The route starts from the beautiful and quietly located holiday apartment in Waltershausen. It is an open building. The owner lives on the ground floor and the first floor is furnished as a holiday home. There is a covered area in the garden where the motorcycle can be parked. There is also plenty of room at the apartment for a car with a trailer.
There is a petrol station 500 m away. You can refuel at both the start and the end of the ride.

Scharfenburg castle ruins were first mentioned in 1137 during the reign of Louis I, Landgrave of Thuringia. In 1446 it was destroyed during the so-called Saxon Civil War. The last owners then built two large farms in the town of Thal in the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1837 the estate was sold to Duke Ernst I of Saxe-Gotha.
The spa and tourist committee in Thal, founded in 1872, decided, among other things, to build a staircase in the tower of the castle ruins, which was subsequently completed in 1875. Since then, many visitors to the castle have been able to enjoy the beautiful view. In 1932 another major restoration was necessary. The stairs and masonry were repaired and renewed. But probably not with much success, because in the 1970s the castle had to be completely closed to visitors. The keep quickly fell into disrepair. It was not until 1993-94 that the keep was made accessible again through a total restoration. The battlements, roof, entrance area and entire walls had to be replaced.

At the viewpoint between Ruhla and Etterwinden you will see a white 'mountain' in the distance. This is Monte Kali. You will find a word of explanation further on when we drive past.

Wilhelmsthal Palace and Park is of national and international importance. From the hunting lodge to hunting and pleasure palace, via favorite summer residence to hospital, prisoner of war camp and children's village - this is the path of the historic park and palace complex Wilhelmsthal through the centuries. The changing residents always succumbed to the magic of this unique building. Here you will also find the oldest free-standing concert hall in Europe.
During the four major architectural eras, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism and Historicism, Wilhelmsthal's palace and garden ensemble largely developed into its current form. Well-known German architects, landscapers, plasterers and sculptors have left their mark on Wilhelmsthal over the centuries.
It is associated with great names such as Telemann, Liszt and von Goethe. The whole still consists of a loose row of simply plastered pavilions on either side of a street-like axis.
The current castle park underwent its last renovation in the 19th century and is now a feast for the eyes again.

The Werra rises in the Thuringian Forest and then flows north, passing through the state of Hesse. Ultimately, the Werra flows into the River Weser near Hann-Münden. The Werra is approximately 299 km long. The Werra valley is known for its picturesque beauty, with green hills, forests and charming villages along its banks.
The river and its valley have a rich history, have been inhabited for centuries and have played a role in trade and transport in the region.

Gerstungen Castle was built in the 17th and 18th centuries. The upper floor is a half-timbered building and probably dates from 1796. The former castle was protected by moats on three sides. At that time it was used to secure the Werra crossing, a ford called the 'Kurzer Hesse'.
When Gerstungen came into the possession of Duke Ernst August I of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach in 1741, only the outer buildings of the castle remained. The moated castle had fallen into disrepair. The foundation walls were used to build the castle in the 17th and 18th centuries. Today the castle houses the Werratal Museum Gerstungen. It shows the history of the area up to the present day.

In Wildershausen we turn right to Monte Kali. Monte Kali, also known as Kalimanjaro or Kali, is a striking man-made mountain. Monte Kali was created as a result of salt extraction in the area. The mountain is actually a waste product of the region's potash mining. Potassium salts, which are extracted for use in fertilizer production and other industrial applications, contain contaminants that are unsuitable for consumption. These contaminants are removed through the extraction of potassium salts and disposed of in a landfill. It is the largest mountain of this type in Europe, reaching a height of about 200 meters above its surroundings, making it a striking feature in the otherwise flat landscape of Hesse.
The mountain is covered with a layer of white salt and has an almost moon-like appearance. The salt on the mountain reflects sunlight and creates a bright, white appearance. Although the mountain itself is the result of industrial activity, the area around Monte Kali is sometimes used for recreational purposes such as hiking and mountain biking. From the top of the mountain there are also panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Monte Kali is an intriguing example of how human activities can shape the landscape and create artificial geographic features. It is an interesting place for tourists and geologists alike.

