceiling painting by Johann Heinrich Ritter, a court painter from Thuringia. The date, classification and artist’s name each offer a different point of interest in the hall.

Choose accommodation to suit your travel interests

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can start with your main interest: in Winterstein, the castle ruins, dog’s grave, falconry and circular walk offer a range of themes. If you would also like to explore the churches, exhibitions and architecture in the wider destination of Waltershausen, plan your holiday accordingly.

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