Stadtroda, a town nestled in the narrow valleys of the Roda River and its tributaries, has much to offer in terms of scenic charm. It is said that this charming town is one of the small Thuringian towns spoiled by natural beauty due to its snug location against the rugged cliffs of the red sandstone. Only along the Rodaaue, towards the nearby university town of Jena, does the countryside open up until it gradually rises again to the ridges of the Wöllmisseberge. Here, on the Saale-Elster plateau, the Thuringian woodland begins, with Stadtroda as its gateway. At the turn of the century, two thirds of the 66 km² area of the Holzland was still covered in forest and characterized the way of life of the population with its down-to-earth wood crafts.