Hike - Rennsteig - Stage 1 - From Hörschel to Ascherbrück / Ruhla

The Rennsteig begins directly on the banks of the Werra in Hörschel.

Here, it is customary to take a pebble with you to throw into the Saale at the end of your tour. The first stage takes you almost steadily uphill for about 19 kilometres. At Gro&szlig Eichelberg (310 m above sea level) you have a beautiful view of Wartburg Castle. At Wartburgblick Hörseltal you have the option of leaving the Rennsteig for a detour to Rangenhof . The small inn at the edge of the forest invites you to take a short rest in the green before continuing towards Clausberg . Shortly before the Vachaer Stein, a path turns off to the Hütschhof . Here is an idyllic holiday domicile with a pilgrims' hostel. The obelisk and signpost at the Vachaer Stein reminds us of an old pass that was used by Napoleon.

On the following trail you will find an idyllic holiday home with a pilgrims' hostel.

On the following section of the trail, you climb the next steep section up to the Wilde Sau. According to legend, there was a terrible hunting accident here in the Middle Ages in which a squire seriously injured his master. The place is still a popular hiking spot today. Shortly before the Hohen Sonne begins the Drachenschlucht, the narrowest gorge hiking trail in the whole of Thüringen. at the narrowest point the trail is less than 70 cm wide. At the Hohe Sonne itself, a cosy snack bar awaits you. At weekends the grill is burning and there is good Eisenach beer. Hundreds of hikers meet here, especially on Ascension Day. Unfortunately, the old hunting lodge on Hohe Sonne has not been used for a long time and is slowly but surely falling into disrepair.

The route continues on mainly well-maintained paths to the destination of Ascherbrück. Past the Hirschstein and the Rennsteiggrotte, this last section of the stage ends directly at the Forest Inn & Rennsteighotel Hubertushaus directly above Ruhla.