Hikes in Effelder

The Küllstedter Schweiz is fabulously beautiful, especially when you listen to the stories about the Champagne Man, Ox Head, or the former Cannons Railway while hiking.

The second stage of the Leine-Werra Nature Park route connects Martinfeld with Großbartloff and circles the Eichsfeld Westerwald over 15 kilometers. A contemplative section with lots of nature and hidden gems.

Circular hiking route through the Eichsfeld landscape with fabulous viewpoints, historic sites, and natural treasures

Effelder/Eichsfeld High Altitude Hiking Trail

it's worth walking along here again ...

Halfway point of the "Top-Wanderweg, Panorama Effelder".

The Paschalis Gratze Path connects the Hülfensberg Monastery and the "Eichsfelder Cathedral" in Effelder and runs over forest, meadow, and bike paths as well as a stretch of country road and is accessible and signposted in both directions. The path symbol is the stylized St. Albanus Church Effelder. Total length:                                        10.0 km Highest point (Church Effelder):     481 m above sea level Lowest point (Village location Geismar):    208 m above sea level Background: In 1890, a fire disaster destroyed the Catholic Church St. Albanus of Effelder. Already in 1894, in an exposed location and after only three years of construction, the new Catholic church, larger and more imposing than its predecessor, was consecrated. The builder of this church was the Franciscan Paschalis Gratze, who designed, directed, and supervised a multitude of new, conversion, and extension church buildings, initially in his monastery province in the Rhineland and Westphalia, and later also in the Eichsfeld. Paschalis Gratze was admitted to the Franciscan convent on the "Mountain of Holy Help." From there, he also directed and supervised the construction work of the new St. Albanus Church Effelder. It is said that he used a large telescope for observation. Several times a week, he walked the path from Hülfensberg to the elevated village of Effelder to directly verify the construction progress. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the St. Albanus Church consecration, the plan was made in 1994 to dedicate a hiking and pilgrimage path between Effelder and Hülfensberg to the significant church builder. The implementation of this idea was completed with the ceremonial dedication of the Paschalis Gratze Path on August 17, 2008, the 75th anniversary of the Dr. Konrad Martin Cross on Hülfensberg. Since then, the Paschalis Gratze Path has served as a hiking trail in memory of the notable church builder and is also annually used as a pilgrimage route with spiritual accompaniment on May 1 from the St. Albanus Church in Effelder to the pilgrimage opening at Hülfensberg. On the occasion of the 125th church anniversary of the widely visible "Eichsfelder Cathedral," as the St. Albanus Church is also called due to its outstanding location, the necessary re-signposting was carried out in 2019. 

The Paschalis Gratze Trail connects the Hülfensberg Monastery and the "Eichsfelder Cathedral" in Effelder, passing through forest paths, meadows, and cycling paths as well as a stretch of country road, and is walkable and signposted in both directions. The trail symbol is the stylized St. Albanus Church in Effelder. Total length:                                                                         10.0 km Highest point (Effelder Church):     481 m above sea level Lowest point (Geismar locality):     208 m above sea level Background: In 1890, a fire disaster destroyed the Catholic Church of St. Albanus in Effelder. Already in 1894, in an exposed location, the new Catholic church, larger and more imposing than its predecessor, was consecrated after only three years of construction. The builder of this church was the Franciscan Paschalis Gratze, who designed, directed, and supervised a multitude of new, remodeling, and extension church buildings, initially in his monastic province in the Rhineland and Westphalia, and later also in the Eichsfeld region. Paschalis Gratze had been admitted into the Franciscan convent on the "Mountain of Holy Help." From there he also directed and supervised the construction work of the new St. Albanus Church in Effelder. He is said to have used a large telescope for observation. Several times a week, he walked the path from Hülfensberg to the high-elevation village of Effelder to personally verify the construction progress. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the consecration of St. Albanus Church, plans were made in 1994 to dedicate a hiking and pilgrimage trail between Effelder and Hülfensberg to the significant church builder. The idea came to fruition with the ceremonial inauguration of the Paschalis Gratze Trail on August 17, 2008, the 75th anniversary of the Dr. Konrad Martin Cross on Hülfensberg. The Paschalis Gratze Trail commemorates the notable church builder as a hiking path and since then has also been used as a pilgrimage route, with spiritual guidance, annually on May 1 from St. Albanus Church in Effelder to Hülfensberg for the opening of the local pilgrimage. On the occasion of the 125th church anniversary of the widely visible "Eichsfelder Cathedral," as St. Albanus Church is also called due to its outstanding location, the necessary new signage was installed in 2019.

This tour leads through one of the most beautiful parts of the Eichsfeld. The highlight is the Hülfensberg with the pilgrimage church St. Salvator. The Hülfensberg is regarded as a symbol of the Catholic-shaped Eichsfeld.

The 98km long Leine-Werra Nature Park Trail leads you on marked, mostly natural paths from Heilbad Heiligenstadt to Creuzburg. One of the most varied hiking trails in the southern Eichsfeld-Hainich Nature Park partially follows the former border between West and East Germany. A diverse area, rewarded with some climbs and beautiful views over the land. The Leine-Werra Nature Park Trail alternates with sections stretching through valleys and along rivers. The trail passes along the Leine and Werra rivers, castle ruins, pilgrimage chapels, and old half-timbered villages.