Karstwanderweg – Circular route 13 around the Sachsenstein

This area, together with the Höllstein, has been protected since 1950 over 315 hectares. It includes the ponds near Walkenried, beech forests, and meadow areas. The nature reserve contains near-natural stream courses, low moor and swamp areas, as well as swamp forests. On the slopes, there is limestone dry hillside forest, and on cliffs grows rough grass turf. The beech forests have high shares of oak, probably due to its previous use as a wood pasture.

At least 50 relatively shallow ponds were created in the Middle Ages by monks of the Cistercian monastery Walkenried as fish ponds. They partly originated from older sinkhole lakes. The Priorteich, located between Bad Sachsa and Walkenried, is the largest of the ponds in the nature reserve. On its northern shore there is a forest outdoor pool, a supervised bathing lake with on-site catering. From the parking lot, the natural swimming pool can be reached after 400 meters.

The Sachsenstein is a mountain made of Werra anhydrite, whose distinctive rock spur drops north, west, and southwest towards the Uffetal. Here lies the ruin of Sachsenburg, accessible via a side path, built by order of Emperor Henry IV and first documented in 1073. The castle was destroyed again in 1074, and in 1869 it was significantly damaged during the cutting of the Sachsenstein for the construction of the South Harz railway. The “Zwergenlöcher” are a special feature in the nature reserve, near-surface swelling caves formed by water absorption during the transformation of anhydrite into gypsum. Its largest was the “Waldschmiede.” It collapsed in 1990; the ruin is visible on the circular route. From the viewpoint at the castle ruins, there is a view of the railway tracks. The track bed is reinforced with strong rail bundles. The railway embankment continuously sinks over a channel cave at the base of the steep wall.