Thuringian Forest
The Thuringian Forest (Thüringer Wald in German language) running northwest to southeast, forms a continuous stretch of rounded hills in the German state of Thuringia. It is about 120 km long and 35 km wide. The highest elevation is the Großer Beerberg (982 m).
The Rennsteig (sometimes called Rennweg) is an ancient path following its summits along the main ridge. It is now a famous hiking path and it marks the traditional boundary between northern and central Germany, the boundary between Thuringia and Franconia. Dialect, and traditional customs and costumes were different on either side of the Rennsteig.
The Thuringian Forest is famous for Wartburg Castle (where Martin Luther stayed for some time in exile) and winter sports resorts. In modern literature, the forest has become famous as a nearby local and strategic barrier for the translocated fictional towns of Badenburg and Grantville, WV in the popular alternate history book series that began with the novel 1632 (novel), one act of which involved a battle at the Wartburg Castle, and its destruction, and an Calvary raid mounted through the Forest by Catholic forces in the setting during the Thirty Years' War.
External links
- http://www.thueringer-wald.de
- http://www.thueringer-landschaften.de (a web page with many pictures of thuringian landscapes)
Categories
Forests and woodlands of Germany