Hike - "Green Belt Thuringia" - Stage 1

The first and also longest stage on the Green Belt in southern Thuringia begins at the inconspicuous point where the only three "free states" of the Federal Republic "meet." The Drei-Freistaaten-Stein lies exactly between the Thuringian Slate Mountains and Vogtland. From here you set out on a hiking journey of more than 400 km along the former inner-German border to Herleshausen on the western edge of the Thuringian Forest.

The first stop on the first stage is the German-German Museum in Mödlareuth. The small village was once divided by the Tannenbach; today it is an open-air museum and memorial at the same time.

The hiking trail runs mostly away from civilization in the preserved floodplains and forests of the former border area and brings the hiker back to natural origins. On many sections, you experience the richness of species in flora and fauna up close.

Along the Saxon Saale, you soon reach Hirschberg. The hiking trail briefly goes through the village, below the old castle, but quickly returns to the old patrol road. Passing under the Saale bridge, you pass through Sparnberg and Rudolphstein. Following the watercourse further, you soon reach Blankenstein, the gateway to the Rennsteig. Here Selbitz and Saale meet. Past the Franconian Forest nature park information center, it goes through dense forests and flat meadows again up to Krötenmühle. There used to be a small excursion restaurant. If you leave the Green Belt at Bad Steben here, you can plan an overnight stay in the middle of the route in this Franconian small town. The relax Hotel am Kurpark near the thermal spa is highly recommended.

The second part of the first stage partially leaves the border route to connect a section of the Rennsteig. Shortly before the small village of Rodacherbrunn, you meet the "Thuringian." A stone's throw away lies Grumbach and the small Gasthaus zum Frankenwald. Typical home cooking and friendly service make it a recommended place to stop for lunch.

Passing through Brennersgrün and past the Wetzstein with the Old Father Tower, you soon arrive in Lehesten at the technical monument "Historical Slate Mining" at Staatsbruch. You continue along the Luther trail through the village and past the roofer school until you meet again the border route between Thuringia and Bavaria at Rehbachhalde. Around Steinbach an der Halde, it is not far to Lauenstein Castle.

Passing Villa Falkenstein and Fischbachsmühle, you cross the former ICE connection line Jena-Nuremberg. Shortly thereafter, the destination, the mighty Lauenstein Castle, is reached. Directly below is the inn "Zum Goldnene Löwen".