Hermannshöhen - Stage 13 from Blankenrode to Obermarsberg

The stage in overview:
Short stage overview
The starting point of stage 13 is Blankenrode. At the beginning, the stage leads through the Blankenroder Bleikuhlen. Shortly before Oesdorf, there are two options to enter the village: Either you follow the Eggeweg or after about 4.5 km of the stage, you take the meadow path at a viewpoint bench that leads downhill to the Oesdorfer Church. Welcome to the Sauerland! After leaving the village, you reach a waterworks after a larger ascent. After about 3.5 km, you have arrived in Essentho. From Essentho, the Eggeweg runs along the old "Via Regia" - a former trade route that in the Middle Ages represented an important connection from Worms via Mainz to Bremen. In Marsberg, the route follows the Diemel riverbank for a while until you reach the center of the village and reach the destination. Tip: The steep ascent to Obermarsberg is worth it. The district is one of the oldest inhabited points in the Hochsauerland district and has a lot to tell.
Length of the stage in kilometers / altitude meters / route character
The stage is 14 km long, runs on paved paths, and has a moderate difference in altitude. The only major ascent is out of Oesdorf. Landscaping/historical peculiarities
On the route, there are some landscape peculiarities to discover, including e.g. the geological fault lines of the Blankenroder Bleikuhlen, where lead, zinc, and pyrite ores were once mined. Here you will also find a protected flora, including the only Westphalian Galmei Violet settled here. In addition to the landscape peculiarities, you will also pass by some historical sites on this stage that will take you far back into the past. Highlights on the route At the geological fault line of Blankenroder Bleikuhlen, deposits of lead, zinc, and pyrite ores formed over the course of Earth's history. These were mined for centuries above and below ground. The resulting soil conditions made it possible for the very rare blue-lilac Galmei violet to become native here. The Oesdorf Church from the Middle Ages with impressive wall paintings. Essentho: A settlement with a long history dating back to the 9th century. People settled here very early on, not least due to the high water supply. By the way, at the Essentho mill, there is a privately run care and release station for birds of prey and owls, which is very interesting for animal lovers. Obermarsberg is the oldest inhabited point in the Hochsauerland district and is located on a mountain plateau that drops steeply on three sides. Short history lesson: In the 5th/4th century BC, the place was named "Eresburg". The castle belonged to the Saxons.

Did you know?
According to legend, Charlemagne conquered it during his Saxon campaign and destroyed the sanctuary of the Saxons, the Irminsul. Because the battle lasted so long here, he is said to have said, "This is truly my sour land," which is said to have given rise to the name Sauerland.

A good alternative interactive tour map of stage 13 can be found here