Kammweg stage 17 "From Hirschberg to Blankenstein"

Along the banks of the Saale, the Kammweg continues on the concrete slab path up to the impressive bridge structure of the A9. In Sparnberg you will find a well-renovated church and a wooden bridge that leads you over the Saale River into the federal state of Bavaria. In Franconian Rudolphstein, there are places to stop for food either at the inn or the butcher. Then you hike again along the "Green Belt" to Pottiga/Thuringia. Shortly before the village, a detour (only 150 m) to the nearby viewpoint at Wachhügel is highly recommended. You continue through the small marketplace of Pottiga on to Blankenberg. Here too, a detour to the castle ruins, the church, or the inn is worthwhile. At the striking viewpoint “Wedding Basket” you will enjoy a fantastic view of the Saale valley and your stage destination Blankenstein. Now you have to descend into the Saale valley, passing the dominant paper factory to the Selbitzplatz, where Kammweg, Rennsteig, Frankenweg, and Franconian Mountain Trail meet. The place is also aptly called the crossroads of hiking.

weatherproof clothing and sure-footed footwear

www.drehkreuz-des-wanders.de

www.stadt-hirschberg.de

www.blankenstein-am-rennsteig

General:
River landscape Saale valley, Saalebänk and suspension bridge, nature reserve Hag near Hirschberg, former East German-West German border bridge between Hirschberg/Thuringia and Untertiefengrün, former East-West German border restricted area with still partly existing border barriers (road for patrol vehicles) between Hirschberg and Pottiga, Lehesten wall, wooden bridge over the Saale – former East-West German border bridge at Sparnberg, Saalbach spring, abandoned village Saalbach near Rudolphstein, protected area “Green Belt Thuringia” near Pottiga

Blankenberg/Blankenstein:
Blankenberg with church and viewpoint Wedding Basket, Blankenberg horse railway, river landscape Saale valley, Blankenstein – start and end of the certified trails Rennsteig, Frankenweg, Franconian Mountain Trail – crossroads of hiking - hiking base at Selbitzplatz