Rhön impressions

The low mountain range Rhön is the result of long gone volcanic origin and offers interesting geological features for those interested in geomorphology (and hiking... because one often has to walk there!)

A hike to the stone sea at Schafstein, an erosion caused by freezing and thawing during the last ice age.

Wasserkuppe marks highest mountain of the Rhön 950m in elevation. Here you also find the source of the river Fulda (name is identical with the city of Fulda).

The Steinwand (rockwall) near Poppenhausen offers some uncommon rock formations of an extrusive igneous material called phonolite.

A hike to Eisgraben waterfall

A hike to the columnar basalt rock feature at Gangolfsberg

Hiking to the waterfall at devil's mill

Kreuzberg (cross mountain)

A hike up to a former Celtic settlement (oppidum Milseburg)

Schwarzes Moor (Black bog)

Rotes Moor (red bog)

with an extra tour to the cascade creek gorge

next stop: Fulda

A lesson in (recent) history

Once upon a time, before the wall came down in 1989, Germany had been two countries, and the region (Fulda Gap in military terms) we are visiting today was pretty much off limits. The border through the beautiful low mountain range of Rhön was heavily secured by mines, walls, and fences, guarded day and night by East German border patrols and snipers. For obvious reasons West-Germans didn't really want to live there unless they had to. It was a poor and forlorn place with very limited opportunities.

30+ years went by since Germany became united. Once fences, towers and military equipment were removed, the region came to life. The city of Fulda became the new economic hub of a united Germany and the Rhön region thrived through tourism with focus on ecology and biodiversity.

Point Alpha: A memorial of the cold war 

US camp watchtower

US camp mess hall