A range of hills, a castle and a monument all bear one name that is the stuff of German legend. The Kyffhäuser hills in the southern Harz region are known not only for their geological and botanical diversity, but also for their cultural and historical significance. In the second half of the 19th century, the Kyffhäuser hills were famous throughout Germany. Legend has it that this is where the German emperor Barbarossa sleeps in an underground palace. The easiest way to see him is to go to Mount Kyffhäuser itself, where a figure of Barbarossa sits at the foot of the Kaiser Wilhelm monument. Every year thousands of tourists visit the hills' grottoes and rocky halls, but the best-known cave is Barbarossa's Cave near Rottleben. The remarkable landscape of the Kyffhäuser hills nature reserve provides a wide range of unspoilt natural habitats.

The Thuringian Slate Mountains run into the Thuringian Forest in the south-east. They consist of a hill plateau, about 20 kilometres wide, sloping to the south-east and extending as far as the White Elster river valley near Greiz. Many people here made a modest living from china clay, alum and iron ore, but mainly from slate. Visitors will find a warm welcome in the local villages with their slate-covered houses in this traditional slate-quarrying area, where high-grade roofing slate, known as "Thuringian blue gold", is mined. The central uplands are characterised by undulating plateaus with magnificent panoramic views far across the countryside. The Upper Saale Valley and two reservoirs make up the "Thuringian Sea", a popular holiday destination.

The Thuringian heartland is where people originally lived and worked the land. The core of this region in the heart of Germany consists of an expanse of agricultural land and fertile riverbank pastures, surrounded by picturesque villages and vibrant little towns. It is ringed by the Finne, Hohe Schrecke and Schmücke hills to the north, the northern fringes of the Thuringian Forest to the south and Hainich National Park to the west – each one a paradise for walkers and cyclists. The "Drei Gleichen", three castles between Arnstadt and Gotha, Runneburg Castle in Weissensee, a companion piece to Wartburg Castle, and Beichlingen Palace attract hosts of visitors with an interest in history.