Welcome
Welcome to the Geopark Schieferland!
At the interface of the three nature parks Thuringian Slate Mountains/Upper Saale, Thuringian Forest and Franconian Forest on the Rennsteig, everything revolves around slate - the blue gold above and below ground. With their ornate, black and blue slate roofs, the tranquil towns offer a very special charm. Atmospheric landscapes are created embedded in lush green meadows and forests.
The concentration of historical slate quarries testifies to the once flourishing, worldwide sales of the raw material - whether as a slate from Ludwigsstadt, as the associated stylus from Steinach or through the art of slate roofing, as taught in Lehesten.
In addition to the slate, the Geopark also has other attractions to offer: old coastal landscapes, stalactite caves, impressive forest and mountain landscapes, evidence of volcanism and much more. In the sunny Saale valley, two reservoirs, also known as the "Thuringian Sea", and the blue ribbon of the Saale between them form a popular holiday and excursion area.