グレフェンタールの天然記念物・トップ20

This is the former Lehesten roofing slate opencast mine. Its dimensions alone are impressive; along with the nearby Oertelsbruch, it was one of the largest slate quarries on the continent (approximately 800 m long, 300 m wide, and up to 80 m deep). Source: Wikipedia

A beautiful region 🤩 If you like, you can also take a detour to the Alvater Tower.

A stop here is a must and you will get good information about the Rennsteig and other regions.

The "Kalte Küche" (Cold Kitchen) also offers hot food. 😅 A wonderful place for a rest and break with refreshments.

In the "Land of Blue Gold," as the slate is called here because of its distinctive color, the tradition of Thuringian-Franconian slate mining can still be experienced today. This extraordinary industrial complex, located at what was once one of Europe's largest open-cast slate mines, provides a hands-on experience of the history and processing of slate. The entire Staatsbruch Slate Park area is a nature reserve. 170 Red List species have now been confirmed to have settled in this partially inaccessible area.

The hiking trail is very adventurous, if you dare to do it please be careful. There are a lot of trees on the route. You have to crawl over or under the trees. It is not suitable for everyone. This section should actually be closed for safety reasons.

Impressive rock formations. Challenging hiking trail over and under tree trunks. Great rest area with benches and fire pit and shelter with stamping station.

The Meurasteine are a three-tiered wall on a rocky ridge and extend a little into the Schlagetal. The jagged rocky section is a good 500 million years old and consists of quartzite. You can do a little scrambling here, over steps hewn into the rock. A shelter also "floats" there.