total duration 4,5 h including transfer by bus, number of participants min. 25 max. 45, price 40 € p.p.
Observation Post Alpha, OP Alpha, or Point Alpha (memorial site and museum) was a Cold War observation post between Rasdorf, Hesse, in what was then West Germany and Geisa, Thuringia, then part of East Germany. The post overlooked part of the “Fulda Gap”, which would have been a prime invasion route for Warsaw Pact forces had the Cold War erupted into actual warfare. It was abandoned by the military in 1991.
Today, the “Point Alpha” memorial commemorates the observation point’s four decades of existence. The memorial is dedicated to keeping it and a nearby section of the inner German border as reminders of the division of Germany and the confrontation between NATO and Warsaw Pact in the Cold War.
The entire complex is a unique witness to the power struggle of two political systems.
For over four decades, there outposts stood eye to eye. The memorial site covers a total area of 30,000 m² on the Hesse and 40,000 m² on the Thuringia side.
The Point Alpha memorial site is located in the midst of the biosphere reserve Rhön and nature reserves.
From the former observation tower of the U.S. camp, as well as from the roof terrace of the “House on the Border”, there are magnificent views of the Ulstertal valley and the Hessian Kegelspiel. The surroundings invite you to go hiking as well to extended, eventful excursions. Point Alpha is the station of a very informative, 17 km long border trail, which passes, among other things, relics of the former border fortifications as well as to ruined farmsteads.