Rassel

The Rassel is a 539-metre hill in the Taunus range north of Wiesbaden. It stands east of the main Taunus ridge within the city’s Rambach district. The nearest settlements are Sonnenberg to the west and Naurod to the east, while the higher Hohe Kanzel lies to the north-east. The hill is covered in woodland and crowned by the Hirscheiche, an oak thought to be about 300 years old. Several protected areas meet on its slopes, including the Theißtal nature reserve north of the summit. The Theißbach stream rises in this reserve and feeds the Daisbach, while the Rambach and its tributary the Goldsteinbach also have their sources close to the Rassel. Visitors reach the summit by following marked trails from the Achteck waypoint, a junction 330 metres west of the top. The Rheinhöhenweg, E3 long-distance path, Taunushöhenweg and Wiesbaden anniversary circuit all pass near the summit. A short loop called the Schnepfe offers a brief detour close to the nearby Jagdschloss Platte.