History of Sonneberg:
The name Sonneberg is derived from the settlement founded in 1300 at the foot of the 'Schlossberg'. Sonneberg has always been protected from the outside world due to its secluded location with its unique surrounding landscape.
However, this did not protect the town from the effects of the wars which restrained the town´s development again and again. The frequent change of power resulted from several succession-wars and division of heritage. In the course of the centuries Sonneberg expanded south into the plain.
Another reason for its expansion was the incorporation of the neighbouring villages whereby the number of inhabitants increased considerably. The district 'Wolkenrasen', where today approximately 8,000 people live, was erected in 1953. Because of being situated near the former border it was declared a restricted area in 1961 after the border had been closed. As a consequence there was a major decline in business and cultural life.
It was not until autumn of 1972 that Sonneberg lost this status. Since the opening of the border, the following reunification and the establishment of the federal states in 1989 the city, including the whole economy of the surrounding area, blossomed.

History of toys:
In the 19th century southern Thuringia - just like Nuremberg, Oberammergau, Berchtesgaden and the Ore Mountains - developed into one of the most significant centres of German toy manufacturing.
In the course of the 19th century doll production grew to be the main element in toy manufacture and in 1840 dolls made up 70 % of the entire sales in Sonneberg.
In addition to the production of wooden dolls, more and more dolls made of papier-mâché. Then in 1830 porcelain was used. The porcelain doll from Sonneberg became a world famous product made by porcelain manufacturers like Armand Marseille and Ernst Heubach.
In the early decades of the 20th century the small town reached its peak in sales and international reputation.
After the recovery from World War II toy factories began to produce again in 1945/46.
From 1948 on craftsmen in the toy industry were forced to join cooperatives specifically established for purchase and distribution of goods, following the expropriation and nationalisation of the large-scale enterprises. By the end of the 50s private companies were more or less compelled to accept state interference.
The foundation of combined collectives represented the next step of the economic centralisation and the entire toy industry with its 27,000 employees, 10,000 of which working in Sonneberg, was coordinated from there.
The large-scale enterprises did not survive the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Today about 1,000 employees are still working for small and medium size companies within the toy industry.
Some of the local toy factories were able to make a name for themselves so that Sonneberg nowadays is called Toy Town to display the international significance which it still has.

The German Toy Museum:
... a steam engine is puffing. It drives mills, saw and hammers. A small carriage goes around on a nostalgic rollercoaster. Entire trains are pulled by locomotives on tracks. Numerous tin soldiers are lined up for the parade and life in the dollhouse is quite busy.
Not only the hearts of the small visitors of the Toy Museum beat faster while watching, even parents and grandparents feel reminded of their own childhood in the middle of this toy world.
The world famous representation of the 'Thuringian Fairground' is renowned as a masterpiece of Sonneberg's toy manufacturers. Awarded with the Grand Prix this arrangement returned to Sonneberg in 1910 from the World Exposition in Brussels.

Sights:
Apart from the German Toy Museum there is much else to be seen in Sonneberg. The observatory including its astronomy museum was built high above the city in the district Neufang 75 years ago by the well-known local astronomist Prof. Dr. Cuno Hoffmeister.
Not far from the observatory one can find the 'Tiergarten' (zoo) with its 'Streichelzoo' and its restaurant 'Blockhütte' (log cabin). The medieval 'Lutherhaus' is situated along the way from Neufang to the city-centre on the food of 'Schönberg'. Today there is a restaurant in this building which is listed as a historic monument.
Below the 'Lutherhaus' you can find the protestant church 'St. Peter', which is well visible as a landmark. It was erected in new-gothic style of architecture in the year 1845 according to the blueprints of Prof. Karl Alexander von Heideloff. The windows were designed by Moritz von Schwind. Other churches are the catholic church of 'St. Stephan' and the wall-surrounded church of 'St. Aegidien' in Oberlind. 'St. Aegidien' was first mentioned in the town chronicle in 1455. Martin Luther is said to have prayed in this church in 1530. 'St. Michaelis' in Steinbach is another protestant church. The 'Cella Antiqua' is the oldest Christian reference in the region. The chapel was used for missionary work and babtisms arround 800. On the 'Schlossberg' there is a building constructed in the architectural style of the castle. It was built in 1844 for Sonneberg's 'Augustenverein' at the site of the former castle-municipality. It is a popular destination for an excursion since it offers a great view across parts of the old town.
At the foot of the 'Schlossberg', in the old town, you will find the marketplace and the old town hall. Directly next to the old town hall there is an attraction of a very special kind - the aquarium-zoo 'Nautiland'. Here colourful sea-animals from all oceans are displayed in aquariums of 120 to 35,000 litres of water capacity.

