By Alaric 
One of my favourite walks in all of Germany has to be the Drachenschlucht in Mariental near Eisenach.
It’s an evocative and mystical gorge that, according to legend, is where a mighty dragon used to live.
Today, you can visit during a short and scenic walk through the Thuringian Forest.
It will fill you with a sense of adventure and feel like you’ve been transported to another world entirely!
As a huge lover of fantasy worlds and anything to do with dragons, I knew I just had to visit.
Here is a complete guide on how to visit the Dragon Gorge in Eisenach and what to expect on the hike.
What is the Drachenschlucht?
The Dragon Gorge is a magical emerald cavern located in a deep valley of the Thuringian Forest.
It’s approximately two kilometres in length and looks like something from a fantasy world with its craggy paths and moss on the walls.
The gorge is accessible with wooden and metal walkways and you’ll traverse through a narrow ravine which can get as small as 68 cm!
Under your feet, you’ll see the water crashing through the rocks of the gorge making a mighty roar.
It’s easy to see why people used to think dragons roamed here once upon a time.
Drachenschlucht legends and history
So, the mystical Dragon Gorge gets its name from a local legend and fairytale that a dragon used to live there.
This folktale has inspired many other places in the area to get fantastical names like the Elfengrotte (Elves grotto).
Whether this is true or not, it certainly does look like a magical place and makes you feel like you’re in a fantasy land.
It was formed by the power of nature in the Thuringian Forest over 250 million years ago.
In more recent history, it was a refuge for hunters in the Middle Ages until the Ducal Court permitted walking paths through the forest for nobility.
Hence why there are names like the ‘Luisengrotte’ and ‘Prinzessinnenstieg’.
Also, ‘Das Golden M’ was carved for The Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Maria Pavlovna.
By the 1830s, the area was developed by Gottlob König and others to allow common hikers to visit.
Shortly after the Marien Valley became a villa quarter for the bourgeoisie and the infrastructure continued to be developed with restaurants and hotels.
At one point there was a tramline that took you to the entrance of the Dragon Gorge.
Since the 1960s, this area has been protected as a natural monument and designated conservation area.
Today, it still sees over 100,000 visitors every year to visit a land where dragons supposedly once roamed!
How to get to the Dragon Gorge in Eisenach
The Drachenschlucht is just outside of the city of Eisenach and it’s more convenient to drive to the start of the hike on the B19 road.
There are car parks available at either end of the route in both Mariental and Hohe Sonne.
From what I could tell these car parks were free at the time of writing.
Both have ‘dry’ toilets which basically means there is no water to flush or even to wash your hands! So, bring your anti-bacterial gel.
I thought this was terrible, especially as you have to pay €0.50 to use them and are locked on a timer system which automatically unlocks after a certain time.
But, at least there was toilet paper and they were kind of clean. Ugh.
Can you get a bus to Drachenschlucht?
Yes, if you’re not driving, it is possible to take a bus to the Drachenschlucht back and forth. This is what I did and I found it really easy!
The service 190 from Eisenach Train Station and Main Square will take you around a 10-minute walk from the start of the trail outside the Parkplatz in Mariental.
At the end of the hike, you’ll also come out at another bus stop just outside the parking area near Hohe Sonne that will take you back to the city. So, it’s super convenient.
Just make sure to check bus times before you go as you don’t want to be stranded if you’re heading back in the evening!
On the bus schedule in summer, the last bus was 7 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on weekends. You can use the DB Navigator app to check bus times.
Alternatively, if you’re feeling energised, you can walk to the Dragon Gorge from Eisenach itself. But, I recommend getting a bus to save time.
If you’re travelling around Germany, I highly recommend purchasing a Deutschland Ticket. It’s a country-wide transport ticket with unlimited public transport (including buses to get to the Drachenschlucht) for just €49!
How long is the walk through the Dragon Gorge?
