The Hainich National Park is a national park in the state Thuringia. The area protects a valuable beech forest on shell limestone soils. The most famous attraction in the park is the treetop path, which opened in 2005.
background
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history
Large parts of today's protected area were used by the military until the fall of the Wall. The forest is slowly reclaiming the open terrain.
The national park covers 7,500 hectares. Incidentally, at 16,000 hectares, the entire Hainich ridge is the largest contiguous deciduous forest area in Germany.
landscape
Flora and fauna
In the animal world, 14 bat species and seven woodpecker species live in the Hainich. Another representative of the bird world is the black stork.
The rare wildcat is also at home in the park. A film about this shy animal will be shown in the Thiemsburg National Park Center on the treetop path.
climate
getting there
fees
The area is freely accessible.
mobility
The national park may only be entered on the designated paths. You can get around the area by bike as well as on foot.
The Thiemsburg with the national park center and treetop path is about 10 km west of Bad Langensalza and can be reached by public transport or by car. There is a parking lot for hikers on the street.[1]
The runs from Eisenach or Bad Langensalza Wonderful hiking bus (Line 726 or 27 A) to the Hainich National Park. On this line, a combined ticket is offered with the environmental ticket in the summer half-year, which includes the return journey and entry to the treetop path. In Eisenach, the trips start at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Wartburg, and thanks to an additional pair of trips, passengers from Eisenach can also make a stop in the wildcat village of Hütscheroda.[2]
The National park bus Line 154 operates on weekends and public holidays from Mulhouse via the villages on the eastern edge of the Hainich to the Thiemsburg National Park Center. The operator of this line is the regional bus company Unstrut-Hainich- und Kyffhäuserkreis.
The bus routes in the respective cities of Eisenach, Bad Langensalza and Mühlhausen are coordinated with local public transport.
Tourist Attractions
Canopy path
The attraction has a 44 meter high observation tower. From the platform at a height of 41 m you have a beautiful view over the forest, the national park and into the Thuringian basin. On a clear day you can even see the Brocken in the Harz Mountains, 80 km away. From the tower, a 308 m long walkway with knowledge stations leads through the treetops. Since May 2009 there is another 235 m long loop through the beech forest. Here you will also find some experience and knowledge stations such as B. two rope bridges. There are also some rooms in the tower that provide information about the national park. The models in the tower's "tree house" are particularly interesting. With the help of five lovingly designed models, the landscape development in Hainch from the Neolithic to the present day is shown (using the example of the location of the begging oak).
- Arrival by car from Eisenach (approx. 25 km): Follow the B 84 via Behringen to Reichenbach. From here follow the signs to the treetop path. About 2.5 km behind Craula there is a large car park at the Forsthaus Thiemburg (parking fee per day: € 1 for cars, € 5 for buses). From here it is a 600 m walk to the treetop path.
- Location of the large car park: 51 ° 4 '53 "N.10 ° 31 ′ 1 ″ E
- Arrival information for public transport: The treetop path can be reached by bus: Enter "Thiemsburg, Schönstedt" as the stop in the DB timetable information. The next long-distance train station is Eisenach (ICE and IC stops), which is about 25 km to the southwest. The Bad Langensalza and Mühlhausen train stations are a little closer, although they are only served by regional traffic. For more details on mobility on site, see above.
- opening hours - The trail is open all year round except on December 24th and 31st:
- - April to October: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- - November to March 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- - Last admission is one hour before closing. Dogs are not allowed on the trail. The treetop path can also be reached barrier-free with an elevator. However, the observation tower can only be climbed via steps.
- Entrance to the treetop path: Adults: € 7.50 (in groups of 15 people or more € 6.50), schoolchildren and students (with proof): € 5, family ticket (2 adults and children): € 20. The tickets for the treetop walk are sold in the National Park Center. There is a turnstile on the treetop path, with the map showing the way.
- It is also a Joint ticket with the Thiemsburg National Park Center available: Adults: € 9.50 (in groups of 15 people or more € 7), schoolchildren and students (with proof): € 6.50, family ticket (2 adults and children): € 20 (as of 09-2009).
- Toilets - The larger toilet facility at the National Park Center is accessible with the entrance ticket via a turnstile. The smaller toilet facility directly on the treetop path costs 50 cents (throw in a 50 cents piece at the door).
More Attractions
- Begging oak - The allegedly 1000-year-old oak stands in the middle of the national park. In the Middle Ages, a niche was cut in the trunk of the tree in order to be able to store the gifts of the population for the mendicant monks protected from the weather. Over the centuries the niche has become an approximately 2 m high passage. The tree is at the Hainich-Rennsteig for example 51 ° 5 ′ 10 ″ N.10 ° 24 '13 "E. (that's about 7.5 km west of the treetop path as the crow flies). On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays there is a snack on the tree from 10 a.m. where visitors can strengthen themselves.
activities
various adventure hiking trails
for example:
- Craulaer Kreuz: 7.5 kilometers long circular hiking trail through deciduous and spruce forest from the Craulaer Kreuz car park OSM card, GPX file
- World Heritage Path: 10-kilometer circular hiking trail with a short detour to the view of the Wartburg through the central areas of the national park from the Craulaer Kreuz car park OSM card, GPX file
Cycling
There are 50 km of marked cycle paths in the park.
Practical advice
Weather forecast
- "Weberstedt / Hainich" from Meteonedia AG 4-day forecast. The weather station can also be used as a reference for the national park.
- 3-day forecast from WetterOnline for Eisenach (also located quite close to the national park). A trend for up to 6 days in advance can be obtained by clicking on "Trend" in the table below.
shop
kitchen
accommodation
- "Forsthaus Thiemsburg" hostel on the treetop path. The guesthouse, which is part of the excursion gastronomy, has 23 beds in three single rooms (30 - 35 € per night) and 10 double rooms (60 - 70 € per night); Tel .: 03603/895690; www.forsthaus-thiemsburg.de
