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Kickelhahn

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Kickelhahn

Kickelhahn, Mountain summit in Thuringian Forest, Germany

Description

Kickelhahn is a mountain summit in the Thuringian Forest near Ilmenau, rising 861 meters above sea level. The peak features an observation tower from the 19th century and a historic small cabin.

History

The observation tower called Marienturm was built in 1854 with funds from Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna and remains the oldest still-standing observation tower in the Thuringian Forest. The small cabin was rebuilt after a fire in 1870.

Culture

Goethe frequently came here between 1776 and 1831, using a small cabin to write and sketch surrounded by the forest. Visitors can still sense this poet's deep connection to the place today.

Practical

Several hiking trails lead to the summit, including the Goethewanderweg and paths marked with blue bars. The climb is moderate and takes roughly an hour from various starting points.

Did you know?

The cabin displays one of Goethe's poems translated into fifteen different languages, making it special for visitors from around the world. This turns the small building into a kind of international tribute to the writer.

Location
Elevation above the sea
861 m
GPS coordinates
50.66583,10.88106
Latest update
December 8, 2025 13:41

AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide. Discover all places nearby (Thuringia).

« Kickelhahn - Mountain summit in Thuringian Forest, Germany » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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