Mystical surroundings around Langenstein

You start your route at the Ölmühlenteich. Follow the sign "Ascent to Altenburg" up the stone stairs. Here you will already see the first cave dwellings. The ascent continues along an old "cart track." Along this path, you will repeatedly see remnants of the cave dwellings. The first stop is at the cave dwellings at Altenburg. Directly opposite is a small viewing plateau. You simply have to capture this view.

The hike then continues straight ahead to the remains of Altenburg across the old castle moats. A fantastic panoramic view awaits you at the second stop on Altenburg. From there, discover the Regenstein, Brocken, Halberstadt, Huy, and, of course, Langenstein.

Now there are two ways down. The first leads down from Altenburg via steps, or you go back a bit and choose the marked path around Altenburg (left). You then go through the old castle moat and reach the hiking trail again. This one is special. The rocky, stepped ground reminds one of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. At the crossroads, follow the sign to Hoppelberg. Past the cherry plantation you find Siemensstein on the left-hand side. About 15 m further, a bench invites you to rest. Enjoy the picturesque view of the Brocken here.

Hike on here over the forest floor to a fork. Keep left there. This slightly ascending path leads you directly to Opferstein, which you find on the right-hand side on a height in the forest. Back on the main path, you can take the steeper ridge path on the left or stay on the main path on the right. We follow the main path to a blue-framed sign on the left side. Here the Hoppelnase is described, and you can hike it and discover quite a lot.

Our path, however, leads us back to the main path. Downwards, you will discover a stone. This is popularly called the "Frog Stone." A small forest path leads us first downhill and then up again. Halfway up the small mountain on the left, you find the Sonnentorstein. It looks somewhat inconspicuous but nevertheless mystical. After another small ascent, there is a steep descent. Follow this natural path down to the main path. Keep left to a fork in the road. Again, keep left here. You reach a wide gravel road leading downhill. At the edge of the forest, there is a barrier and an information board about the Hoppelberge.

Along the forest edge, the path leads us to Apfelweg in Langenstein. Then continue to the right on Hoppelbergweg, past Schützenhaus to the end of the street. You now reach Quedlinburger Straße. Follow this until the sign: Ascent to cave dwellings. Here you find the unique buildings from old times. Massive doors set in the rock face, windows with white curtains, and tiny gardens with kitchen herbs still remind us today of the lives of their former inhabitants. Sometimes it even seems as if a Hobbit from a Tolkien novel might stumble through the door at any moment. Here you can get a culture and hiking stamp ~In the Shadow of the Witches~. You find another one if your path then leads to the Landhotel Schäferhof. You reach this by going back a bit and following the main road to the right. After a few meters, you reach your destination. Here you can stop for refreshment or continue to the sharp right turn. Cross the main road. Past the kindergarten, you reach Dorfstraße up to the starting point of our hike.

Via the B81.

Parking options at the pond or in the town center.

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