Ellenbogen

The Ellenbogen is an extinct volcano rising to 814 metres in the Thuringian Rhön, a range of low mountains in central Germany. It stands between the villages of Oberweid, Frankenheim and Reichenhausen within the Rhön Biosphere Reserve. The summit forms a broad, gently sloping plateau rather than a sharp peak. Two small mountain houses, Eisenacher Haus and Thüringer Rhönhaus, sit near the top. From here walkers look out over the Hohe Rhön, the Milseburg and the Wasserkuppe, the highest point of the range.

The Ellenbogen is worth the journey for its clear views and its place in the landscape. One and a half kilometres south of the main summit, the Schnitzersberg rises two metres higher to 815.5 metres. This makes Schnitzersberg the highest mountain in the Thuringian Rhön, though some maps still mark the Ellenbogen at 816 metres. The Rhönklub, the local walking club, publishes guides that describe routes up both points.

A visitor finds a wide grassy plateau at the top with the two huts offering simple refreshments. Paths lead from the summit across the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, passing gentle slopes and open meadows. On clear days the view stretches to the High Rhön, the Milseburg and the Wasserkuppe. The surrounding villages have quiet lanes and old farm buildings, giving a sense of the rural Rhön.