The Kyffhäuser
Hike through historyA hiking adventure through mountains, castles and monuments
We start our journey early in the morning in Tilleda. There is also the option of driving directly to the monument or taking the bus from Bad Frankenhausen there. But: We also want to get to know Kyffhäuser as a landscape. Hence the journey on foot.
The path initially takes us through narrow ravines and orchards that are covered in morning mist.
But the closer we get to the Kyffhäuser Monument, the more the fog clears and gives us a clear view of the majestic building high above the Golden Aue.
The architecture of the sandstone monument is impressive from a distance. At over 80 meters high, it rises into the sky and seems to grow almost organically into the rocks. After paying the entrance fee, we explore the structure from below to the viewing platform.
The idea behind the monument is to link the Barbarossa legend with the memory of William the First.
Above the slumbering emperor from the Middle Ages, on horseback, is the emperor of the reunified German Empire. A coherent image in 1896, the year the monument was opened.
The whole thing was built on the remains of the Reichsburg Kyffhausen. Today these are mostly located in a freely accessible area outside the monument site.
Here we walk through the old walls and can imagine how the knights in times past looked over the castle walls and kept an eye on their lands.
Conclusion:
The Kyffhäuser is a mountain range, a medieval castle and a monument from the German imperial period. Anyone who comes there from Erfurt can combine a hike through beautiful nature with the history of the Middle Ages and modern German history.
The choice of means of transport also determines how much time is left for a day trip. By public transport you can reach the monument from Erfurt main station in at best three hours. “At best” means it could be 6 hours.
Many people can do this by bike. This means of transport has the advantage that the return journey to Erfurt can take place via a train station every hour. These are located, for example, in Sondershausen or Heldrungen. A route that can also be used to get there.
The quickest way is by car. In just over an hour you will be at the monument. If, like us, you want to freely choose your starting point in Tilleda or another place around the mountains on our tour, you can usually get there and back easily by car.
