Rhön Biosphere Reserve
Open basalt highlands called the land of open distances, where German gliding began in the 1920s.
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The Rhön is a range of eroded basalt volcanoes rising to nine hundred and fifty metres at the Wasserkuppe, and centuries of grazing kept the tops treeless, giving the open grassland that produced the nickname Land der offenen Fernen. From 1911 and especially through the 1920s, gliding pioneers used the Wasserkuppe's slopes and thermals for distance and duration records, and it is regarded as the birthplace of the sport in Germany; a museum on the summit covers that history and gliding still operates. UNESCO designated the biosphere reserve in 1991, spanning three federal states. Dark sky conditions here are protected as a star reserve.
What you actually see
- The Wasserkuppe - the summit where German gliding developed.
- The open highlands - treeless basalt grassland with long views.
- The gliding museum - the sport's early history on the mountain.
- The dark skies - a protected star reserve across the highlands.
When to go
May to October for walking and gliding; winter brings snow and small ski lifts. The summit is exposed and windy in any season, which is why it suits gliding.
Honest expectations
The Wasserkuppe summit is developed with car parks and facilities, not wild. Weather changes fast on the open tops. Public transport is limited.
Nearby
Fulda lies west; the Thuringian border runs through the reserve.
What to pack for Rhön Biosphere Reserve
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.