Sonneberg Toy Museum

Playful journey back in time to childhood

Strictly speaking, Sonneberg is no longer in Bavaria - but it can still be reached with the Bayern-Ticket and the Regio-Ticket Franken-Thüringen. In the town on the southern edge of the Thuringian Forest, it is not only children who get shiny eyes: the world's largest toy production plant was once located here, which is why the town was also called "Father Christmas' workshop". This period can be traced on various guided tours of the town on the theme of toys. The journey back in time begins right in front of Sonneberg railway station. There, bright yellow construction kit prisms invite you to follow the other ten stations of Sonneberg's Play Mile. The playful exploration tour is now open!

Companions: The Egyptian goddess of love Isis and the Sandman's cradle

Half-time with coffee and cake: Before you reach the sixth station of the Play Mile at PIKO Square, we recommend a sweet refreshment at Café Isis. The charming café was named after the Egyptian goddess of love and lives up to its name with its lovely flair and homemade cakes.

Then cross Köppelsdorferstrasse to take a closer look at one of the city's most popular photo motifs. The Ali Bears cast in bronze are particularly famous. The artistic creator of the animal family is the game designer and artist Ali-Kurt Baumgarten. The tour continues via the yellow throne, to rotating discs and on to the landmark of the play city: the little Sonneberg horseman on Juttaplatz directly opposite Germany's oldest toy museum. Enjoy the tour through the history of toy production and get to know the birthplace of the Sandman.

The fabulous world of teddy bears

What do you think of a museum with the cuddle factor? After your visit to the toy museum, make your way to the station on Bahnhofstraße. After just under 500 metres, you'll find yourself in front of the next exploration highlight: the German Teddy Bear Museum. Here everything revolves around the fluffy playmates. In addition to the world's smallest teddy bear, you will also find the world's largest. In the "1000 Teddy Bears" room you can take numerous selfies with the popular cuddly toy. In the workshop, the "injured" bears are repaired and you can even create your very own teddy. After so many impressions, you're bound to be hungry for a bear.

Walk along Bahnhofstraße in the direction of PIKO-Platz and after 200 metres turn left into Köppelsdorferstraße. After 70 metres, turn right into Cuno-Hoffmeister-Straße to the Kesselhaus Sonneberg. There you can choose between hearty traditional dishes such as Thuringian home-made aspic or Thuringian Rostbrätel. Salad and pasta dishes are also on offer. Process the many new impressions in the listed ambience of the Kesselhaus before your way leads you via Bahnhofstraße back to Sonneberg station.