Eselsberg, Mountain summit in Thuringia, Germany

Eselsberg is a mountain summit in Thuringia reaching 841.5 meters and covered by dense forests. The Rennsteigwarte, a 33-meter tall observation tower, rises from its peak and offers views across several valleys and neighboring ridges.

The Rennsteig ridge path crosses the Eselsberg, and the Werra rises on its southern slope. The first wooden lookout on the summit was destroyed by a storm in 1951; its successor was struck by lightning in 1974. The present 33-metre Rennsteigwarte was built that same year and was later clad in steel framework with two glazed corner panels.

The observation tower serves as a natural gathering point where hikers from different regions meet and share their experiences on the Rennsteig trail. On clear days, visitors gather there to enjoy the views and take a break from their walk.

The summit is reached via several hiking trails starting from the town of Masserberg that connect to the Rennsteig. Wear sturdy footwear since forest paths can be uneven and slippery in wet conditions.

The steel lattice tower was clad in the 1990s, and two glazed corners were built into the new skin. Behind the glass of the viewing platform hang labelled photographs of the full panorama, so visitors can identify Masserberg, the Goldisthal pumped-storage plant and the Veste Coburg even when haze hides them.