Porzellanwelten Leuchtenburg

The Porzellanwelten Leuchtenburg sit on the Leuchtenburg hill above the Saale valley in Seitenroda, Thuringia. The exhibition occupies a restored 18th-century lodge and a modern polygonal visitor centre designed by architect Silke Loose. A 20-metre Skywalk, the Steg der Wünsche, extends from the new building across the valley. The site links to the old castle and the Thüringer Porzellanstraße, a route connecting regional porcelain towns. The display traces porcelain from its origins in China to today’s high-performance ceramics. It is arranged in five themed worlds—Der Prolog, Das Fremde, Das Rätsel, Das Kostbare and Das Alltägliche—each telling a chapter of the material’s history. Two porcelain records anchor the show: a teapot only a few millimetres tall and the world’s largest porcelain vase, eight metres high, created by Alim Pasht-Han. The exhibition also features an archive where visitors write wishes on porcelain plates before dropping them from the Skywalk. Inside the lodge and visitor centre, rooms unfold with porcelain installations and historical pieces. The Skywalk offers long views over the Saale valley and the surrounding hills. Outside, the castle grounds provide further walks among gardens and terraces. The whole site shows how porcelain shaped Thuringia’s past and present.