Bornhagen: Hanstein, Hiking Trail and Sausage Culture

Hanstein Castle Ruins and the Two Castles View

A castle on the site of today’s Hanstein Castle Ruins was first mentioned in writing in 1070, in connection with its destruction. Together with the Hessian youth castle of Ludwigstein, the ruins form the Two Castles View. It symbolises the division and reunification of Germany. At Hanstein, the written mention of a castle at this location and the symbolic interpretation of two castles thus represent different ways of approaching history.

The TOP Hanstein-Teufelskanzel Hiking Trail

The circular trail starts at the Klausenhof Old Inn in Bornhagen. It circles the castle hill at Hanstein along a natural meadow path and then follows the former service road used by the border troops. The route description therefore covers both the meadow section by the castle hill and the historical significance of the former service road.

A white T on a green background marks the hiking trail throughout, and information boards explain the route. For navigation, both the markings and the explanations on site are relevant. As trail conditions can change, it is advisable to check the route’s current condition before setting out.

Sausage-Making and Tastings at the Klausenhof

At the Klausenhof Sausage and Home Butchery Museum, butchering equipment, pictures and exhibits spanning more than three centuries illustrate sausage-making. Expert-led tours cover Feldgieker sausage, butchering and old customs. The museum’s subject matter thus ranges from the craft itself to a specific Eichsfeld speciality: Feldgieker.

At the Klausenhof, you can sample various home-butchered sausages, including Eichsfeld Feldgieker and fresh Gehacktes (minced pork). It is best to arrange the tasting details with the operator. The exhibition and the tasting focus on different things: one covers production and customs, while the other highlights the products mentioned. In the wider Eichsfeld travel destination, air-dried sausage is considered a regional speciality that is also known beyond the region.

More to Explore in the Wider Eichsfeld Travel Destination

Beyond Bornhagen, the wider Eichsfeld travel destination offers a look at other places and topics. In Leinefelde-Worbis, Bodenstein Castle stands on a mountain spur of the Ohm Mountains; it was first documented in 1098. Regular guided tours at the castle cover the history of its former lords, the von Wintzingerode family. It is also possible to visit the small chapel with its baptismal angel. If you are planning to join a tour, check the dates in advance.

In Heilbad Heiligenstadt, the Eichsfeld Museum, housed in the Baroque Jesuit College, presents the Eichsfeld’s history, culture, religious life and folklore across three floors. The Dün and Iberg hills around Heilbad Heiligenstadt also offer good conditions for longer hikes on certified TOP hiking trails. These are distinct regional attractions, separate from the circular trail at Hanstein.

For a cycling trip, Leinefelde offers a different starting point: the Leine-Heide Cycle Route begins there and runs as far as Hamburg. The circular trail near Bornhagen and this cycle route therefore differ in their stated starting points and destinations; the information provided does not indicate a connection between the two routes.

Local customs and town history also show the diversity of the wider Eichsfeld travel destination. In Dingelstädt, the hobby-horse ride around St. Mary’s Church takes place every year on Easter Monday. Preschool children ride wooden hobby horses decorated with little bells and colourful ribbons. In Duderstadt, the medieval town ramparts are completely preserved and invite you to take a walk beneath old lime and chestnut trees.

Discover more destinations: Leinefelde-Worbis, Haynrode, Gernrode, Schimberg, Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Helmsdorf, Niederorschel, Bodenrode-Westhausen

View the wider travel overview: Eichsfeld.