Thuringia

FREE your Mind. FREE your Spirit.

FREEdom. One of mankind’s most prized achievements has also had a profound impact on Thuringia. Both on a large scale – for example during the Peasants’ War 500 years ago, a historical period that continues to resonate in the present, and to which Thuringia has dedicated a major exhibition and many other events in 2025. But also on a smaller scaler – for example on a holiday – when the joy of FREEdom is evident throughout Thuringia. Maybe on a road trip through the Ilm valley by camper van. Or when dancing at one of the wide variety of festivals. Or perhaps while hiking without barriers along the Green Belt, the former border zone between East and West Germany. 

Are you ready to discover that FREEdom? Happy reading!

FREEdom!

When stories come to life

Listen to the FREEcast

Listen to the FREEcast

FREEspirit!

When ideas spark inspiration

The history of freedom from a Thuringian perspective
Tracing the history of democracy
Freedom has always played a part in history. It has at times been hard-fought, and hard-won, and at other times come under attack or been lost forever. But there have always been people who have stood up for freedom. The values of freedom are closely intertwined with those of democracy, whose historical roots extend to Thuringia too and have left their mark at a number of impressive sites.
Jena – city of light
A beacon that lights up Thuringia
Jena owes its reputation as an innovative city of science in no small part to brilliant minds like Carl Zeiß, Ernst Abbe and Otto Schott. As well as laying the foundations of modern optics, they also knew how to convert their knowledge into practical applications. Over the years, a number of technology companies and research institutes whose success is closely linked to light in its various forms have followed in their footsteps.
FREE spirits that shape(d) Thuringia
“Thought is free”
They question traditional values and methods, reject dogmatic thought patterns and are constantly testing their own boundaries. Free spirits have always shaped German history and they continue to provide innovative ideas and approaches. Sometimes pertinent and provocative, sometimes eloquent and incisive – the free spirits that shape(d) Thuringia represent liberty and transformation.
The Luther House in Eisenach
Luther, freedom and the Bibel
My earliest memories of the Luther House in Eisenach are of a donkey’s head. To this day, the education specialists at the museum still offer ‘Lessons like in Luther’s time’ and get kids to try on the notorious animal mask. The permanent exhibition, on the other hand, focuses on Luther translating the Bible at Wartburg Castle and shows how the impact of that historical undertaking reverberates to the present day.

FREEplay!

When experiences evoke thrill and passion

A walk through Weimar with actor Peter Rauch
Now say, what is your stance on Faust?
In 2025, the spotlight will be firmly on Goethe’s famous tragedy, as Weimar celebrates it with exhibitions, hands-on activities, and performances ranging from the funny to the serious. A great excuse for us to go in search of some facts about Faust with someone who knows his stuff. That person is Peter Rauch, an actor, who was born in 1947.
A conversation with Carsten Hinrichs about the Thuringia Bach Festival
The new festival director
Now in its 21st year, the Thuringia Bach Festival has a new director, Carsten Hinrichs. The musicologist and journalist, who succeeds Christoph Drescher, has considerable experience as an artistic director. In this interview with Jessika Fichtel he reveals what visitors to the festival can expect in 2025 and over the coming years.
An interview with Rolf C. Hemke – Director of the Kunstfest Weimar
Weimar is a pocket-sized cultural hub
The Kunstfest Weimar arts festival is one of the town’s cultural highlights during the summer months. Internationally acclaimed artists join Weimar’s young, creative scene to transform its streets into a vibrant and inspiring stage. In this interview, the festival’s artistic director, Rolf C. Hemke, provides a fascinating look behind the scenes and also reveals which famous person from the past he would like to have coffee with.
FREEplay in Thuringia
The freedom to open your mind
Freedom is a big word. Philosophers have written about it at length, and constitutions have been based on it. But how does that relate to you? Well, there are lots of ways to feel a little more free. Freedom can mean so many things: daydreaming, tearing down mental barriers or simply taking time out. Thuringia invites you to explore freedom in all sorts of ways. Be relaxed or reflective, all by yourself or in the company of others. We’ll show you places and events that will inspire and uplift you. Find out where the action is and enjoy the freedom to experience more. Here are some tips for taking things free and easy in 2025.

FREEspace!

When the sky is your limit

FREE spaces – discover Thuringia’s natural beauty
Boundless adventure
Getting really close to nature. Finding new perspectives. Rediscovering yourself. Thuringia offers a whole host of options for escaping from the humdrum of everyday life – some more traditional, others rather offbeat. Being active in nature – whether on land, on water or in the air – is a great way to free up some space inside your head.
Thuringia’s Green Belt
A border reborn
All along the former border, the strip of land where high fences, watchtowers and lethal barriers once separated the two German states is now a hiking route. Explore the Green Belt and discover unspoilt nature, learn more about a recent chapter in German history and hear some emotional tales.
Exploring the world of Schiller and Goethe in a motorhome
A road trip inspired by the German classics
Explore the world of Schiller and Goethe in a motorhome? It's certainly a fun way to learn more about these two greats of the German classics. There's so much to see. In the evenings, we'll read excerpts from their letters out aloud to each other.
Stargazing walks in the Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
The magical world of celestial bodies
On a clear, moonless night you can see up to 6,000 stars in the skies above the Rhön hills. Compare that to Frankfurt am Main, where a determined observer will be lucky to spot 200. That illustrates just how special this region on the border between Thuringia, Hessen and Bavaria really is. Elsewhere in Germany, street lamps, floodlights and other forms of illumination may be turning night into day, but the Rhön hills are decidedly dark after sunset. Stargazers aren’t the only ones who are delighted by this; above all it benefits the local plants and wildlife.

Event highlights

Sehenswürdigkeiten

Header pictures: FREEdom-motive: ©Florian Trykowski, Thüringer Tourismus GmbH (painting by Wilhelm Otto Pitthan, Historic town hall, Mühlhausen); FREEplay-motive: ©Andreas Hub/ laif, JenaKultur; FREEspirit-motive: ©Thomas Müller, weimar GmbH; FREErange-motive: ©Christian Heilwagen, Regionalverbund Thüringer Wald e.V.