HER(R)BERGSKIRCHEN

The tour to the old Griffel slate quarry begins right on the outskirts of Spechtsbrunn. Although the black rock has not been mined there for decades, the surreal landscapes of sharp edges, stone steps, and mountains of black slabs still bear witness to the work of generations of Spechtsbrunn residents. The stone was processed on site by the quarry workers in huts, then it was ground and packaged in the village. This kind of home labor was often taken up by the women and children of the village. Over time, the health hazards of the job became apparent. The slate dust slowly accumulated in the lungs of the workers and caused many people in the village to die young. In contrast, today the former slate quarries serve as places to breathe in the endless green of the Thuringian Forest. Passing the Berggasthof am Brand, which resides in the former large slate hut, the route leads to the quarries and then along the Rennsteig, which promises the most beautiful views of the Thuringian Forest and Franconian Forest up here. There are a total of 230 meters in altitude to climb before heading back to the village.