Kleinziegenfelder Tal

Last updated
Kleinziegenfelder Tal
Kleinziegenfelder Tal 1270347.jpg
Juniper slopes near Kleinziegenfeld
Floor elevation330 to 440m above sea level NN
Length12km
Geology
Typenotch valley
Geography
Coordinates 50°1′N11°12′E / 50.017°N 11.200°E / 50.017; 11.200
The usage of the valley is for agricultural, forestry and tourist purpose.

Kleinziegenfelder Tal (lit German: Kleinziegenfeld Valley) is approximately twelve kilometers long, located in Upper Franconia. It serves as the starting point of the Weismain Valley funnel in the Weismain-Alb region and is entirely situated within the town of Weismain, in the Lichtenfels district of Bavaria. The valley lies in the northernmost part of the Franconian Alb and is traversed by the Weismain River. It encompasses several inhabited settlements, with a combined population of approximately 240 residents. The valley is entirely encompassed by the Franconian Switzerland - Franconian Jura Nature Park and is particularly popular among hikers and motorcyclists.

Contents

Description

The Klinge rock formation near Ehrhardsmuhle (Weismain) in the Kleinziegenfelder valley; The photo from 1935 clearly shows how tree-free the valley was at the time Klinge (um 1935).jpg
The Klinge rock formation near Ehrhardsmühle (Weismain) in the Kleinziegenfelder valley; The photo from 1935 clearly shows how tree-free the valley was at the time

The valley stretches in a north-south direction, situated between the towns of Weismain and Kleinziegenfeld in the Lichtenfels district of Upper Franconia. It is located approximately 24 kilometers northeast of Bamberg. Flowing through the valley is the Weismain River, and the entire area is designated as a protected nature reserve. The sides of the valley are formed by towering limestone cliffs, which are eagerly used by climbers. Within the valley, one can find the villages of Kleinziegenfeld, Großziegenfeld, Arnstein, Wallersberg, Schammendorf, and Weismain, all of which are part of the town of Weismain. The valley is renowned for its notable rock formations, including the Red Wall, Rolands Rock, Petrified Giant, Blade, Stone Monk, and Praying Nun. A local legend surrounds the Stone Monk, claiming that "once upon a time, a hermit resided there, who, on the day of his passing, directed Christ away from the door as he journeyed through the Kleinziegenfeld Valley, and consequently, turned into stone." The Stone Monk stands as an iconic symbol of Weismain. [1]

Flora

The Kleinziegenfeld Valley is characterized by its dense deciduous and mixed forests. In the vicinity of Kleinziegenfeld and Wallersberg, there are predominantly dry and semi-dry grassland slopes adorned with scattered juniper growth. [2] These slopes have been shaped over centuries through the extensive sheep-grazing practices of the local villagers in the Jura region. The continuous grazing prevented the proliferation of dense vegetation, and the shepherds would periodically clear the juniper bushes to maintain clear sightlines for monitoring their herds. [2]

The valley boasts a diverse array of flora, including a variety of flowers, grasses, and ferns. Among them are columbines, mountain asters, yews, fringed gentians, spring gentians, large-flowered foxgloves, honeysuckles, golden thistles, pasque flowers, perennial flaxes, liverworts, lilies of the valley, various orchids, carnations, Solomon's seals, cowslips, daphnes, ostrich ferns, Turk's cap lily, centauries, white helleborine and red helleborine, pseudorchis albida, and willowleaf yellowleaf. Some of these plant species are considered rare, endangered, and thus protected. [3]

Tourist Attractions

Blade, 2017 Klinge ehrhardsmuehle.jpg
Blade, 2017

The Kleinziegenfeld Valley offers a captivating landscape with its rocky hills, castle ruins, romantic half-timbered villages, and numerous mills. One of its notable attractions is the presence of the Apollo butterfly, which represents the last known occurrence of this species in Franconia. This butterfly is closely associated with the open, unspoiled limestone cliffs found in the area. The caterpillars of the Apollo butterfly rely solely on the white stonecrop (Sedum album) as their food source, which grows exclusively in this region. Additionally, visitors can admire the juniper slope near Kleinziegenfeld, where a statue of a cyclist is clearly visible on a rock above the village. [4]

Statue of cyclist Claudius

The original statue of a cyclist was installed in 1905 by two brothers from Kleinziegenfeld, who aimed to create a distinctive landmark in the area. [5] Using sawdust and wood, they crafted a life-sized figure dressed in a tailcoat and top hat, mounted on a penny-farthing bicycle, and securely positioned it on the rock. [5] Interestingly, this bicycle was also the first and only one in Kleinziegenfeld at that time. [6] The idea for this unique installation was proposed by Georg Ammon, a grammar school professor in Regensburg who hailed from Kleinziegenfeld. [6] The exact motivation behind the statue's placement is no longer documented, and several theories exist: it might have been erected to commemorate the era when the Kleinziegenfeld valley attracted numerous cyclists or to serve as a contrast to the cannons and dragoons situated on other rocky outcrops. Another explanation suggests that a cyclist once intended to cross the valley using a bridge that had long vanished, and instead of turning back, he is immortalized on the rock to this day.

