Rennsteig Trail, Eisenach – Blankenstein

Explore Luther city Eisenach with its fortress during a stroll through the city.

Short train journey to Hörschel. In accordance with old tradition, this is the trailhead of the Rennsteig trail. The route takes you into the little mountain town of Ruhla, renowned for its historic watch manufacturing tradition. You continue on tranquil paths via the ‚Hohe Sonne’ and reach Ruhla-Ascherbrück. We definitely recommend a detour to the impressive dragon gorge.

Past Ruhlaer Häuschen you walk to mountain Großer Inselsberg, which measures 912 m at his highest point. From there a steep climb is awaiting you, but you will be rewarded with a fabulous view. This popular section leads down to Grenzwiese, Dreiherrenstein and on to Ebertswiese with its mountain meadows and lakes. 

You start at 730 m above sea level and walk comfortable across the Rennsteig through the Thuringia Forest, past Krämerrod and Wachsenrasen, and on to the climatic health resort Oberhof. In the near, the Grenzadler, a centuries-old landmark is awaiting you, today it is marking the DKB-skiing arena. The popular winter sports resort is inviting you for relaxation and offers many wellness treatments for tired legs.

Today the highest point of the Rennsteig is awaiting you. You walk up onto 973 m. The walking tour leads past idyllic meadows with huts and springs, which invite you for a break. Before you reach Frauenwald you pass train station Rennsteig, where special trains go into the nature.

From Frauenwald you pass mountain Großer Dreiherrenstein. The roads from Illmenau, Neustadt, and Allzunah are meeting here. In Neustadt the centre of the Rennsteig is located in the Rennsteig museum. From Thuringia Forest you continue into the Thuringia Schiefergebirge (shale mountains). You cross the Schwalbenhauptwiese and meet a hollow way, which has been formed through elution and usage.

You walk from the Rennsteig lookout to Friedrichshöhe. The village is imbedded in deep Thuringia Forest and well known as smallest independent village of the German Democratic Republic as well as for its absolute silence. A detour to the spring of river Werra is worth is before you continue your tour via Limbach to Neuhaus.

Today you walk to Steinbach. The alpine slide in Ernstthal is inviting you for a ride. Afterwards the tour leads you to Spechtsbrunn. Who wants to learn more about the Thuringia Forest should visit the nature park information centre.

Enjoy the diversified lookouts onto Lauenhain and the slaty fractures of Lehesten for instance during this day. You will be accompanied from landmarks. They are the reason that this path is named “Schönwappenweg”. Presentation boards inform about the region, before you continue along the Rennsteig to Grumbach.

On your last walking tour you visit the hamlet Rodacherbrunn, it is located at the former “Mittlere Handelsstraße” (trading route). Already Napoleon was passing by with a huge army to the battle at Jena and Auerstädt. Past the three “Stephanseichen” (oak trees) you walk down to stage finish Blankenstein.