Geopfad Zscheiplitz -> Geopark Trail Zscheiplitz

Short Description

A circular hiking trail of about 3 km in and around Zscheiplitz.

Description

The circular hiking trail takes you back 250 million years into the geological past. The geological educational trail extends above the Unstrut Valley and is directly adjacent to the Unstrut Cycle Path.
There are 11 educational boards along the trail providing information about the geological features. In Zscheiplitz, the occurrences of the Lower Muschelkalk (deposits of a Triassic marginal sea) reach a thickness of 100 m.
The landscape's steep rock walls, today serving as "viewing windows" into the earth's history, bear witness to past quarrying activities. Another testament to limestone extraction and processing is the foundation wall of a lime kiln.

Guided tours can be arranged by the Geo-Nature Park upon telephone reservation.

Extended Tour Description:

Hiking from Zeddenbacher Mühle:


The mill is one of the last remaining working water mills. The on-site shop offers regional and homemade products. Mill tours are available.
From the street "Schweigenberge," you reach the starting point. From there, you ascend to Zscheiplitz and finally arrive at Weingut Pawis.

Hiking from Weingut Pawis:
From the parking lot at Weingut Pawis, head towards the former limestone quarry and follow the signs of the educational trail. The path leads to the monastery complex and Gut Zscheiplitz. Passing by the monastery church, you will have a clear view of Zeddenbacher Mühle and the Freyburg Unstrut Valley. In between are the steep slopes of Schweigenberge, an excellent terraced vineyard location. Heading towards the water tower, you will eventually reach Weingut Pawis via the monastery complex and return to the parking lot at the fire department. Those who started at Zeddenbacher Mühle can return to the viewpoint at the cannon and descend along the cliff edge.

Directions

Hiking from Zeddenbacher Mühle
The mill is one of the last remaining working water mills and is definitely worth a visit. The on-site shop offers regional and homemade products. Mill tours are available.
To reach the starting point, the tour first leads along Mühle Zeddenbach street. At the intersection, turn left onto "Schweigenberge" street. After about 50m, you will arrive at the starting point. Via a gravel path, you ascend to Zscheiplitz (approx. 100 meters in altitude). Following the path, you will arrive at the parking lot next to Weingut Pawis. Here you will find the educational boards "Showcase into a sea of the earth's Middle Ages" and "Zscheiplitzer Talung." The first stage is complete.

Hiking from Weingut Pawis
There is a parking lot at Weingut Pawis (fire department). From there, the village street leads north towards Weischütz. Follow this road and cross it after 50m. Opposite, enter the field path that runs parallel to the edge of the forest towards the west. (Caution! The signage is easy to overlook). After a short distance, the path turns at a right angle towards the south into the forest, leading to the former limestone quarry. After about 300m, the path clears and leads to a larger quarry area. You then continue between two spoil heaps in a southern direction. Soon, you will have a beautiful view of the exposed rock. Following the geological trail southwest, after approximately 150m on the left side, you will find a long outcrop in the Muschelkalk with foam limestone benches and ripple limestone. Here is the educational board "Formation of Limestone."
Following the signage, you will reach a lime kiln where lime was burned until the 1960s. Here, you will have a view of the Unstrut Valley towards Balgstädt and Laucha/Karsdorf.

The educational trail continues southeast, parallel to the embankment. After about 150m, a bench invites you for a picnic. The reward is a 180° panorama of the Unstrut Valley. The path continues along a spoil heap for about 100m, then turns east, passing by quicklime remnants. The geological trail now runs northeast. After about 200m, you will reach a well-signposted trail intersection. Following the path, you will then head towards the monastery complex and Gut Zscheiplitz. Soon, you will reach the entrance to the monastery with stairs leading to the viewpoint "Nonnenturm." The tour continues along the monastery wall, built from Zscheiplitzer limestone.

You will pass below the monastery church. After a few meters, at the cannon from the Napoleonic campaigns, you will have a view of Zeddenbacher Mühle and the Freyburg Unstrut Valley. In between are the steep slopes of Schweigenberge, an excellently terraced vineyard location. Continuing along the monastery wall, the path leads towards the water tower. After about 50m, there is an opportunity to reach the monastery complex via some stairs. A few steps away is Weingut Pawis. Crossing through the winery, you will return to the parking lot (fire department) after about 100m. Those who started at Zeddenbacher Mühle can return to the viewpoint at the cannon and descend along the cliff edge.