Four fascinating natural monuments can be discovered on a round trip of about ten kilometers around Lanzenhain. A very scenic and varied landscape with views as far as the Knuell or the Rhoen on partially certified routes makes this hike an experience.
From the parking lot at the cemetery in Lanzenhain, a district of Herbstein, the first natural monument can already be spotted. In the midst of the graves, this beautiful winter linden has defied wind and weather for around 250 years and provides a habitat for around 300 species, including up to 70 types of large butterflies. Crown bracing gives it additional support and ensures that it will probably continue to delight visitors for many years to come. Above the cemetery, first turn left on the long-distance hiking trails E3, Hessenweg 11 and Jakobsweg down to Hochwaldhaeuser Straße (L 3140), which is crossed to follow the path along the edge of the forest for 150 meters and finally follow the markings of the ExtraTour "FelsenTour" on the right. Here you wander through the unique boulder dump "Burgfrieden" along the border line that ran until 1803 between the enclave of Herbstein, which belonged to the prince abbey of Fulda, and the Protestant Riedeseln. The boundary stones set up around 1770, hewn from sandstone, bear witness to this.
When powerful lava flows poured out of the Oberwald about 16 million years ago, they left behind striking basalt formations in the landscape. At the break-off edges, with the help of weathering, frost and precipitation, today's basalt block dumps with deformed blocks, crevices and fissures were formed. They are a valuable retreat for ferns, mosses and lichens. At the next forest road, turn right from the volcanic ring for a detour to the Wolfsmuehle. (If you want to take a shortcut, follow the Vulkanring hiking trail via the "Alte Hasel" to the Birkenhof and skip the Wolfsmuehle).
The next forest path on the left leads over the hazel bridge in the direction of the Wolfsmuehle. Immediately to the right behind the suction point stands the striking natural monument in a pasture. A few centuries in this place, the oak has certainly seen a lot, possibly also the infamous "Knight Bearclaw" and his adversary, the "Mountain Spirit", who dwelled at the truce. An oak can live up to 800 years. Woodpeckers like to use the coarse oak bark to wedge spruce cones into it, one speaks of a "woodpecker forge".
After a short ascent, cross the Herbsteiner Straße (K 109), turn left to Birkenhof, and then turn right uphill again to follow the ExtraTours FelsenTour and Vulkanring. After 750 meters you stay on the path towards the edge of the forest and at a machine hall between meadow and forest you come across the FelsenTour again. It accompanies the hikers to the left over the geotope Diebstein again to Lanzenhain. The entire basalt cliff, also a former lava flow, which is fissured by weathering, is protected on an area of about 4,000 square meters. Basalt rocks of all sizes cover the area and form a large boulder dump below. The old, dying beech trees create a very mystical impression. It is a biotope for woodpeckers and other cavity-nesting birds. Historically, the geotope and natural monument was a very important place, because here wood and game thieves were handed over to the jurisdiction of the Riedesel.
Now we are heading back down to the village from the 570 meter high hill.
Once you have arrived at the cemetery, you will have a chance to look around and over Lanzenhain, which was first mentioned in a document in 1351.
After making a reservation by phone, it is possible to stop at the village restaurant Kimpel (+49 (0)6643/563) in the center of the village on weekends from 5 pm.
Text source: S. Jost/Vogelsberg district