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Landing Site of the 1979 Hot Air Balloon Escape

Landing Site of the 1979 Hot Air Balloon Escape

Highlight (Segment) • Historical Site

Landing Site of the 1979 Hot Air Balloon Escape

Recommended by 43 hikers out of 45

This Highlight goes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Naturpark Frankenwald

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Location: Naila, Landkreis Hof, Vogtland, Saxony, Germany

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Best Hiking Routes to Landing Site of the 1979 Hot Air Balloon Escape

5.0

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1. View of Naila – Small Pond Near Dreigrün loop from Naila

10.2km

02:53

220m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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5.0

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2. View of Naila – View of Naila loop from Parkeisenbahn

13.9km

03:49

220m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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3.7

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3. View of Naila – Swing in Naturpark Frankenwald loop from Marxgrün

7.37km

02:03

140m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

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Andrea und Huskys 🐺

June 19, 2025

In 1979, the whole world's eyes were on Naila. On the night of September 16, two families managed to escape from East Germany to the West. Peter Strelzyk and Günter Wetzel, along with their families, had meticulously and secretly planned their plan. For months, they secretly acquired the necessary materials. Hidden from the neighbors, they tirelessly built a balloon until it was ready for their escape. The balloon was 28 meters high and 20 meters wide. The square gondola had sides measuring 1.4 meters.

In this secretly constructed hot-air balloon, they flew across the border into West Germany on that memorable night in a daring attempt. When they landed on the ground, they weren't sure whether their escape had been successful. They climbed out of the basket and looked for a clue. In a barn, they found an agricultural machine of a distinctly Western type. That's when they knew they had succeeded.

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SvenN

December 23, 2021

This is where the balloon flight of 2 GDR families ended on September 16, 1979

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maria

April 23, 2024

On September 16, 1979, the Strelzyk and Wetzel families from Pößneck flew over the inner-German border at night in a homemade hot air balloon. After 28 minutes of flight and 22 kilometers (as the crow flies), they landed in a field near Naila. There were four adults and four children on board. The original balloon is on display in the Naila Museum.
Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naila
The story behind it: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballonflucht

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Informations

Distance 959 m

Uphill 10 m

Downhill 10 m

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Wednesday 29 October

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Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Location: Naila, Landkreis Hof, Vogtland, Saxony, Germany

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Landing Site of the 1979 Hot Air Balloon Escape

1. View of Naila – Small Pond Near Dreigrün loop from Naila

2. View of Naila – View of Naila loop from Parkeisenbahn

3. View of Naila – Swing in Naturpark Frankenwald loop from Marxgrün

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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