From Heyerode (border house) near Mühlhausen/Thuringia through Hainich national park, along the trail Via Porta to the monastery Waldsassen and to Marktredwitz (beginning of Goldsteig)
The European primeval forest route follows the pilgrim route Via Porta starting in Heyenrode. This route connects the old cistercian monasteries Volkenroda in Thuringia and Waldsassen in the north of the Bavarian Forest. The Via Porta leads through the Hainich national park, the Frankenwald natural park und Fichtel mountains. A large part of the Via Porta as well as the European primeval forest route follows the Rennsteig, the historic long distance trail passing the Thuringian Forest.