Rennsteig Trail

The Rennsteig is Germany's oldest and most-walked ridge trail. Roughly 170 km (105 miles) long, it runs from Hörschel near Eisenach, on the Werra river, along the crest of the Thuringian Forest and the Thuringian Slate Mountains to Blankenstein on the Saale. If you are looking for things to do in Thuringia on foot, this trail offers forest, meadows, viewpoints and centuries of history, from a medieval border path to a modern hiking route.

Why it is special

The name "Rynnestig" first appears in 1330 in a charter from Schmalkalden. Its origin is disputed; one theory links it to a hunting term for a boundary. Julius von Plänckner hiked it in 1829 and mapped it in 1832, which started its tourist use. The Rennsteigverein, founded in 1896, organized an annual six-stage hike from 1897 to 1942.

The trail follows the watershed between the Werra/Weser, Saale/Elbe and Main/Rhine river systems and marked the historic boundary between Franconia and Thuringia. During the division of Germany it crossed the inner-German border six times; it reopened in April 1990. About 100,000 hikers use it each year. It is marked with a white "R". A local quirk is the "caraway equator": traditionally, Thuringian bratwurst contains caraway only north of the trail. The GutsMuths Rennsteiglauf, a running event held since 1973, draws more than 14,000 participants.

Route, stages and elevation

The official length is 169.3 km. It starts at Hörschel at about 196 m and ends at Blankenstein at about 414 m. Depending on the source, the highest point is 973 to 983 m on Großer Beerberg. Well-known viewpoints include Großer Inselsberg and Plänckners Aussicht. You can divide the route as you like: four, six or eight stages depending on your pace. One Thuringia portal lists eight stages; the first, from Hörschel to Ascherbrück, has about 718 m of climbing and is rated moderate. The classic six-day split is demanding for average hikers, so build your own sections.

Highlights

• Hörschel, the start, with a memorial stone to Julius von Plänckner. Walkers traditionally carry a stone from the Werra to the Saale.
• Drachenschlucht (Dragon Gorge) near Eisenach, called the most romantic part of the Thuringian Forest by a local guide.
• Großer Inselsberg and Großer Beerberg, summits with views; the Beerberg is the trail's highest point.
• Kleinschmalkalden, home to the Venter Glocken bell foundry, founded in 1874.

Getting there and getting back

A travel portal says that both Hörschel and Blankenstein are well served by rail; check Deutsche Bahn for current times. Cars can park at the Rennsteig car park at Hörschel station and at Selbitzplatz in Blankenstein. Plan your return: the ridge has almost no railway or road running alongside it. One source estimates about four hours and three changes from Blankenstein back to Hörschel, so book the return before you start.

Best time and tips

People hike it in every season. Weekdays outside holidays are generally quietest, and on weekends lodging is often taken by local visitors. Walkers greet each other with "Gut Runst!". Traditionally, the trail is walked from Hörschel to Blankenstein in even years and in the opposite direction in odd years. The Rennsteig portal lists more than 300 places to stay. It is a forest trail and not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.

Nearby

Near Eisenach lies the Drachenschlucht, and in the Thuringian Forest you will also find the Schneekopf with its lookout tower. Towns such as Oberhof, Masserberg and Schmiedefeld are known to runners from the Rennsteiglauf.