More than 20 exhibition rooms in the main castle of Lauenstein Castle, a lookout tower above Lauenstein and trails shaped by slate reveal different sides of Ludwigsstadt. There are several highlights to choose from during your stay: Renaissance architecture, geological history, regional legends and hikes with specific route or time details.
Lauenstein Castle and the Thuringian Tower
The museum in the main castle of Lauenstein Castle has more than 20 exhibition rooms, which can be visited as part of a guided tour. Opening hours vary by season. The ThĂĽnabau, the main part of the castle complex, was built from 1551 to 1554 under Christoff von ThĂĽna and is a remarkable example of Central German Renaissance architecture.
The Thuringian Tower stands atop the 678-metre-high Ratzenberg above Lauenstein. The observation tower is 26.5 metres tall and lies just under 200 metres from the Thuringian-Bavarian state border. The tower has seasonal opening hours; check the latest visitor information before your visit.
Hiking trails and storytelling paths
The Rennsteig crosses the Ludwigsstadt area. The Geopfad Eisenberg focuses on geological history: the approximately 9-kilometre hike passes through several geological eras shaped by different types of slate. The Schieferpfad is a short circular trail around Ludwigsstadt; allow two to four hours for it. This gives you two different ways to plan: an approximate distance for the Geopfad and an estimated duration for the Schieferpfad.
The FrankenwaldSteigla “Finf Hiehner un en Hoahn” is an 8.2-kilometre circular trail. From Steinbach an der Haide, it passes the 360° panorama at “Kiefernen Ficht”, the Fischbachsmühle mill with Confiserie Burg Lauenstein, Steinbachsgrund, Forellenhof and Steinbachsmühle before returning to the starting point. Starting points are the entrance to Steinbach an der Haide or the Fischbachsmühle car park. Before setting out, check local updates about temporary conditions.
Rather than the familiar Grimm fairy tales, the Lauenstein Fairy-Tale Trail tells legends and stories about the forest trees, as well as regional tales from Lauenstein. Forestry work may lead to partial closures; check the latest updates before your visit.
Slate, geotopes and the townscape
At the “Vertraue Gott” (Schallersbruch) slate quarry, a viewing platform offers a view into the open-cast mine, which is more than 40 metres deep. The Oertelsbruch quarry is right at the entrance to Ludwigsstadt. It contains Lower Carboniferous roofing and flagstone slate, which Alexander von Humboldt had already described; Oertelsbruch is considered one of Bavaria’s most beautiful geotopes. In Ludwigsstadt, you can therefore see both a deep slate quarry and a geotope with historically documented rocks.
The Trogenbach Viaduct spans the centre of Ludwigsstadt. The railway bridge is 200 metres long and 26 metres high.
Getting here and local life
The Franken-Thuringia Express stops hourly in Ludwigsstadt; the town centre is about a ten-minute walk from the station. As services may change, check the current timetable before travelling.
The Ludwigsstadt district of Ebersdorf holds a traditional costume church fair every year.
Discover more destinations: Tettau, Marktrodach, KĂĽps, Nordhalben, Kronach, Pressig, WeiĂźenbrunn, Wilhelmsthal.
Back to the main travel overview: Kronach.
