The Rennsteig Cycle Path (german: Rennsteig-Radwanderweg) follows for 195 km the Rennsteig trail that has existed at least since the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

as a courier and trade route. Most of this long distance cycle path is carefully ballasted, although parts of it also run along quiet country lanes. On the crest of the

Thuringian Highland The Thuringian Highland, Thuringian Highlands or Thuringian-Vogtlandian Slate MountainsKohl, Horst; Marcinek, Joachim and Nitz, Bernhard (1986). ''Geography of the German Democratic Republic'', VEB Hermann Haack, Gotha, p. 7 ff. . (german: Thüring ...

the cycle path is identical for long stretches with the

hiking trail A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. The ...

of the same name, but departs from it in places so that steep inclines can be avoided. It starts at Hörschel west of

Eisenach Eisenach () is a town in Thuringia, Germany with 42,000 inhabitants, located west of Erfurt, southeast of Kassel and northeast of Frankfurt. It is the main urban centre of western Thuringia and bordering northeastern Hessian regions, situat ...

and ends in

Blankenstein Blankenstein is a village and a former municipality in the district Saale-Orla-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany. Since 1 January 2019, it is part of the municipality Rosenthal am Rennsteig Rosenthal am Rennsteig is a municipality in the district Saa ...

by the

River Saale The Saale (), also known as the Saxon Saale (german: Sächsische Saale) and Thuringian Saale (german: Thüringische Saale), is a river in Germany and a left-bank tributary of the Elbe. It is not to be confused with the smaller Franconian Saale, ...

Literature

* Rennsteig Radwanderweg, 1 : 50 000, Verlag grünes herz. * Radwanderkarte Rennsteig-Radwanderweg, 1 : 50 000, Publicpress-Verlag,

External links

* http://www.rennsteig.net/radwandern/radinfo.htm
Detailed route description of the Rennsteig Cycle Path with height and route profiles
Cycleways in Germany Transport in Thuringia {{thuringia-geo-stub