The popular Dragon Gorge hike is around 3 kilometres and will take you around 1.5 / 2 hours.
You could easily just see the Drachenschluct and turn back in around 30 minutes if you wanted.
But, I think the entire hike is worth doing as it takes you through the beautiful Thuringian Forest with streams and wooden walkways.
It’s a wonderful respite in the summer months as the temperatures are lower here. It’s almost entirely shaded by trees too.
You could also take an extended hike which is over 11 kilometres from Eissenach or the entire loop is 17 kilometres if you’re hardcore.
But, I felt this short and scenic walk was more than enough to feel the magic.
Is the Drachenschlucht walk difficult?
No, the Drachenschluct is a fun and easy walk for all the family and very popular with small children due to the dragon legends.
It’s mostly flat the entire way with scenic gorges, mossy walls, stunning tree-lined paths and wooden walkways.
At the very end there are several wooden steps and does get quite steep when you’re hiking up to Jagdschloss Hohe Sonne.
This is an abandoned mansion near the end car park where the bus stop is.
Also, I hiked this path in the summer months and there were quite a few muddy areas.
So, have a good pair of boots or wellies if you’re hiking in the rainy months!
The Drachenschluct Walk
After you’ve arrived at the Parkplatz and bus stop in Mariental, you can then make your way to the start of the hike.
This is around a 10-minute walk and the path runs next to the B19 road.
You’ll know you’ve reached the start of the walk as you’ll see a small wooden arch with ‘Die Drachenshlucht’ carved on there.
This was such a cool photo opportunity as there’s a cute dragon!
Nearby, you’ll find a route map with another friendly dragon who has some safety information on the hike.
There’s also a route map and I would take a photo of it to refer to later.
The information is only provided in German so have your Google Translate app on hand to help.
Exploring the Dragon Gorge
After you’ve started the hike, you’ll walk through a scenic forest area for a while beside a small stream.
It will probably take you around 15-20 minutes or so to reach the start of the Dragon Gorge from the ‘Die Drachenshlucht’ sign.
You’ll know when you’ve reached it as you’ll enter a narrow mossy crevice where the path will narrow considerably.
There will also be wooden and metal walkways as opposed to the forest floor.
Before you enter the gorge, you’ll find a plaque on the wall with a small waterfall beyond it which is very pretty!
This area is by far the most magical part of the walk as you traverse through craggy and atmospheric gorge.
It’s so narrow that you can barely fit your shoulders through the walkway at some points.
I loved the fact that you could feel the roar of the water under your feet. It was such a mystical place and it fills you with a sense of wonder.
Walking through the magical forest
Once you leave the Dragon Gorge, you’ll continue through the forest for a little while until you reach another emerald gorge.
Although the path starts out a little larger than the Drachenschlucht, it starts to taper and gets very narrow near the end.
This part is a lot shorter than the main gorge but it is still very magical with all foliage on the walls.
Continue straight ahead and you’ll see that the wooden board and steps will be slowly taking you upwards.
This part of the hike was also really beautfiul as it was surrounded by trees.
There are also some picnic areas dotted along the route if you wanted to stop for a break or refreshments.
Eventually, you’ll start hiking up steep steps and a hill to Hohe Sonne.
The steep hike to Hohe Sonne
My least favourite part of this hike was the steep steps and an even steeper hill at the very end of the walk to take you up to Hohe Sonne.
You can’t tell from the photos but the forest path was a little difficult to traverse and my legs were burning near the end.
At least a bonus was a great view of Wartburg Castle from the very top. There was even a little picnic bench to eat with the panorama.
You’ll eventually reach the abandoned Hohe Sonne Villa with another car park. Here, you’ll find toilets and a grill restaurant nearby.
This is also where you’ll find the bus stop with services heading back to Eisenach if you’ve taken public transport.
It’s good to know that you can do this hike the other way around starting in Hohe Sonne instead of Mariental. This may be easier if you struggle with uphill hiking.
