Great Outdoors
With 32 percent of its area covered by forests, Thuringia is one of the most heavily forested states in Germany. Three mountain ranges dominate the state: Harz, Rhön and the Thuringian Forest.
And once you’ve experienced the golden glory of autumn in the 7,600 hectares that makes up the Hainich National Park - Europe’s largest deciduous woodland - you won’t ever forget it. Moors and river streams are protected at the Vesser Valley National Park, which was recognized in 1979 by UNESCO as one of Germany’s two first nature reserves.
People are captivated by the beauty of Thuringia's rivers. From the Saale and Unstrut to the Werra, Schwarza and Ilm – the magic of water is everywhere. The Free State is covered by almost 20,000 hectares of water in total. If you like swimming outdoors in the summer, you'll never have to go far: 33 natural lakes and rivers are perfect places for sports, fun and relaxation. Most of them are monitored and guarantee high quality water.
Thuringia is one of Germany's most popular regions for hiking. One especially famous trail: the Rennsteig. Covering a distance of almost 170 km, it is the oldest uninterrupted high-altitude hiking trail in the Thuringian Forest. In 2005, the Rennsteig was proclaimed the Hiking Trail of the Year.
