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While staying in Schmalkalden, the visiting students will have the opportunity to participate in the following tours and events at no additional cost.
Schmalympics (12 June - 14 June)
The annual "Schmalympics" have been taken place in Schmalkalden since 2004. Track and Field, Swimming, Triathlon, Soccer, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Tennis, Table Tennis, Badminton, Bowling, Spinning and "Beerathlon" are the core elements of the programme. International teams, including an ISSS Team, will compete in the afternoon and relax in the evening during three open-air concerts on campus.
Tour of Schmalkalden (Friday, 15 June, 16:45 - 17:30)
Schmalkalden is one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in Thuringia, situated between steep, romantic hills and woods. The town was first officially mentioned in 874 and has had an eventful history since then. In 1531 the Protestant nobility formed the 'League of Schmalkalden' against the emperor Charles V. Subsequently Martin Luther published the 'Schmalkalden Articles', one of the founding documents of the Protestant religion, here in 1537.
Schmalkalden is on the 'German Timber-Framed Houses Trail'. The listed buildings in the historic town centre are particularly attractive, with their air of medieval romance, as is the late-gothic town church of St. George and the Wilhelmsburg Castle. This is the only Hessian castle in Thuringia and was built between 1585 and 1590. It exhibits wonderful wall paintings and stucco work. In the castle church there is a small, still playable organ, which counts among the most impressive listed musical instruments north of the Alps.
Graduation Ceremony (Friday, 15 June, 18:00 - 22:00)
The Graduation Ceremony of the faculty's graduates takes place in the chapel of Wilhelmsburg Castle. Do not miss your chance to eat an original Thuringian sausage at the reception in the courtyard! At 22:00 we move from the castle to the Students' Club. 
This is a welcoming get-together followed by a buffet reception in the historic surroundings of the 500 year old Wilhelmsburg Castle.
Disco Party (Friday, 15 June, 22:00 - 2:00)
This party will be organised by the Schmalkalden Students` Club and will take place in the Students` Union Building on campus.
Tour of Weimar and Erfurt (Sunday, 17 June, 9:00 - 21:00)
Despite its modest size (population: 62 000), Weimar is associated with some of the most important developments in German cultural and political history. In the 18th Century the town became a centre of German classicism with the presence of the writers Goethe, Schiller, Herder and Wieland. Previously, Luther and Bach had lived and worked there. In the 19th Century many prominent musicians, including Franz Liszt, and numerous artists were attracted to the town. The famous Bauhaus school of art and design was founded there in 1919, and in the same year the German National Assembly met in Weimar to provide Germany with its first republican and democratic constitution. Weimar also has a negative association with the Nazi period because in 1937 the infamous concentration camp Buchenwald, where 65 000 people were murdered, was established on the outskirts of the town. The former camp now houses an extensive museum.
 Besides the famous National Theatre founded in the 18th Century and the Bauhaus museum, one can visit the Schiller and Goethe houses in which the respective poets lived and worked.
There is also a palace housing national and international art collections that range from the middle ages to the present day. The town centre is characterised by the presence of numerous historic buildings exhibiting contrasting architectural styles. On account of its rich cultural heritage, Weimar was named as the 1999 European City of Culture, and the city celebrated with a range of special events and exhibitions.
The Wartburg, a UNESCO world heritage site, is one of Germany's most interesting and famous castles, founded according to legend in 1067. The castle served not only defensive purposes but was also a seat of government for the surrounding area. In the early 13th Century, the Wartburg is said to have staged a competition between the famous "Minnesänger" (singers of romantic ballads). Their "singers' war" is the subject of Wagner's "Tannhäuser" opera.
Martin Luther, who had been found guilty of heresy and made an outlaw, sought sanctuary in the Wartburg and was resident in the castle from 1521-22 under the protection of Prince Friedrich the Wise. It is here that he translated the New Testament into German and thus made a decisive contribution to the development of modern standard German. The Wartburg's historical and political importance also derives from its hosting of a meeting of the 'Burschenschaften' in 1817, which is considered an important step towards the founding of the German Reich in 1871. The castle contains numerous artistic, cultural and historical exhibitions. One can also visit the room where Luther lived and worked, which is virtually unchanged since the time when Luther was there.
Eisenach was once the residence of the Dukes of Thuringia. The town lies on the north-west fringe of the Thuringian Forest at the foot of the Wartburg Castle. The town is associated with such famous people as Walther von der Vogelweide, Martin Luther, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Fritz Reuter. From 1150 onwards, the town developed into the political and intellectual centre of Thuringia. The old town market place with numerous remarkable buildings, the baroque castle, the Bach house, the Burschenschaft monument and the car museum is definitely worth seeing.
