Daniel

The small loop on the map encloses Willmars, Unterfilke and Oberfilke. The Willmarser. Oriented towards the original route, which is just under 15 km long, I went off-piste in the north to add a few extra kilometers to the Friedensweg. The premium hiking trail Willmarser extends along fields, streams

The history of Lohra Castle dates back to the first millennium. It evolved from a palatinate-like complex to a rare medieval church type with a Romanesque double chapel. Changing seats of power and multiple severe damages in the 30-year war shaped its image. Since 1992, the Denkmalpflege working group

The first leg of the Saale Horizontal Trail whets the appetite for more. The circular hike begins at the Ziegenhain hiking parking lot. Empty in the morning, it's bustling later in the afternoon. The Novalis Sculpture Trail leads to the start of the Saale Horizontal Trail through the still sunlit beech

Meiningen, located in the Werra Valley between the Thuringian Forest and the Rhön Mountains. This tour is on the Rhön side. Starting from the valley floor, you reach Diezhäusen with its cloudless morning view. I meander back and forth on the Meiningen Extra Tour and reach the Schaubachhütte, which also

The call of hiking boots is louder than ever after weeks of abstinence. Paths partly frozen, partly thawed mud challenge the newly awakened footwear. The trail itself falls into the category of: doable, but not essential. Few highlights, the most striking of which being the view of Eichicht from the

Tenneberg Castle marks the start of a winter hike on the Benedictine Trail, which connects Waltershausen, Reinhardsbrunn, Friedrichroda, and Bad Tabarz. Frosty temperatures meet crisp, firm ground. On the ridge path above the herb meadow, the Inselsberg mountain appears in the distance, clad in white

Mud, pain, and pride. These have been my most dominant impressions of this area so far, thanks to Legend of Cross. Now it's time to focus more on the expansive landscape. Starting at sunrise from the Kulturscheune (cultural barn) in Mühlberg, I headed straight for Mühlburg Castle. The snack bar was still

An autumn storm and rain are not ideal conditions for a hike. Nevertheless, it has its charm. The rain stopped, but the wind stayed and rustled loudly through the canopy. Once you reach the Raven Forest, things get playful. The telescope, the speaking tube, the suspension bridge, the round table, and

Starting in Wiebach, I join the nature trail near Brotterode. Fog obscures the Inselsberg. At the Reitbahnhütte, I leave the nature trail again, heading towards Schartekopf. From up here, the colorful autumnal canopy is impressive, the fog heralds the shortening days. The loop leads through beautiful

Bustle in Oberhof. Peace in the surrounding forest. At the Gasthof Café in Kanzlersgrund, I enter the Oberschönau rock hiking trail. At the Hohe Stein, I have my first tea with a view. At the Hohe Möst, I have the next. At the 12 Apostles, I gaze at the colorful treetops. The scent of autumn is omnipresent