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Landkreis Bad Dürkheim

Elmstein

Geiskopf Forest Farmers’ Settlement Ruins

Landkreis Bad Dürkheim

Elmstein

Geiskopf Forest Farmers’ Settlement Ruins

Highlight • Historical Site

Geiskopf Forest Farmers’ Settlement Ruins

Recommended by 53 hikers out of 55

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Biosphärenreservat Pfälzerwald-Vosges du Nord

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Location: Elmstein, Landkreis Bad Dürkheim, Palatinate Forest, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

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Best Hikes to Geiskopf Forest Farmers’ Settlement Ruins

4.8

(73)

258

hikers

1. View of Taubenstuhl – Stilles Tal Inn loop from Hofstätten

12.1km

03:27

270m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.6

(62)

238

hikers

2. Stilles Tal Inn – Geiswiesensee loop from Hofstätten

12.1km

03:26

270m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.5

(12)

hikers

3. Alpacas at Hornesselwiese – Geiswiesensee loop from Hofstätten

7.80km

02:14

190m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

Euphemia Anna 🌳

May 27, 2021

This forest farming settlement only existed for about 80 years (1777 - 1852). Unfortunately, the ruins of the former farmhouses are quite overgrown (a few piles of stones are still on the trail); the fountain is protected by a wooden fence and is therefore easy to see.
"The main reason why the farmstead went under was the unfavorable natural site conditions. The red sandstone soil that prevails here naturally lacks the nutrients required for permanent agriculture. Added to this was the farm's remote location. [...] Legal disputes made life more difficult on top of that. It It was about further clearing for farmland and the exercise of timber rights for self-sufficiency as well as rent arrears.
The name 'Geiskopf' goes back to the old Palatinate name 'Gauch' for the cuckoo. Over many years, the original 'Gauchskopf' became the 'Geiskopf' in the dialect."
Source (partially quoted verbatim): Infotafel Landesforsten RLP:
wald-rlp.de/nc/de/start-landesforsten-rheinland-pfalz/service/nachrichten-uebersicht/einzelmeldung/news/detail/News/wald-bewegt-osterwandern-zur-hofruine-geiskopf

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1Fritz-Marc 🚴🥾🏊🌲

October 5, 2019

The former Waldbauern settlement lies between Geisweise and Taubensuhl. With the settlement of the forest district Geiskopf one wanted to contain the rampant Waldfrevel. Today only a few stones are visible.

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Scout Jens

January 9, 2021

The first house here is mentioned in a document in 1777. At that time, land was scarce in the Palatinate because of the poor yield to feed the growing population. Some people tried to establish new settlements in the forest in order to secure their lives.
The settlement was approved by the rulers of that time. It was also hoped that this would make life more difficult for poachers and illegal loggers in this very remote part of the Palatinate Forest.
But the seclusion brought problems: The church visits that were necessary at the time or even going to the doctor were very difficult. Legal disputes, armies moving through and poor harvests then led to the final abandonment of the settlement here in 1852. The last owners sold to the then landlord, the state of Bavaria, and emigrated to the surrounding villages or to America and Russia.
The chronicle of the settlement is recorded on a metal plaque. An information board tells about the background and also shows a map of the settlement.
The well and some of the foundation walls can still be seen despite the demolition.
A valuable place worth protecting to experience history on site.

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 400 m

Weather

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Thursday 23 October

14°C

6°C

100 %

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Max wind speed: 27.0 km/h

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Location: Elmstein, Landkreis Bad Dürkheim, Palatinate Forest, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

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Geiskopf Forest Farmers’ Settlement Ruins

1. View of Taubenstuhl – Stilles Tal Inn loop from Hofstätten

2. Stilles Tal Inn – Geiswiesensee loop from Hofstätten

3. Alpacas at Hornesselwiese – Geiswiesensee loop from Hofstätten

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