New Book Explores Thuringia's Hidden History and Verdant Landscapes

On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Dr. Steffen Raßloff will discuss his book Thuringia: A Green Heart with a Rich History. This work explores the diverse and storied past of Thuringia, a region often called the "Green Heart of Germany."

Dr. Raßloff's lectures are not only informative but also inspiring, encouraging audiences to engage more deeply with the history of their homeland and to view it from fresh perspectives.

His latest book offers a multifaceted portrait of Thuringia that will captivate both locals and history enthusiasts alike.

The cultural landscape of Thuringia—home to UNESCO World Heritage sites like Wartburg Castle, Weimar, and Erfurt—is nestled amid breathtaking natural beauty. Since August Trinius, it has been known as the "Green Heart of Germany." From the Thuringian Forest with its Rennsteig trail, Inselsberg peak, and Oberhof resort to the Thuringian Slate Mountains, the Saale reservoirs, the Hainich Primeval Beech Forest (a UNESCO Natural Heritage site), the Eichsfeld region, the southern Harz, Kyffhäuser, Hainleite, the Thuringian Woodland, and the Rhön Mountains—everywhere, the Green Heart intertwines with grand history.

The "Land of Open Horizons" receives its due recognition in this new volume of the Rhino Pocket Library series, presented by the author.

Dr. Steffen Raßloff (born 1968) is a historian, journalist, and curator based in Erfurt. His expertise lies in the regional history of Thuringia and central Germany, as well as 19th- and 20th-century German history.

After studying history and German philology at the University of Erlangen, he earned his doctorate in 2001 from the University of Erfurt with a dissertation titled "Flight into the National Community: Erfurt's Bourgeoisie Between the Imperial Era and Nazi Dictatorship." Until 2006, he worked at the Chair of Modern and Contemporary History.