Surroundings:
Sonneberg is situated in the fascinating landscape of the southern slopes of the Thuringian Forest.
The climate is pleasantly mild in the lowlands and valleys. However, if you climb up in the mountains, the wind can blow quite hardly at times.
At the outskirts of the town hiking routes, many kilometres long, lead along the slopes of mountains providing wonderful views of the valley and the Franconian region. Sonneberg is the starting point of beautyful lowland-hiking trips through forests, along clear mountain-streams and botanically interesting meadows.
The well outlined hiking routes can also be combined with visits to particular places of interest in the region around Sonneberg. Recommended museums to visit are the glas museum in Lauscha (20 km away), the slates museum in Steinach (15 km away), the doll museum in Neustadt near Coburg (4 km away), the 'Veste Coburg' (20 km away), the gold museum in Theuern (15 km away) and the museum of local history in Schalkau.
During the winter the cross-country skiing trails are well prepared and skiing hikes through the mountains are no problem. Several open huts along the way invite skiers and hikers to a peaceful rest. Only 15 km away the ski-arena 'Silbersattel' in Steinach, with its three lifts and a poodlight-slope, provides pure action for the ones practising alpine skiing.

Events:
There is a great variety of cultural life in and around Sonneberg. We recommend taking a look at the local event schedule which contains advice about where to get tickets and information regarding the opening-hours of each museum, sight, puplic institution and spa.
During the entire year there is something to celebrate in Sonneberg. The most famous events are Sonneberg's Carnival, the 'Musikmeile', the 'Vogelschießen' (special fairground), the church consecration festival, the town- and museum festival as well as the Jazz Days.
The 'fifth season', which is very popular, begins on the 11th of November with the fools storming the town hall. Almost every inhabitant and many visitors hardly like to miss the colourful parade which takes place on 'Carnival Tuesday' (February).
From spring to late autumn every district of Sonneberg celebrates its own fairground according to the customs of the region. The Sonneberg 'Vogelschießen' is a public festival which takes place every July ever since the middle of the 19th century.
Late in the summer Sonneberg invites visitors to celebrate the town and museum festival. Popular musics groups, street- artists and even the residents themselves entertain the guests with music, shows and extraordinary performances. Culinary products of the region as well as products of small local manufacturers are offered at these events.
Every year in early November the international Jazz Days of Sonneberg are organized by the association of 'Sonneberg´s Jazz Friends'. This event has taken place since 1987.
The integration within the ' Jazzmile' of Thuringia in 1999 demonstrates the supraregional character of this event.
Sonnberg has become a recognized address for jazz enthusiasts with the ever increasing level of this festival.
Tourists can spend the night in beautiful hotels or family-run pensions.

Tourist Information Center in the Railway Station:
PO Box 10 02 36
96515 Sonneberg
Phone: 0049-3675-702711
Fax: 0049-3675-742002

We would be glad to help you plan your vacation here in Sonneberg. Please stop by our office.

(published by the association of tourism of the Toy Town Sonneberg, translated by Sebastian Nußbaum, Nikolaus Plagemann, Marco Losansky)