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"Midnight-Sun" Lecture (20 June, 18:00 - 21 June, 06:00)
During the shortest night of the year we offer a "Midnight-Sun" Lecture for you. The topic of the lecture is divided into two parts: The first part will be presented by Alden Lee, President Europe of JA Solar, the world's largest supplier of solar cells. He is going to teach about "Challenges in New Industries - Examples from the Solar Industry". This part takes place in the university building. The second part will be presented by Prof. Dr. Robert Richert, University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden. 
He is going to teach "European Monetary and Fiscal Policy". For several hours we will also discuss the globally important Euro crisis. On the one hand you have to take an exam between the unusual time of 4:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., on the other hand you can enjoy a hot pizza around midnight. If weather conditions allow, this second part of the lecture will be held in the Thuringian forest. We will not be spoiled by any Power-Point presentations or any artificial light, instead we will be able to "breathe" pure nature, to observe the sunset, the moon, the Venus, plenty of stars, the milky way and later the sunrise accompanied by a concert of birds. This will be an unforgettable night, we hope. Do not forget to take WARM CLOTHES with you. Night temperatures are significantly lower than day temperatures. Flashlights are also of some benefit.
Berlin and Potsdam Weekend (Friday, 22 June - Sunday, 24 June)
As the capital of Prussia, Bismarck's Reich, the Weimar Republic, Hitler's Third Reich, the German Democratic Republic and now the new united Germany, Berlin looks back on a fascinating history of unparalleled complexity. For the four decades after World War II, Berlin was at the centre of the Cold War clash of ideologies between West and East and was most famous for the Wall dividing the city - the starkest expression of the iron curtain cutting Europe in two. Berlin was unofficially reunified in November 1989, when the East German government, unable to resist the massive anti-government demonstrations and civil unrest, opened the border. Official reunification came the following year, and in June 1991, the German parliament voted to make Berlin once again the German seat of government. In the following ten years, the city underwent a major transformation as the neglected eastern part was slowly brought up to western standards. The massive construction programme necessary for Berlin's new role is eradicating the divisions caused by the wall. With a population of 3.4 million, Germany's capital city is also its largest and has a cultural and social life to match.
Famous landmarks and other attractions of interest include:
The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin's only remaining city gate, is the true symbol of the city. The city gate also became symbolic of the division of the city because it was situated in the no-man's land just behind the wall. After the fall of the Wall, the Gate was reopened on December 22, 1989.
 The Reichstag is one of Berlin's biggest crowd-drawers and it is the seat of the German Bundestag or federal parliament and. It has also recently received a new dome. Its colourful past reflects the turbulence of German history since the 19th century.
Unter den Linden: Berlin's magnificent boulevard, the centrepiece of the Old Berlin, leads from Pariser Platz at the Brandenburg Gate to the Schlossbrücke. Unter den Linden was originally a bridle path that led from Berlin Palace to Lietzow, later Charlottenburg, and then on to Spandau in the year of 1573. From the year of 1701 the Linden became increasingly built up to mirroring the rising splendour of the monarchy and the new architectural style.
Museum Island: The consort of museums found on Museum Island is a unique cultural inheritance, which unites five important museum buildings into a heterogeneous but harmonic ensemble on the River Spree. The Island has recently become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Gendarmenmarkt: This is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe - a must for every tourist. Here the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral), the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral) and the Konzerthaus create a beautiful architectural ensemble.
Nikolaiviertel: With its winding medieval lanes and countless bars and restaurants, the Nikolaiviertel is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Berlin.
The Fernsehturm (television tower): This is the highest building in the city and is one of Berlin's main attractions. Its total height is 368 meters and the viewing platform is at a height of 203 metres.
Alexanderplatz: This is the most famous square in Berlin. Its present appearance dates from the construction of the East German city centre between the years of 1966-71.
 Potsdamer Platz: This is symbolic of the New Berlin. Both Berliners and tourists are drawn to the Platz to pass the time because it has lovely mix of restaurants, shopping opportunities, theatre and 3-D cinemas. The former Postdamer Platz, once the busiest junction in Europe, is only a small part of the site now bearing its name.
Checkpoint Charlie: Numerous legends and spy stories are told about Checkpoint Charlie. The former border crossing point between East and West Berlin was the place where Soviet and American tanks stood face to face after the construction of the Wall in 1961. Today, a border sign and a soldier's post commemorate the checkpoint.
The museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie relates the history of the Wall.
The Kurfürstendamm: Quoted as being a "capitalism's shop window" while Berlin was divided, is still the city's showpiece boulevard and is popular among Berliners and visitors alike. From the Gedächtniskirche, it stretches for 3.5 km right out to Halensee, where the exclusive villa districts of West Berlin begin. In the lively upper part of the Kurfürstendamm and its extension, Tauentzienstraße, there are countless department stores and high fashion retail stores.
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