The Free State of Thuringia is situated just above its larger neighbour Bavaria and to the west of Saxony.
Once part of East Germany before German reunification, its sights and cities are perhaps not as well known as those to the west and the south.
But Thuringia has plenty to offer the visitor, with an excellent palette of history, culture and active breaks.
A chain of towns in the northern part of the state house locations that have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site:
In between the two, Erfurt is the state capital and home of the closest airport, while having plenty to see in its old town at the heart of the city.
The statue of Martin Luther in Eisenach
And all have played important parts in the Reformation and the life of Martin Luther.
To the south lies the Thuringian highland - the Thüringer Wald or Thuringian Forest - and the small section of the Franconia region not in Bavaria, which helps give the state its 'Green' nickname. One of Germany's most famous hiking trails - the Rennsteig - runs through the forest for much of its 170km length. There are a number of attractive small towns in this area, such as Schmalkalden and Meiningen.
Just to show that Thuringia is not all about cultural heritage or healthy living, one of the symbols of the state is the local Thuringian sausage. The Thuringer Bratwurst may not be as well known internationally as the rivals from Nuremberg or Regensburg to the south, but the grilled sausages found all over the state are a much-loved local delicacy.
All of the locations in Thuringia covered by German Sights are listed under the Locations link on the top navigation.
The Thuringia side menu covers information about some of the natural sights and cultural heritage.
