Sonnenstein – Hiking and Cycling

The Iron Curtain Trail EuroVelo route passes through the municipality of Sonnenstein; a well-signposted hiking trail leads from the Sonnenstein hikers’ car park to the Skywalk and on to several other stops. This provides concrete starting points for planning a hiking and cycling trip. The wider Eichsfeld region also offers castles, museums, hiking trails and distinctive local traditions. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on: the trails in Sonnenstein or the cultural and landscape attractions of the Eichsfeld.

Hiking in the Municipality of Sonnenstein

The hiking trail from the car park at Sonnenstein leads to the Skywalk, then through the Georgenthal to the Wenderhütte Forest Education Centre and the former Benedictine abbey in Gerode. It then runs via the quarry back to the car park. The route therefore encompasses more than just the Skywalk as a single destination: it also takes you to the aforementioned stops in the Georgenthal and ends back at the starting car park. You can use the sequence of places as a guide when planning. Check local route information before setting out.

Sonnenstein is also part of a longer route for cycling: the Iron Curtain Trail, also known as the Iron Curtain Trail or ICT, passes through the municipality. This local route is distinct from a route that starts in an Eichsfeld town and extends far beyond the region. You can therefore consider the trail a cycling option in its own right in Sonnenstein, without confusing it with the hiking stops mentioned here.

Other Trails in the Eichsfeld

The Leine-Heide Cycle Route starts in Leinefelde in the Eichsfeld and runs all the way to Hamburg. These are two routes with different geographical scopes: the ICT passes through the municipality of Sonnenstein, while the Leine-Heide Cycle Route starts in Leinefelde and extends to Hamburg. For hiking, the Dün and Iberg hills around Heilbad Heiligenstadt offer excellent conditions for longer walks on certified TOP hiking trails. These regional trails offer different opportunities from the hiking trail described from Sonnenstein to the Skywalk.

Castles and Viewpoints in the Eichsfeld

Burg Bodenstein was first mentioned in a document in 1098 and stands on a mountain spur of the Ohmgebirge range. Regular guided tours there explore the history of the former lords of the castle, the von Wintzingerodes. Visitors can also visit the small chapel with its baptismal angel. As no current tour dates are provided, it is advisable to check them before planning a visit.

Burg Scharfenstein has a viewpoint on its terrace. A 20-metre-high tower, completed in 2016, offers sweeping panoramic views of the upper Leine Valley, the Eichsfeld Basin, the Ohmgebirge range and the eastern Dün; on a clear day, the view extends as far as the Harz Mountains. At the Hanstein Castle ruins, visitors can explore the extensive remains. The accessible west tower offers a panoramic view over the Eichsfeld and the surrounding forests in clear weather. On days with good visibility, the view extends as far as the Brocken in the Harz Mountains.

Culture, History and Regional Highlights

Housed in Heilbad Heiligenstadt’s Baroque Jesuit college, the Eichsfeld Museum uses three floors to present the history, culture, religious life and folklore of the Eichsfeld. The Eichsfeld Borderland Museum combines a circular walking trail with a vivid depiction of the former GDR border: along the route are original guard buildings, vehicle barriers and signal fences. A museum visit, historical themes and outdoor activity thus offer different ways to explore the region.

A special tradition takes place every year on Easter Monday in Dingelstädt, around St Mary’s Church: hobbyhorse riding. Preschool children ride wooden horses decorated with bells and colourful ribbons. If your trip falls around Easter, you can include this custom as a distinctive cultural feature of the Eichsfeld.

The towns of the Eichsfeld also offer a variety of architectural highlights. Dingelstädt, Duderstadt, Heilbad Heiligenstadt and Leinefelde-Worbis feature historic half-timbered buildings and architectural landmarks. Duderstadt’s medieval ramparts are completely intact; a walking route follows them beneath old lime and chestnut trees. A regional speciality is air-dried sausage from the Eichsfeld, which is also known beyond the region.

Discover more destinations: Dingelstädt, Asbach-Sickenberg, Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Geismar, Leinefelde-Worbis, Mackenrode, Marth, Helmsdorf.

See the main travel overview: Eichsfeld.