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Natural Monuments

Germany
Thuringia
Landkreis Schmalkalden-Meiningen
Birx

Gerstenstein Memorial and Rest Area

Discover
Places to see

Natural Monuments

Germany
Thuringia
Landkreis Schmalkalden-Meiningen
Birx

Gerstenstein Memorial and Rest Area

Highlight • Viewpoint

Gerstenstein Memorial and Rest Area

Recommended by 103 hikers out of 109

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Biosphärenreservat Rhön

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    Best Hikes to Gerstenstein Memorial and Rest Area

    4.8

    (93)

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    hikers

    1. View of Wasserkuppe – Dwarf Pines in the Black Moor loop from Birx

    11.9km

    03:07

    100m

    100m

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

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    Moderate

    Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Hard

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

    Moderate

    Tips

    December 23, 2021

    Here at the historic boundary stone you have a beautiful view. There is also enough seating.

    Translated by Google •

      November 9, 2017

      Rest and memorial place Gerstenstein.
      A very nice rest area with an audio station about the history of the people who lived here in the GDR border area.
      Here at the barley stone the following happened:
      A border incident went down in German-German history here in 1962: The 20-year-old officer candidate Hilpert Spohr from Heilbronn and three friends went on a trip to the inner-German border and climbed the three-meter-high "barley stone" in the GDR despite warning signs . The East German guard Lothar Kießling saw the young men on the rock and decided to put an end to the "border provocation". After shouting and firing a warning shot, he is said to have shot the young men with the machine gun from a distance of a few meters, seriously injuring one of the three visitors.
      A six meter long banner with the inscription: “At this point Private Lothar Kießling became a criminal” was put up on a private initiative. On the East German side, a counter table was set up on which Hilpert Spohr was referred to as a provocateur.

      Translated by Google •

        Great place with a breathtaking view of the valley 👍☀️

        Translated by Google •

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          Details

          Informations

          Elevation 810 m

          Weather

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          Monday 8 December

          11°C

          7°C

          0 %

          If you start your activity now...

          Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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          Location: Birx, Landkreis Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Thuringia, Germany

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