The magical world of celestial bodies

Stargazing walks in the Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

On a clear, moonless night you can see up to 6,000 stars in the skies above the Rhön hills. Compare that to Frankfurt am Main, where a determined observer will be lucky to spot 200. That illustrates just how special this region on the border between Thuringia, Hessen and Bavaria really is. Elsewhere in Germany, street lamps, floodlights and other forms of illumination may be turning night into day, but the Rhön hills are decidedly dark after sunset. Stargazers aren’t the only ones who are delighted by this; above all it benefits the local plants and wildlife.

The importance of the Rhön hills for preserving plant and animal species

In 2014, the Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve was officially designated an International Dark Sky Reserve – an impressive title, but one that also entails certain obligations. The local communities are committed to actively fighting night-time light pollution, and they are making a valuable contribution to the preservation of plant and animal species, for example by reducing artificial light sources and raising awareness among the public. Even in our part of the world there are many nocturnal plants and animals whose lives are adversely affected by the likes of street lamps, fairy lights and car headlights.

Good to know:

The title ‘International Dark Sky Reserve’ is awarded by the DarkSky International association, based on an active commitment to preserve and protect dark places through responsible lighting practises and the provision of a range of educational offers. There are only four International Dark Sky Reserves in the whole of Germany, the Rhön hills, the Eifel National Park, Westhavelland and Winklmoosalm.

What makes the Rhön hills such a perfect location for nature conservation is primarily the region’s sparse population. Then there is the Green Belt, the former border between East and West Germany, which also runs through this upland area. This strip of land that hardly anyone set foot in for almost 40 years became a unique habitat for numerous animal and plant species, including black storks, otters and the rare lady’s slipper orchid.

Advanced stargazing

If you would like to discover the magic of the Rhön dark sky reserve for yourself there are guided dark sky reserve walks throughout the year, which also offer the chance to bombard the professionals with questions to your heart’s content. The walks either have specific themes, such as the Lyrids, a meteor shower in the spring, or they can be adapted to individual interests. If you’d rather do your own thing, you could hike from Dermbach to the Staudtblick lookout point or to Gläserberg hill to enjoy the starry skies.

Dark sky reserve guide Michelle Leist recommends: “Bring your sleeping bag and make yourself comfortable on one of the curved loungers.” She highlights the stunning beauty of the winter skies over the Rhön hills: “Visibility is definitely better then and the sky is even darker.” But Michelle also stresses that a visit during the warmer months is equally worthwhile. With a bit of luck, you’ll be able to see the Milky Way and you might spot the Perseids meteor shower in the night sky. In her experience, even on cloudy nights there is still an 80 per cent chance the skies will clear enough for the stars to begin to twinkle through the cloud cover.

Learning by seeing – a special kind of educational experience

Dark sky reserve guides like Michelle Leist and her colleague Daniela Sell can tell you which planets are visible in the night sky, why some stars have a red tint and others a blue one, and why stars flicker but planets don’t. In short, a walk in the Rhön dark sky reserve is an adventure for inquiring minds as well as for current and aspiring astronomy fans.

As a certified dark sky reserve, the Rhön has several ‘sky watching locations’. The ones in the Thuringian section of the biosphere reserve are located on Gläserberg hill near Dermbach and on Weidberg hill near Kaltenwestheim. In addition to an exposed location with unrestricted views of the night sky they also provide a pivoting curved lounger, a device for locating the polestar, rotating star charts, binocular rests and information panels. If you’re bringing your own equipment, for example a telescope or photography kit, the astronomic observation point on Hohe Geba hill is a good place to head for. It offers ideal conditions for an unimpeded glimpse into the infinity of space.

The role of the Rhön hills as a location for interactive education is by no means confined to starry nights. Attractions like the Rhönwald discovery centre with its fascinating Arche Rhön visitor facility provide plenty of educational inspiration during the day and offer powerful illustrations of the importance of such unspoilt places to the indigenous flora and fauna and for our own future on planet Earth.

Lasting experiences.

From hiking on richly varied premium trails such as the Hochrhöner® Trail to culinary voyages of discovery at BjoernsOx, a fine-dining restaurant in Dermbach, or breathtaking panoramic views from the Noah’s Sail visitor platform – this exciting region at the heart of Germany is something of an insider’s tip.

It’s the intricate details, such as sky watching locations and astronomy-themed guided walks, pure, unadulterated experiences in the great outdoors far from the daily grind, educational activities and innovative ideas like spending the night in a ‘star trailer’ with an unimpeded view of the night sky, that will make a trip to the Rhön region a cherished and lasting memory.

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Text: Jessika Fichtel is a freelance copywriter, blogger and book author from Eisenach. She creates authentic content with passion and expertise.
Header picture: Florian Trykowski is a freelance advertising photographer and licensed drone pilot. In addition to his work as a concert and band photographer, he specialises in tourism.