(Deutsch) Leinebergland: Zwischen Ruine Winzenburg und Hoher Schanze
I became aware of the Winzenburg ruins through a Wanderverteiler (hiking distributor). A friend mentioned that there is a lot of wild garlic (Bärlauch) there. How much wild garlic there actually is, I couldn’t have imagined beforehand. In any case, the idyllic and dreamy area around the castle ruins has its own unique charm – especially in spring. The starting point of the hike is the Ochsental parking lot, right next to the Fischerhütte inn. From there, we walk through the beautiful Sackwald forest, which holds some highlights for us: the Winzenburg, the Apenteich springs, the Dörhai ring wall complex, and the Hohe Schanze. A wonderful historical offering, combined with fantastic weather. Heart of the hike, what more could you want?
Ochsental
On Sunday noon, we start from the Ochsental parking lot. First, we check the opening hours of the nearby excursion restaurant “Fischerhütte” to ensure we can stop for a break after the hike. We also take a quick look at the hiking map at the parking lot to orient ourselves. Then, we set off. We follow the Ochsental for a short stretch. The trail is still flat here, but just a few minutes later, it steeply ascends to the Winzenburg ruins. Actually, this isn’t part of the planned hike. But since we’re already here! Still, we are a bit surprised by how steep the path up the hill is.
In the Wild Garlic Paradise
On the way to the ruins, we pass by huge, blooming wild garlic fields. It’s hard to believe how much of this stuff is growing here. The many white flowers and the green stalks give the scene a nearly mystical atmosphere. We’re delighted; it’s so beautiful here. The closer we get to the ruins, the more stunning the landscape becomes. The mild spring sun bathes the castle in a warm light. We circle around the stone heap and then continue to the Klosterforsten viewpoint. Since the trees are already dressed in their leafy attire again, the view of the surroundings is somewhat limited. Still, it’s easy to imagine how breathtaking it must be. This is truly a lovely spot!
Picnic Fun at the Apenteich Spring
We descend from the castle ruins and immediately arrive at the next highlight: the Apenteich spring. There are already a few visitors here, including a young dog that seems to have a lot of fun playing in the ponds. It’s nice to watch this carefree activity. The beautiful path leads us past the ponds to a barbecue area, which is quite busy on this Sunday. Afterwards, we face a rather boring stretch on a wide gravel path. Luckily, we don’t have to walk on it for long. However, things get tricky when we turn right onto a narrow trail. Unfortunately, heavy machinery has been here and torn up the path. Due to the rain, it is now very muddy and difficult to walk.
Ring Wall Dörhai
After a while, the path improves again. It leads us to the former rampart, the Ringwall-Dörhai. An information board indicates which artifacts were once found here: knives, crochet needles, and similar items. We continue through the forest until we reach the Rennstieg (race track). We follow this to the Hohe Schanze. The nearby historical educational trail introduces us to the history that awaits us further up. We learn that there used to be a Carolingian mission church, blockhouses, storage houses, and watchtowers here.
Visit to the Fischerhütte
Since we’ve now checked off all the “points of interest” and it’s already 4 p.m., we decide to shorten the route a bit. Half an hour later, we are sitting on the terrace of the Fischerhütte. Well, and here we once again encounter the issue of staff shortages. A single waiter is trying to serve the numerous visitors. We have to wait almost 30 minutes for our “end-of-work beer.” I was already a bit annoyed when the drink finally arrives. But what can the poor man do, he can’t split himself in two. We watch the visitors fishing for trout for a little while longer, then, feeling strengthened and happy, we head home.
