Archaeological Trail

The starting point of the educational trail is in the center of Bad Köstritz, opposite the Heinrich-Schütz-Haus, just a few meters from the Bad Köstritz information center. A large board of the route provides an overview of the entire path, which is 13 km long and marked. 

Along Werner-Sylten-Straße, continue about 200 m to the left turn onto Gleinaer Weg and after the park, turn right toward the former "Villa Zersch." There we cross the 12th meridian and turn toward the "Gipsbruch" (gypsum quarry). To do this, descend the hill and follow the bike path about 200 meters toward Caaschwitz to the next turn. Shortly after, you reach the site where gypsum was commercially mined until 1919. This gypsum quarry is significant for historical research due to spectacular archaeological finds by the Köstritz councilor and doctor Dr. Schottin and the Freiherr von Schlotheim from Gotha between 1820 and 1828. They found remains of several Ice Age animals as well as human skeleton bones. (Board 1)

The path then leads to the right and, following the signs, to the Gleina district with its church mentioned as early as 1250. The Gleina community, with about 150 inhabitants, has an interesting history from the Neolithic period through Slavic settlement to modern times. (Boards 2 and 3). Here, hikers will also find the next board for further orientation, as well as a detailed documentation on well-known archaeologists and local historians who have worked successfully in this region. (Board 7) 

We leave the village near the community center by turning left and reach the site of a so-called "camp of wild horse hunters" from the Magdalenian period, around 16,000 to 14,000 BCE. This site was discovered by local historian Willi Mißlitz from Gera. (Board 4)

After about 500 m, you reach a plateau on the high path above Gleina, which offers a magnificent view over the village and the valley of the White Elster in front of it.

The path continues into the "Klosterholz" (monastery wood). Here we encounter a burial mound about 4,500 years old from the Neolithic period. (Board 5)

We follow the marked path to the forest parking lot and pass another burial mound. There we inform ourselves at an information board about the subsequent route. Following the markers, the path leads through the forest to a small rest area in the "Borngrund" near Gleina. Here boards inform about excavations at the "Kolk," the find site of "corded ware" from the Neolithic period. A settlement with finds of these ceramic vessels was first investigated here in Thuringia. (Board 6)

From this location, the educational trail continues on the path past Gleina toward Bad Köstritz along the Gleinaer Weg back to the center – the starting point of the route.