Is the Drachenschlucht worth visiting?
Yes, most definitely. This was easily one of my favourite hikes in Germany as it felt like it had been plucked from the pages of a fairytale.
You really feel like you’ve travelled to a time of dragons, myth and magic.
As someone who is obsessed with fantasy worlds and Romantasy books, this hike was just incredible and I had the best time.
Even if you’re not into dragons, you’re guaraneed to enjoy it as the area will wow you with its natural beauty.
Don’t skip a visit to the Drachenschlucht in Germany. It’s truly a place that is out of this world!
Is there anywhere to eat or drink nearby?
In the Parkplatz in Mariental, you can find the Biergarten Phantasie near the start of the hike. But, this is only open on the weekends.
There is also a BBQ restaurant at Hohe Sonne as well at the end of the hike. But, again, it’s only open on weekends and (maybe) summer holidays.
It would have been so nice to have a beer after my long hike. But, alas it was not meant to be.
Just in case, I would have water and snacks prepared in your backpack. Or, head back to Eisenach where there are lots of places to eat.
I highly recommend booking a table at Lutherstuben. It’s a medieval restaurant that will transport you back to the times of Luther in the 16th century!
They have an incredible range of traditional meads and inspired dishes from the Middle Ages.
It will make you feel you’re feasting in the days of knights, princesses and dragons too.
My top tips for visiting
- Plan your bus route – make sure to check bus times back and forth, especially in the evenings and Sundays.
- Wear sensible shoes – have sturdy trainers or boots for this hike as it can get muddy.
- Bring water and snacks – there is nowhere to get food or drinks during the week. So, bring supplies with you.
- It’s dog-friendly – you’re allowed to take dogs on this hike but keep them on a lead.
- Wear DEET – in summer there were quite a few bugs here that liked to bite!
Opening hours & ticket prices
The Drachenschluct doesn’t close and is open 24 hours a day. So, you can do this hike at any time.
But, I wouldn’t recommend doing this in the dark as there are no lights to speak of in the gorge.
Sometimes, the Drachenschlucht is closed off to visitors for conservation and in winter it can close due to icy pathways.
So, I would check with the Tourist Information Centre if the hike will be open on your visit before you head there.
Another great thing about the Dragon Gorge is that it’s completely FREE to visit! So, it makes a great budget activity.
Are you looking for more things to do in Eisenach?
Eisenach is an underrated tourist destination which is located in Thuringia also known as the ‘Green Heart of Germany’.
The main attraction here is Wartburg Castle which is an important stronghold for many reasons.
The keep was built in the Middle Ages and was the home of St Elisabeth of Hungary.
It was also the place where Martin Luther translated the New Testament of the Bible into German.
You can see his room on a tour with the famous ink stain related to the famous legend of Luther ‘Throwing Ink at the Devil’.
Another legend is that this was the site of the famous Sangerkrieg.
The Singers’ Hall played a major part in inspiring Ludwig II when he built Neuschwanstein Castle and for Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser.
You can take a guided tour of the castle in the mornings or a self-guided visit in the afternoons.
After the castle, you can visit the main square of Eisenach and visit the Luther House and Bach House, the largest museum of composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
Speaking of composers, you can also visit the Reuter-Wagner Villa which has the most extensive collection of items about Richard Wagner outside Bayreuth.
Read more of my guides for Germany
How to visit the Marienbrucke Bridge at Neuschwanstein Castle?
Visiting Neuschwanstein Castle in winter
Don’t skip visiting Hohenschwangau Castle in Bavaria
How to visit the magical Munich Law Library
The baroque hidden gem of Asamkirche
How to visit Wiblingen Abbey Library
Visiting Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin
Tips for visiting the Brandenburg Gate
Upper Lusatian Library of Sciences
Pfunds Molkerei – Most Beautiful Dairy Shop in the World
Visit the Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar
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