Extratour "Point Alpha Weg": Geisa – Rhön

Today, with the weather getting worse and worse ☁️🌧, I finally started a long-planned tour, for which the weather felt absolutely right. In addition to the two museums (which I did not visit today and will only look at later this year) and the column path - with well-preserved remains of the former border fortifications - the extra tour on the Point Alpha Weg has the town of Geisa, the snake path and other beautiful sections in a quieter area nature has a lot to offer. It was worth it 👍.

Next time we would do the tour the other way around, because then you would have had the ascent in the shade of the forest. In addition, the opportunity to stop would be more appropriate. Unfortunately, there is no way to do this in Wiesenfeld. At the end of August / beginning of September the plums are ripe, and the path leads past some plum groves before and after Wiesenfeld, which are obviously not harvested... The viewing point "Ulsterblick" is a joke, as it is completely overgrown. Fortunately, there are not only freshly gravelled stretches of road, we are always happy about narrow paths with hard-packed natural earth.

Today we were on the way to German border history: Extra tour Point-Alpha-Weg at Geisa Parking at the border house was free. The American base at Point Alpha can be visited, with the "observation tower" to the east, beer garden, toilet, old army vehicles and accommodation. Entry: 8€ per person An interesting tour with all sorts of interesting facts about the inner-German border, but also narrow paths, e.g. the snake path, soft meadow paths and beautiful views. Further information: https://www.rhoenfuehrer.de/aktivitaeten/wandern/extratouren/extratour-point-alpha-weg/521

From the Haus auf der Grenze (House on the Border), the trail begins via Point Alpha through the picturesque "Geisaer Amt" (Geisa Office). The trail repeatedly rewards hikers with magnificent views of the Kegelspiel (Kiegelspiel), the Ulster Valley, the East Hesse potash mountains, and, of course, the Rhön Mountains. Anyone who still has time at the end and is interested in the history of the inner-German border should definitely visit the exhibition at the Haus auf der Grenze (House on the Border). There, you can also learn a lot about the Rhön Biosphere Reserve. Those planning to complete the tour in midsummer should start as early as possible, as the sun blazes relentlessly on the old patrol path and the sections outside the forest.

Today I was once more in the Thuringian Rhön. The premium route EXTRATOUR Point-Alpha-Weg was on the plan. From the castle square in Geisa, the path runs through open fields and meanders on paths through varied forest. Again and again views of the landscape are possible. In addition to the wonderful experience of nature, the hiking trail also has something very special to offer. It leads a piece on the former Kolonnenweg where sculptures represent the "Path of Hope", but also past the border fortifications and offers with the border crossing point Point Alpha, the hottest point in the Cold War, the most informative and authentic border museum in Germany that can be visited can. Www.glasarche-3.de will also make a stop here until January 16, 2022. However, it should not be left unmentioned that parts of the route suffered from forestry activities.

Today we went 15 km over the Point Alpha trail. From Geisa we went over narrow paths, through forest passages and wonderful clearings to Point Alpha, a memorial site of the former inner-German border. At the end we went back to the starting point. Plenty of sun, beautiful paths and only a few people (except for the memorial). We really enjoyed it. 🎒😊☀️

Starting point: Point Alpha memorial car park, Platz der Deutschen Unity 1, 36419 Geisa. We start the extra tour at the "House on the Border", which is part of the "Point-Alpha" border museum. The confrontations in the Cold War and the effects of the inner-German division are presented at this historic site. From there we walk down the Rasdorfer Berg and enjoy the view over Geisa and the wide Ulstertal. Our way leads through the small old town of Geisa - over the castle square, on the Gangolfsberg and through the castle garden. We leave Geisa via the so-called snake path, which ends in a narrow dirt road and meanders up to the Bocksberg. With the view of the village of Schleid, we hike uphill, up the short, crisp ascent and finally reach the highlight of the tour: At the "Cross of Geiserämter" we particularly enjoy the mighty mountain panorama of the "Hessian skittles". Then we come to the so-called Ulsterblick, the most beautiful vantage point of the Ulstertal. Through a varied forest, we finally come to the Wiesenfeld Grotto and are almost back at the starting point. The sculpture path "Path of Hope" ends the route and may give some food for thought. (Katharina Happel)

This beautiful premium trail was named Germany's third most beautiful hiking trail in 2017. It's very well signposted, but I did notice one flaw: the Ulsterblick viewpoint is overgrown. Hiking along the Kolonnenweg is very exciting, and the Haus an der Grenze (House on the Border) was also very informative. For €8, you can see the exhibition at the Haus der Grenze (House on the Border) and experience Point Alpha (formerly known as Observation Post Alpha). At the end of this tour, I was rewarded with a beautiful view of Geisa. This trail is, of course, highly recommended! 👌😊