It is said to be a thousand years old - the Betteleiche. The following legend has been handed down from the Middle Ages:

At that time, the Ihlefeld was a religious place. Mendicant monks had settled in the "Eilfelden" hermitage and offered their services, such as saying mass and caring for the sick, in the surrounding villages. People made pilgrimages to Ihlefeld to receive spiritual help.

True to their vow, the monks were not allowed to own any property, but had to rely on the kind offerings that people made to them at the foot of a stately oak tree. To protect the offerings from storms, the monks cut a box-shaped depression in the trunk of the tree.

Over the centuries, weathering and growth have continued to have a sculptural effect, giving the Betteleiche its impressive shape today.

Its whimsical appearance and advanced age make it a landmark of the Hainich. But even it will not live forever. One day it will fall over and become a home for other creatures as dead wood - letting nature be nature.

In addition to the Betteleichenweg, other hiking trails also lead to this Hainich landmark: the Waagebalkenweg, the Hainichlandweg and the Rennstieg.