Initially, the figure stood on the rock for several years until it was blown away during a strong storm. [5] In 1933, a new statue of a cyclist was built. Because it carried a swastika flag, the statue was dismantled during World War II so as not to draw the attention of the Allies to the village. [5] In 1952, a third statue was built, which had to be renovated in 1971 after vandalism. In the process, the legs and arms were made of solid spruce wood with joints. [6] The Claudius statue has carried a red and white flag since 1952. [5]

Hiking trails

Cyclist statue Claudius Radfahrer Kleinziegenfeld 02.jpg
Cyclist statue Claudius

Apollofalter-Wanderweg (Apollo butterfly trail): A designated circular hiking route, approximately six kilometers in length, was established by the Landschaftspflegeverband Lichtenfels e.V. (Lichtenfels Landscape Conservation Association) and the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection. It traverses the central part of the valley and connects the villages of Weihersmühle, Arnstein, Kleinziegenfeld, and Schrepfersmühle. Two small parking lots near Kleinziegenfeld and Arnstein, equipped with information boards, serve as convenient entry points for hikers. The paths along the trail are mainly paved, but there are also sections with gravel. Additionally, the hiking trail offers opportunities to explore additional routes and extend the hiking experience. The primary objective of the trail is to provide a chance to explore and gain knowledge about the natural habitat of the rare Apollo butterfly.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franconia</span> Cultural region of Germany in Bavaria

Franconia is a region of Germany, characterised by its culture and Franconian dialect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main (river)</span> River in Germany

The Main is the longest tributary of the Rhine. It rises as the White Main in the Fichtel Mountains of northeastern Bavaria and flows west through central Germany for 525 kilometres (326 mi) to meet the Rhine below Rüsselsheim, Hesse. The cities of Mainz and Wiesbaden are close to the confluence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhön Mountains</span> Low mountain range in Germany

The Rhön Mountains are a group of low mountains in central Germany, located around the border area where the states of Hesse, Bavaria and Thuringia come together. These mountains, which are at the extreme southeast end of the East Hesse Highlands, are partly a result of ancient volcanic activity. They are separated from the Vogelsberg Mountains by the river Fulda and its valley. The highest mountain in the Rhön is the Wasserkuppe, which is in Hesse. The Rhön Mountains are a popular tourist destination and walking area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murg (Northern Black Forest)</span> River and tributary in Germany

The Murg is an 80.2-kilometre-long river and a right tributary of the Rhine in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It flows through the Northern Black Forest into the Upper Rhine Plain, crossing the counties of Freudenstadt and Rastatt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franconian Switzerland</span>

Franconian Switzerland is an upland in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany and a popular tourist retreat. Located between the River Pegnitz in the east and the south, the River Regnitz in the west and the River Main in the north, its relief, which reaches 600 metres in height, forms the northern part of the Franconian Jura (Frankenjura). Like several other mountainous landscapes in the German-speaking lands, e.g. Holstein Switzerland, Märkische Schweiz, or Pommersche Schweiz, Franconian Switzerland was given its name by Romantic artists and poets in the 19th century who compared the landscape to Switzerland. Franconian Switzerland is famous for its high density of traditional breweries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neidlingen</span> German municipality

Neidlingen is a municipality in the district of Esslingen, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hesselberg</span> Highest point in Middle Franconia and the Franconian Jura

Hesselberg is the highest point in Middle Franconia and the Franconian Jura and is situated 60 km south west of Nuremberg, Germany. The mountain stands isolated and far from the center of the Franconian Jura, in its southwestern border region, 4 km to the north west of Wassertrüdingen. The mountain's first recorded name was Öselberg, which probably derived from öder Berg. This name later changed to Eselsberg and finally to the current name Hesselberg. As a butte the mountain provides an insight into Jurassic geology. It has also witnessed an eventful history, many incidents were handed down from generation to generation and these mixed with facts have become legends. Nowadays many people visit Hesselberg in order to enjoy nature and the wonderful vista. When the weather is clear the Alps 150 km away can be seen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albtrauf</span>

The term Albtrauf refers to the northwest facing escarpment of the Swabian Alps, situated in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. It is the most distinctive stepped slope within the alpine region of the South German Scarplands, leading roughly from the southwest to the northeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South German Scarplands</span> Landscape in Switzerland, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg

