Rennsteigmuseum Neustadt am Rennsteig
Association-run museum about the Rennsteig trail: boundary stone catalog, Rennsteig literature, tinder fungus, charcoal burning and the local history of Neustadt am Rennsteig.
About the museum
The museum's roots lie in a local heritage room set up from 1983 in the old Meiningen school on Kirchgasse and opened in May 1987, in preparation for the village's 500th anniversary in 1989. Over the following years it grew to almost 1,000 exhibits and loans. Meanwhile, a separate Rennsteig museum was developed from 1995 and opened in April 2000.
In November 2007 both collections were merged in the new community center on Rennsteigstraße, which also houses the Rennsteig information office. The museum is run by the Thüringer Rennsteigverein (Thuringian Rennsteig Association), whose members have gathered the inventory and an extensive body of written material on the ridge trail and the village.
The main focuses are literature about the Rennsteig and a catalog of more than 1,300 boundary stones, tripoint stones and forest stones along the trail, plus a chronicle, legends and portraits of well-known Rennsteig researchers. Crafts such as tinder fungus processing, charcoal burning, match and cigar making, and glassblowing round out the exhibition. The museum also commemorates film music composer Willy Schmidt-Gentner and Herbert Roth, composer of the "Rennsteiglied" (Rennsteig Song). Since 2019, seven touchscreens have presented image collections on the history of the village and the Rennsteig.
Highlights
- Complete boundary stone catalog with more than 1,300 objects along the Rennsteig
- Extensive collection of Rennsteig literature
- Permanent exhibition on tinder fungus
- Herbert Roth, Waltraut Schulz and the "Rennsteiglied"
- Digital picture gallery on seven touchscreens
Permanent exhibitions
- Der Rennsteig – Geschichte, Grenzsteine und Literatur – Documentation of the ridge trail with a boundary stone catalog, surveying, chronicle, legends, natural history and portraits of Rennsteig researchers.
- Handwerk und Ortsgeschichte Neustadt am Rennsteig – Exhibits on tinder fungus, charcoal burning, match and cigar making, box making and glassblowing, as well as on Willy Schmidt-Gentner and Herbert Roth.
- Operated by
- Thüringer Rennsteigverein e.V.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2Holders of the guest card or Thüringer Wald Card, groups of 10 or more |
| Children & teens | –The admission price applies from age 12; no price is given for younger children. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount mentioned. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €2 per personGroups of 10 or more €2 per person. |
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus 304 Ilmenau – Neustadt am Rennsteig – Großbreitenbach and bus 209 Eisfeld – Masserberg – Neustadt am Rennsteig (both daily).
Amenities & dining
The Rennsteig-Information (visitor information) is located in the same building.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | no |
| Good to know | Guided tours for groups of 5 or more by appointment, also outside opening hours. |
