Rhön Things to Do

In contrast to the taxidermy museum in Tann, you can visit the Wildlife Park in Gersfield, where it is reassuring to know that many of the animals that where stuffed on display and definitely dead, are alive and running free in Gersfeld.
The animals in the picture are wild piglets, called in German "Frischling" or "Wutz", and they are so cute, when they're littlle, because they like to play with each other.
This park is a place that the whole family will enjoy, and will have the chance to see European reindeer (Rentier), deer (Hirsch), and antelope (Reh). You can even feed the deer. They also have a large collection of birds of prey, such as Merlin, Hawks, Falcons and Owls. Alpine animals such as murmets, chamois, and mufflons are here, as well as the big shaggy Auer Oxen.
There are some strange animals here that you wouldn't normally get to see, such as polecats, the European wildcat (looks like an overgrown house cat), lynx, red foxes, artic foxes.
Open:
Daily: 9.00 until 18.00
In the Winter: 10.00 until 16.00

Who would have guessed that the Free Lord von der Tann & Rathsamhausen's Hobby would have turned into a natural wildlife museum?
In the old castle granary near the castle, itself, the old Lord stored his dusty old hunting trophies until the next generation decided to get rid of the sizeable taxidermic collection of hunting trophies - thus was born the natural wildlife museum in the Rhön.
Inside you can see a number of examples of extinct and near extinct forms of wildlife that was once indigenous to the area. They also have examples of wildlife that still live and thrive in the area. To add for prehistoric interests, displays of ice age mammals (including human models) have been added, and include animals such as the European Bison, and Valley Ox. Kids will love the lighted, smoking display of the volcano. The Rhön is a chain of extinct volcanoes.

Prices: 2.10 Euro for adults; Children & Students 0,80 Euro; Groups of 8 or more 1.60 per person.

Checkpoint Charlie is not the only famous Cold War border outpost in Germany. In the Rhön, it’s "Point Alpha", the former outpost of the U.S. 11th Armored Cavalry Regiments (ACR) "Blackhorse" which occupied this outpost between 1972 and 1989. It’s located on a small rural road running between the Hessian village of Rasdorf and the Thuringian village of Geisa.
The outpost was located as the center of the defense line known back then as the “Fulda Gap”. During the last third of the Cold War, NATO troops feared a Soviet invasion through the Ulster River Valley, since this rural area was optimal for launching a tank attack. In addition to this, if you look on an old German/German map, you will see that this area had a little “mushroom” shape that protruded into East Germany, making it a good outpost area for the Soviet friendly German Democratic Republic – they could have attacked on 3 sides.
Today the outpost is a museum and you can see former miltary vehicles from both sides (U.S. & Soviet), German border patrol vehicles, and even climb the outpost lookout-towers – there is one from the U.S. side, and one from the East German side. It’s also a nice place to walk (for miles) in no man’s land, which is still pretty much the same since the fall of the wall.

At the foot of Mount Dolmar, on the eastern border of the village of Kühndorf near Meiningen, thrones the mighty castle of Kuhndorf, at the gate to the Rhön. It’s impressive structure reflects the pride and the determination of the early lords of this castle, which despite the changes has survived all of the wars and sieges since it was erected in 1137 A.D. by Gottfried von Kühndorf.
At the turn of the 14th century, the castle became the property of the Dukes of Henneberg-Schleusingen, and turned it into a ward of the Teutonic Order of the Knights of St. John. (Johanniter). This was a religious military chivilery order that avowed to the virtues of loyalty, chastasy, purity and charity. The thick walls (in some places 23-30 meters thick) once surrounded five towers, only two of which are still standing today.
Today the castle.
The castle remained the property of the local gentry, the descendants of the Henneberg Dynasty, who used the Order of St. John as a military force, and the castle alternatively as a court of law and a residence. It also houses an interesting museum about the history of the castle, as well as vacation apartments to rent, if you want to stay here.
Like many medieval castles, it has a moat (without water) and a single bridge going into the castle. The castle has been pretty much kept up, except for a few ruins, such as the former main tower.
You’re allowed to climb around the castle if you like (at your own risk), to explore the remaining architectual details if you want to.
Inside, the old court room is really impressive, with it’s age old wall medieval paintings. It was built in 1543, and kept immacculate until the beginning of the 20th century. Hair raising is to see the original executioner’s block, which has been worn down through the centuries from the number of axe chops that have bitten into it.
Open:
April - October: Tu - Sa 10.00 - 17.00
November - March: Tu - Sa from 10.00 - 16.00
Year 'round: Sundays & Holidays: 14.00 - 17.00

This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, that you can imagine. Listening to the wind as an experienced pilot takes you soaring high above the Rhön highlands.
There are three glider clubs and they are all located on the Wasserkuppe Mountain in the Rhön.
You can take lessons if you want to, they are pretty reasonable - 100 US$ for half a day - and if you have the time, you can get your license here.
Otherwise you can take a photo-trip and let someone else do the piloting.
You can only go if you call ahead - they won't just take you if you show up on a Saturday. Call the number or check the website below.

The Wartburg Castle near Eisenach in Thurgia, was added in 1999 to the World Cultural Heritage List as 'an excellent landmark of the Feudal Epoch in Middle Europe'. It is 'linked to cultural values of universal meaning'. Martin Luther translated the New Testament here. The Wartburg Castle is also associated with the Singers’ War, St. Elizabeth and the Young Patriots (Burschenschaften) 300 years after the Reformation. Because of it’s location on the former East/West German Border, the Wartburg Castle was always a symbol for German Integration and Unity.

“In the Wartburg Germany perceives the wonderful legend that it possesses a history, and a literature, heroes and poets”. That is the “conquest” of the middle ages with the idealism of the romantic period. That is the Wartburg.
Here is more information about the Wartburg Castle. A short the film tour is also available. Click the button of the left hand side, entitled “film” for the film or “galerie” or “interaktives Bilderbuch” for pictures.
Excellent museum inside the castle, with some person belongings from Margerete von der Saale and Philip the Great, Archduke of Hesse-Kassel.

The Rennsteig is with it’s 168.3 kilometers the oldest mountain trail in the Thurgian Forest. This natural wonder area stretches from Hörschel near Eisenach to Blankenstein, and is visited by thousands of visitors every year and offers these visitors great scenery and relaxation. Because of it’s mild central mountain climate, and the variety of things to see and do, it makes it one of the most poplars spots in the Thurgian Forest. The well-marked trail is a good opportunity for even inexperienced hikers to appreciate the unique nature of the Thurgian Forest. The Rennsteig is a historical trade road which runs along a long mountain ridge, and goes further back than 1330, were it was only first officially documented as the “Rynnestig”. This road served as a connection between numerous passes and borders between many small Thurgian States.