The fourth stage of the Hohenwarte Reservoir Trail runs from Drognitz to LothramĂĽhle. It follows a natural valley along the Meseritzbach stream, descending to the banks of the Saale and continuing via the HopfenmĂĽhle campsite to the Hermannsfelsen viewpoint. Hermannsfelsen lies on the route beyond the campsite and offers a place to linger and take a break. This gives the stage a clearly described sequence linking the valley, riverbank and viewpoint.
Stage hike or loop around the reservoir?
A circular hiking trail around the Hohenwarte Reservoir, approximately 75 kilometres long, also runs just above the HopfenmĂĽhle campsite. The two route descriptions refer to different types of hike: the fourth stage runs from Drognitz to LothramĂĽhle, while the circular trail goes around the reservoir. When planning your hike, you can first decide whether you want to focus on a stage between two named places or a loop around the body of water.
Getting your bearings around Drognitz
Drognitz lies south of the Hohenwarte Reservoir on the old salt and trade route from Leipzig to Nuremberg. The village has a large hiking car park, trail maps and well-signposted paths. The network of hiking trails offers views of the Saale cascade and provides access to the landscape around the “Thuringian Sea”. Drognitz also has a stop for the hiking bus serving the Hohenwarte Reservoir Trail. Check the timetable before travelling if you plan to use the bus.
The Drachenschwanz viewpoint lies north of Drognitz. From there, you can look out over a narrow peninsula in the Hohenwarte Reservoir; it is also a rest stop on the Hohenwarte hiking trail around the reservoir. This makes it easy to distinguish between the two viewpoints: Hermannsfelsen lies beyond the campsite on the fourth stage, while Drachenschwanz is north of Drognitz on the trail around the reservoir.
Village church and local history
The village church of St. John in Drognitz has a Baroque pulpit altar with pilasters dating from 1701, as well as a Gothic baptismal font. A pulpit altar combines the altar and pulpit in a single structure; pilasters are flat, wall-mounted forms resembling pillars. The church adds a distinct cultural dimension alongside the hiking trails and viewpoints.
The “Zum Wolf” inn is also part of the village’s history, with a past stretching back 500 years. It serves homemade cake in a jar in a variety of flavours. Drognitz therefore has something for different interests: hikes by the reservoir, a glimpse of historic architectural features and a specific cake offering at the inn.
Staying by the water and the regional setting
The HopfenmĂĽhle campsite lies below Drognitz, directly on the banks of the Hohenwarte Reservoir. Swimming and boating are among the leisure activities offered to guests during their stay.
In the wider Saalfeld-Rudolstadt travel region, the district’s hiking landscape stretches from the Saale Valley to the Thuringian Forest. It features quiet forests, sweeping views and cultural and historical sights along the trails.
Discover more destinations: Probstzella, Königsee-Rottenbach, Mellenbach-Glasbach, Lichte, Leutnitz, Unterweißbach, Leutenberg, Lichtenhain
Back to the regional travel overview: Saalfeld-Rudolstadt.
