Karstwanderweg - Circular route 22 around Osterode south tour

A part of the sinkhole called Pferdeteich, where the hike begins, has become the parking lot for the ALOHA swimming pool. Fish farming was practiced here in the summer, and after severe frost, it was "iced," meaning the ice was cut into blocks and was useful to brewers to cool their cellars. We turn right and cross the railway crossing. Passing the vocational school, after about 100 m we reach the city wall, first mentioned in 1233; built from roughly hewn large river cobbles of the Söse. Gypsum was used as a binder. In the gypsum mortar joints of the city wall, plants typical of the rock vegetation of the Osterode gypsum areas thrive. Continuing on, passing the “Kaiserteich” on the left, we reach the viewpoint of the former “Augustental Gypsum Factory.” Before World War I, up to 20 workers were employed. The operation was discontinued in 1940.

Past a fire pond and carefully crossing the street, we arrive at the Teufelsbäder. These moorish depressions, converted into fish ponds, are the remnants of intensive leaching of Werra anhydrite. Today, the swamp areas form valuable biotopes. The Teufelsbäder with the Quellerdfall Teufelsloch are under nature protection. Please stay on the path. Since 1839, the “Papenhöhe” has been used as a resting inn for carters and a popular excursion destination for walkers and school classes from nearby villages and Osterode. Due to the relocation of the road from Herzberg to Osterode in 1937, the house lost its significance as a tavern.

The path leads over a hill to the Aschenhütter pond or “Black Pool” (left of the shooting range). The sinkhole pond has no above-ground inflow or outflow. On the limestone hill above was an old castle. It was first and last mentioned in a document in 1337. Was this castle ever completed? About 200 m north, at the retaining wall of the district road, is the largest seepage area of the Sieber. In dry periods, the Sieber loses its water here permanently. It reappears at the Rhume spring, 9 km away. Along the Sieber, the path leads to Hörden, where a stop at the Eulenhof is possible. Through the village past the Edelhof, a former knight’s estate. From Berkefeldt, the Karstwanderweg leads to the hornbeam stand at Südburg. The trees used to be pollarded, cut back to the trunk. The branches were used as construction and firewood and for livestock husbandry. The Karstwanderweg leads into the Hainholz nature reserve with exemplary karst phenomena developed in the smallest space: karst spring, cave, episodic sinkhole pond, karst cone, sinkholes, karst springs, and swallow holes. For details see circular route 21.

Just before Düna, turn left and over the panorama path on the Rötzel past the gypsum massif Beierstein. On the right side of the path, a system of ditches and embankments is well visible: remnants of the old Osterode landwehr. It was built in the 14th century to protect the possessions and grazing livestock. The embankments were planted with thorn bushes. If enemies or cattle thieves approached, the message was relayed via watchtowers to the city. The route continues over the former Osterode training ground up to the Commander's Hill. Heading north and downhill again, the route leads over the former training ground back to the starting point at ALOHA.