Thuringia

At the Grenzbahnhof museum Probstzella, artists revived German history in their works.

At the place where once about 20 million train passengers were controlled by the border police and customs, local artists now exhibit their paintings, photos and objects. All the works have one thing in common: the Green Belt, which connects the region's nature and history. The experiences and impressions of the citizens who lived in the German-German division area can also be experienced in the exhibited writings.

With numerous hiking trails and mountain bike routes, the southern Harz is the ideal destination for all explorers and connoisseurs. A particular highlight in the nature park is the adventurous karst landscape with white rock formations, dense beech forests, medieval castle ruins and hidden caves. Well-signposted hiking trails lead directly into the unique cultural landscape.

You can hike through impressive natural landscapes and German history on the Harz Border Trail on the Green Belt. The almost one hundred kilometers long-distance hiking trail connects nature, culture, and history of the Harz uniquely. Through the Ecker valley, the former border river, past the historic Dreiländerstein, the trail leads to the Brocken. Information boards along the way tell about biotopes worthy of protection and the historical sites.

Ideal for an active vacation is the Werra Valley. During leisurely Werra water hiking on the former border river to Vacha, canoeists and visitors pass the historic Werra Bridge Vacha. The 225-meter-long stone arch bridge connected the states of Thuringia and Hesse and was closed at the German division time. It was not until 1989 that the bridge could be walked again when the border was opened and called the 'Bridge of Unity'.

If you like to walk, you can take the discovery tour P6 Heldrastein from Wanfried-Heldra across the Werra to the observation tower on the Heldrastein. The Hüneburg with border information and the 'Tower of Unity' are reminders of the former inner-German border.

Further reminders of the division of Germany await you on the premium hiking trail P16. Passing the Green Belt, the almost 14-kilometer-long hike leads through the Hesse-Thuringia border region. It demands a lot from its hikers with steep, rocky climbs. Past blooming orchids and fragrant wild herbs, the trail leads through dense yew forests. You will be rewarded for your efforts with a magnificent view and the old walls of the Altenstein castle ruins.

Back in Asbach-Sickenberg, a visit to the Schifflersgrund border museum is worthwhile. With original border control huts, the BT-9 observation tower and about 1,000 meters of the border fence with control strips, the museum provides exciting insights into the time before reunification.

Between 1945 and 1989, the two states of Thuringia and Hesse were separated by the inner-German border. Today, the Ulster Valley Cycle Path runs along the former border area through the Rhön Mountains. It offers insights into German history as well as a picturesque natural landscape.

At no other point in Germany did the refuge of the former East extend as far into the West as here. During the Cold War, the Rhön was therefore considered the most dangerous place in the world. Today it is part of the global UNESCO biosphere reserve and a symbol of German unity.

If you want to learn more, use the audio points and information boards at routes 4 and 5. Simply scan the QR code with your smartphone, open the audio file, and you'll find yourself acoustically on the journey from the Middle Ages to the present day.