The South German Scarplands is a geological and geomorphological natural region or landscape in Switzerland and the south German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The landscape is characterised by escarpments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rennsteig</span> Long-distance trail in Germany

The Rennsteig is a ridge walk as well as an historical boundary path in the Thuringian Forest, Thuringian Highland and Franconian Forest in Central Germany. The long-distance trail runs for about 170 km from Eisenach and the Werra valley in the northwest to Blankenstein and the Selbitz river in the southeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanisfluh</span>

The Kanisfluh is a mostly isolated massif in the central Bregenz Forest Mountains between the municipalities Mellau and Au.The Kanisfluh is considered the most famous mountain and landmark of the Bregenz Forest, Vorarlberg, Austria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ehrenbürg</span>

The Ehrenbürg is a double-peaked butte on the edge of the Franconian Jura in Bavaria, Germany. It is in the district of Forchheim in Upper Franconia, in the municipalities of Kirchehrenbach, Leutenbach and Wiesenthau. The north peak is the 513.9 m Walberla, the south peak the 531.7 m Rodenstein. The hill is popularly known as the Walberla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Itzgründisch dialect</span> East Franconian dialect of Germany

Itzgründisch is an East Franconian dialect, which is spoken in the eponymous Itz Valley and its tributaries of Grümpen, Effelder, Röthen/Röden, Lauter, Füllbach and Rodach, the valleys of the Neubrunn, Biber and the upper Werra and in the valley of Steinach. In the small language area, which extends from the Itzgrund in Upper Franconia to the southern side of the Thuringian Highlands, East Franconian still exists in the original form. Because of the remoteness of the area, this isolated by the end of the 19th century and later during the division of Germany, this language has kept many linguistic features to this day. Scientific study of the Itzgründisch dialect was made for the first time, in the middle of the 19th century, by the linguist August Schleicher.

The Upper Palatine-Upper Main Hills, also called the Upper Palatine-Upper Main Hills and Uplands form a landscape of low, rolling hills between the Franconian Jura in the southwest and the Franconian Forest, Fichtel Mountains and Upper Palatine Forest in the northeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellheim Castle</span>

Wellheim Castle is a former fortification in Upper Bavaria. The ruins of the old rock castle stand dominantly on Jurassic rocks above the market town of Wellheim in the ancient Danube valley. It was abandoned in the 18th century and partially demolished.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burgstall Schlosshügel</span>

The Burgstall of Schlosshügel near Weidenberg is a lost hill castle or circular rampart site of the type known as a motte from the Early Middle Ages. It lies on the southern perimeter of the Fichtel Mountains at a height of 699 metres above sea level (NN) above the village of Sophienthal, which is part of the market borough of Weidenberg in the Upper Franconia county of Bayreuth in Bavaria. The burgstall or lost castle site was partly investigated by means of an archaeological test excavation and was also mapped several times in the past.

The Kalkberg is a high mountain located in the Franconian Alb near Weismain in the Upper Franconian district of Lichtenfels (Bavaria). It stands at an elevation of 454 meters above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krassach River</span> River in Upper Franconia

The Krassach is a left tributary of the Weismain about 7 kilometers long, which flows into the Main near Altenkunstadt in Upper Franconia.

The Bärental is a small, 3.7 km long left-side valley of the Weismain Valley funnel within the Weismain-Alb region. It is situated entirely within the town of Weismain in the Lichtenfels district of Bavaria. This valley is located in the northernmost region of the Franconian Alb and is traversed by the Krassach River. Within the valley, there are 16 inhabitants, including the village of Krassach, 66 people. The three inhabited settlements are Herbstmühle, Krassacher Mühle, and Krassach. The valley holds appeal for hikers and is situated entirely within the nature park of Franconian Switzerland Veldensteiner Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linnerberg (Aargau)</span> Mountain in Canton Aargau, Switzerland

The Linnerberg, formerly also known as Linnberg, is a mountain located 757 meters above sea level in the Aargau Jura. It lies within the boundaries of the regional nature park Jurapark Aargau and stands as one of the highest peaks in the Brugg district. Together with the Gisliflue, which is located four kilometers further south, it constitutes the eastern terminus of the Faltenjura mountain range.

References

  1. Dechant (2010), pp. 48–49
  2. 1 2 Böhm (2000), pp. 24–25
  3. Alois Dechant, Gerhard W. Peetz: . Marie Link Verlag ( Kronach ), 2010.
  4. "Information from the LPV (= Landschaftspflegeverband Landkreis Lichtenfels eV)".[ dead link ]
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Weiskopf; Raab-Aydin (2000), pp. 194
  6. 1 2 3 Böhm (2000), pp. 32

Further reading