Bornhagen: Hanstein Castle, border history and sausage culture
Accommodation in Bornhagen
Bornhagen combines the Hanstein Castle ruins and their border history with a marked circular trail that starts at the old Klausenhof inn. The Klausenhof is also a place to learn about sausage-making and regional food culture. When planning your trip, you can place different emphasis on historical topics, walking the trail and exploring traditional types of sausage.
Hanstein Castle ruins: history and the view of two castles
A castle on the site of today’s Hanstein Castle ruins was first mentioned in writing in 1070, in connection with its destruction. Together with the Hessian Ludwigstein Youth Castle, the ruins form the view of two castles, a symbol of the division and reunification of Germany. The historical arc thus extends from an early written record to a reminder of a defining chapter in German history.
Circular trail with castle and border history
The Hanstein–Teufelskanzel TOP hiking trail starts at the old Klausenhof inn in Bornhagen. It first circles the castle hill at Hanstein along a natural meadow path, then follows the former service road used by the border troops. The route description thus connects the castle’s history with a section that recalls the border troops.
Along the way, a continuous white T on a green background marks the route, and information boards explain its course. This provides guidance along the route described without reducing the distinctive character of its two sections to a single story. Trail conditions can change, so it is best to check them before setting out.
Sausage culture at the Klausenhof
At the Klausenhof Sausage and Home Butchering Museum, butchering equipment, pictures and exhibits from more than three centuries illustrate sausage-making. Expert-led tours cover Feldgieker sausage, butchering and old customs. The exhibits offer a historical perspective on the subject, while the tours explore specific products and inherited practices.
At the Klausenhof, you can sample various home-butchered sausages, including Eichsfeld Feldgieker and fresh minced pork. Please arrange tastings with the operator. Feldgieker connects two sides of the same subject here: it is covered on the tours, and you can also try this regional sausage.
More perspectives in the wider Eichsfeld destination
In the wider Eichsfeld destination, air-dried sausage is considered a regional specialty and is known beyond the region’s borders. This places the Eichsfeld Feldgieker you can sample in Bornhagen within a broader regional food culture. The Eichsfeld Museum, housed in the Baroque Jesuit College in Heilbad Heiligenstadt, offers another cultural perspective: its three floors explore the history, culture, religion and folklore of Eichsfeld.
Hiking options in the wider Eichsfeld destination offer a different focus, too. The DĂĽn and Iberg hills around Heilbad Heiligenstadt provide good conditions for extended hikes on certified TOP hiking trails. This sets other hiking areas and a different selection of routes alongside the specific circular trail described in Bornhagen.
If you are travelling with different interests, this comparison can help you plan the experiences you want and where to stay together.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Bodenrode-Westhausen, Uder, Mackenrode, Volkerode, Deuna, Schimberg, Teistungen and Lutter.
Back to the regional travel overview: Eichsfeld.
