Thuringia transforms former A4 motorway into hiking trails

A former section of the A4 motorway in the Hörselberge mountains near Eisenach, Thuringia, is being transformed from a transit route into a network of hiking trails. The section was decommissioned and dismantled in early 2010, with traffic diverted to a bypass.

Nature has begun to reclaim the former asphalt route, with vegetation such as juniper, broom, and birch growing through the landscape. The area is being developed into the premium hiking trail ‘PWW2’, which will feature signage in highway blue. The project includes repurposing former roadside infrastructure, such as the Kleiner Hörselberg parking area, to serve hikers with benches and tables.