Pizzeria Milano serves a great and delicious selection of varied food! From pizza to masala, everything is available at affordable prices. The pizzeria is run by an Indian. The Indian cuisine was authentic and very tasty.

One kilometer after leaving the village of Mansbach you return to the German-German border crossing. Here a memorial stone refers to the 'Tag der Einheid' of 1990 and the opening of the border.
A little further on there is an East German watchtower from the Iron Curtain period.

The Point Alpha Memorial is an authentic Cold War site and a unique testimony to four decades of contemporary history. This is where NATO and Warsaw Pact outposts faced off until 1990. The former 'Observation Post Alpha' (Point Alpha for short) was one of the most important observation bases for the American forces in Europe and one of the hottest points in the Cold War.
Point Alpha presents this piece of German-German history in a visible, tangible and understandable way: the confrontation between the two power blocs, the construction of the border fortifications with their security elements, but also military processes and life on and with the border from the perspective of the population.
As a visitor you can view the entire complex with all museum areas: US Camp, House on the Border, Border Reconstructions, Path of Hope and Wiesenfelder Tower. You are free to explore the area yourself. In any case, you will experience an impressive tour of the historic site. Reconstructions faithful to the original paint a picture of the development of the border fortifications up to 1989 and give an authentic impression of the events at the center of the confrontation between the two power blocs and on both sides of the border. In the House on the Border, a permanent exhibition tells the story of the division of Germany. In addition, the two permanent exhibitions 'Cold War' and 'Everyday Life' in the barracks of the American camp document daily German-American life against the backdrop of the Cold War.

You can relax in Café Rhem in Dermbach. The family-run ice cream parlor is known far beyond the borders of Dermbach for its homemade ice cream flavors. As one of the few ice cream manufacturers in Germany, they offer you a very special form of ice cream enjoyment: Cold Stone ice cream. With ice cream from the cold stone you can put together your own ice cream creation from numerous types of ice cream and various toppings. The tastiest coffee and coffee specialties, hot and cold drinks round off your visit to the café.

Whether created by a freak of nature or by human hands, the 76 hectare nature reserve 'Breitunger Seen' is one of the unique features of the region.
Behind a wide reed belt lies a lake area of approximately 18 hectares, with a depth of 4 meters at the deepest point. With its varied flora and fauna, the nature reserve is a paradise for nature lovers. Particularly impressive is the sea of flowers and leaves of the white sea lilies and yellow pond lilies.

The Trusetaler Wasserfal is the highest and most impressive waterfall in the region. On the left side of the waterfall you can go up (228 steps) and take a short (or longer walk). On top of the waterfall you have a good view of the valley and here you can see that the Trusetaler waterfall is an artificial waterfall.

Sandstones from the Rotlegen were once extracted in the current geological natural monument 'Plattenbruch am Hübel'. These were a typical building material in the Thuringian Forest. In the quarry near Cabarz, a very hard gangue rock, the so-called 'Leuchtenburg rock', has been extracted since 1870 and processed into fine crushed stone. The mining resulted in large outcrops in the surrounding rocks. Today the quarry is a fossil site of international importance. Excavations and research are regularly carried out here by scientific institutions.

Schlosspark Reinhardsbrunn is a historic park located near the city of Friedrichroda. The park is famous for its lush green surroundings with formal gardens, ponds, and monumental trees. The park is located in the immediate vicinity of the former monastery and castle Reinhardsbrunn. It is surrounded by the beautiful Thuringian Forest, which adds to the natural beauty of the area.
The Reinhardsbrunn Monastery was founded in the 12th century and was originally a Cistercian monastery. Later it was transformed into a Renaissance-style castle. The park was constructed in the 19th century. It is decorated with historic buildings, including a neo-Gothic chapel, which are still preserved. The castle itself was severely damaged during the Second World War and can no longer be visited in its original state.

Drive a few more kilometers, refuel and then the tranquility of the holiday apartment awaits you. Now you can enjoy this beautiful tour along some historically important places, cooling forests, vast landscapes and wonderful roads.