Individual arrival. Arrive today in the "Wartburg City." Eisenach invites you to take a stroll through town to discover the sights of this historic Luther city.
Today you reach the mountain town of Ruhla, known for its long tradition of watchmaking. Following tranquil paths via "Hohe Sonne," you will arrive at Ruhla-Ascherbrück. A detour into the impressive Dragon’s Gorge (Drachenschlucht) is highly recommended!
A highlight of today’s stage is the Großer Inselsberg (916 m), offering a fantastic view over the Thuringian Forest—on clear days, you can see as far as the Brocken in the Harz Mountains. Short climbs are rewarded by reaching one of the most beautiful mountain meadows in the Thuringian Forest; a small mountain lake awaits you for a relaxing end to the day!
Today you hike from the "Neue Ausspanne" along the ridge trail through the Thuringian Forest to reach the health resort of Oberhof, famous for its successful winter athletes. Relax in the wellness baths or discover the fascinating "Exotarium" and the blooming Rennsteig Garden.
Passing the Schneekopf (978 m) and the Suhler Hütte, you make your way to Frauenwald. Along the way, you can take a break at the historic Rennsteig train station and, shortly before reaching Frauenwald, take a detour into history at the Bunker Museum.
Today you reach the midpoint of the Rennsteig. You can visit the Rennsteig Museum in Neustadt am Rennsteig before arriving in the idyllic village of Masserberg, located near the source of the Werra river.
We recommend a detour to the Nature Park Information Center in Friedrichshöhe. You will hike along part of the "Fairytale Trail" to Neuhaus—the place where the Rennsteig is called the "Rennweg." Local attractions include the town church and the Geißlerhaus.
On your hike to Steinbach am Wald, you will cross the former Inner-German border and follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther toward Steinbach am Wald.
On your way, you will encounter the most beautiful and oldest coats-of-arms stones (Wappensteine) along the Rennsteig. You reach Brennersgrün and enjoy fantastic views of the Wetzstein and the Franconian Forest Nature Park.
Passing through this part of the Thuringian Slate Mountains, you reach Schlegel, where you can see a 400-year-old apple tree trunk. Finally, you reach the end of your journey: the town of Blankenstein with the Rennsteig Fountain and the "Hiking Hub" (Drehkreuz des Wanderns).