Gräfenthal Border Hike - Thuringia

During the GDR era, Gräfenthal was located within the 5-kilometer exclusion zone. On this 9.4-kilometer loop trail, you’ll have the opportunity to hike along the former inner-German border—the once-infamous “death strip.” You’ll leave the city center and walk along Lauensteiner Weg toward the Thuringian-Bavarian state border. As you pass lush mountain meadows, a magnificent view of the Zopte Valley opens up, which you can enjoy while taking a break at a seating area near the paragliding field. Shortly afterward, the Kalte Brünnle offers another opportunity to take a break before you reach the state border at the trail junction. Here, we recommend a detour to the “Thüringer Warte” observation tower, located about 800 meters away on Bavarian territory. A view stretching deep into the “Green Heart of Germany,” as well as a permanent exhibition in the tower about the inner-German border, make the climb up the 678-meter-high Ratzenberg well worth it.

At the trail junction, turn right and follow the slate path along the “Green Belt” toward Lichtenhain. After a short while, you’ll come across the concrete slabs of the still-well-preserved patrol road. This was part of the former GDR border fortifications, along which border troops patrolled with their vehicles. After passing Fröbeleck, a spacious shelter next to which you can see a section of the border fence and a checkpoint, the trail—lined with delicate birch trees—continues and eventually branches off the convoy road onto a narrow street. From the plateau at the foot of Beerhügel, you’ll have an unobstructed view of Lichtenhain, Gräfenthal’s highest-altitude district. A border company was stationed there until 1990. 1 km before the town entrance, at a fork in the road, turn right and head downhill along the Stadtweg back to Gräfenthal. At this point, you can extend the tour by about 13 km to a long loop hike to visit the “Kleintettauer Zipfel” border monument in the neighboring town of Markt Tettau, in the district of Kleintettau. It commemorates the history of three formerly inhabited buildings that, before the division of Germany, belonged to the district of Lichtenhain. From Lichtenhain, follow the signs for “Kleintettau.”

Following the marked R 95 trail from Kleintettau, you’ll return to the Rennsteig after about 2 km. Follow the signs toward “Kalte Küche,” pass the Nature Park Information Center, and reach Gräfenthal’s market square via Heeres- and Handelsstraße and Buchbach.

Important: For safety reasons, please do not stray from the designated hiking trails along the Green Belt.

This moderately difficult hike requires a good level of basic fitness and sturdy footwear. Without taking the extension, the route can be completed at a leisurely pace in 4–6 hours, offering an equal blend of natural beauty, culture, and moments of tranquility. If you’d like to explore Kleintettau, plan for a day trip.