Sonnenstein: Hiking and Cycling

Hiking and Cycling in Sonnenstein

From the Sonnenstein hiking car park, the hiking trail leads to the Skywalk and continues through Georgenthal. The next stops are the Wenderhütte Forest Education Centre and the former Benedictine abbey in Gerode. The route then passes through the quarry on its way back to the car park. This sequence connects several named destinations with a return to the starting point, giving your hiking day a clear structure. Check local route information before setting out.

The EuroVelo Iron Curtain Trail, also known as the Iron Curtain Trail (ICT), offers a different way to explore the area: it runs through the municipality of Sonnenstein. This means you can choose between a hike along a described route and a cycling route when planning your holiday. When looking for a holiday apartment in Sonnenstein, use this priority as a first step: do you want the hiking day to be the main focus, or would you like to plan a cycling trip on the EuroVelo route? You can then compare the location of a specific property with your own daily plans.

Eichsfeld: Castles, Countryside and Culture

The wider Eichsfeld destination is characterised by castles, historic towns, open fields, natural landmarks, and cycling and hiking trails. The following examples are part of this larger destination and offer a different focus from the routes in the municipality of Sonnenstein.

Scharfenstein Castle has a viewing point on its terrace and a 20-metre-high tower completed in 2016. From there, the panoramic view extends across the upper Leine Valley, the Eichsfeld Basin, the Ohmgebirge hills and the eastern Dün hills; on a clear day, you can also see the Harz Mountains. The accessible west tower of Hanstein Castle ruins offers a different panorama: in clear weather, the view extends across the Eichsfeld and surrounding forests; on a day with excellent visibility, you can also see the Brocken. The extensive remains of the castle are also open to exploration.

There are many ways to discover the history of the Eichsfeld. Bodenstein Castle was first mentioned in a document in 1098 and stands on a mountain spur of the Ohmgebirge hills. Regular guided tours explore the history of the castle’s former lords, the von Wintzingerode family; visitors can also see the small chapel with its baptismal angel. The Eichsfeld Museum, housed in the Baroque Jesuit college in Heilbad Heiligenstadt, explores the Eichsfeld’s history, culture, religious life and folklore across three floors. At the Eichsfeld Borderland Museum, a circular walking trail with original control buildings, vehicle barriers and signal fences illustrates the character of the GDR border.

Regional traditions and townscapes also give the Eichsfeld its distinctive character. Every year on Easter Monday in Dingelstädt, the Steckenpferd-Reiten takes place around St Mary’s Church: preschool children ride wooden hobby horses decorated with little bells and colourful ribbons. Duderstadt’s medieval ramparts are completely preserved and invite visitors to stroll beneath old lime and chestnut trees. Historic half-timbered houses and architectural landmarks can be found in the Eichsfeld towns of Dingelstädt, Duderstadt, Heilbad Heiligenstadt and Leinefelde-Worbis. Air-dried sausage is considered a regional speciality and is known beyond the Eichsfeld as well.

Discover more destinations: Berlingerode, Wahlhausen, Am Ohmberg, Helmsdorf, Deuna, Gernrode, Bornhagen, Kleinbartloff.

View the broader travel overview: Eichsfeld.