Kalkklippen der Gobert, Nature conservation area in Bad Sooden-Allendorf and Meinhard, Germany
Kalkklippen der Gobert is a nature conservation area featuring limestone cliffs and dense deciduous forests near the former inner German border. The terrain includes steep slopes and deep valleys where forests give way to rocky outcrops that rise distinctly from the surrounding landscape.
The area was settled since ancient times with traces from 800 BCE and early defensive structures on the Hohestein peak. After the partition of Germany, its location in a border zone protected the landscape from intensive use for decades.
The conservation site comprises two protected zones, Hessische Schweiz and Kalkklippen südlich des Iberges, forming part of the European Natura 2000 network since 1998.
The area can be explored on marked hiking trails including the Rheanuspfad and old border routes with good viewpoints. Conditions are best during drier months when the paths are easiest to walk.
Rare orchid species have flourished in the old forest areas since border controls ended, benefiting from decades of undisturbed growth. These plants are often hidden in shaded woodland areas and surprise many visitors when discovered.
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