Saalfeld is a city in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt area in Thuringia, Germany.
It is situated by the Saale River, 48 km (30 mi) south of German cultural capital Weimar and 130 km (81 mi) south-west of Leipzig. The population of the district is 118,000, that of the tri-city area is 58,000 and Saalfeld town proper is 26,800. It is best known internationally as the former capital of the branch of the house of Wettins (known amongst English-speakers as the Windsors) that is today's British royal family.
As well as the medieval town centre, and the surrounding forests and lakes of Thuringia:
- Feengrotten. the nationally famous fairy grottoes
- Schloss Saalfeld. the palace of Queen Victoria's grandparents, the Saxe-Coburg. Now a regional government building
Feengrotten. the nationally famous fairy grottoes
Schloss Saalfeld. the palace of Queen Victoria's grandparents, the Saxe-Coburg. Now a regional government building
The area is a rewarding place to shop for unique craftsworks made from glass, ceramic and precious stones.
There are several butchers in the town center who grill and sell the justly famous Thüringer Bratwurst (Thuringia sausage) in the afternoon.
- Hotel Anker. offers a good mix of classic and modern German dishes such as velk steak and locally caught trout.In the past hosted the German Kaiser (Emperor).
Hotel Anker. offers a good mix of classic and modern German dishes such as velk steak and locally caught trout.In the past hosted the German Kaiser (Emperor).
- The forests, mountains and lakes of Thuringia are at hand, they are so close you can simply walk there!
- Rudolstadt (8 minutes by half-hourly train)
- Jena (40 min by half-hourly train, or cycle along the Saale bike trail) – university city with a historic old town, high-tech research and industries plus student lifestyle.
- Weimar (50 km north; 1:20 h by train via Jena-Göschwitz) – capital of classical German literature and theatre.
- Sonneberg (50 km south; 1:30 h by train and bus via Pressig-Rothenkirchen) – base for hiking or winter sports in the Thuringian Forest and traditional centre of toy makers.
- Erfurt (55 km northwest; 1:05 h by hourly train) – state capital of Thuringia, medieval old town core
- Mödlareuth (60 km southeast, no viable public transport link) – dubbed "Little Berlin", this village on the Bavaro-Thuringian state border was separated by the Iron Curtain during Cold War.
- Kronach (65 km south, one hour by train) – well-preserved old town and castle, hometown of Renaissance painter Lucas Cranach