オーバーシュタインバッハの天然記念物・トップ20

Quite well preserved castle with a beautiful view of Fleckenstein Castle and, in the other direction, of Wegelnburg.

The sandstone formation Altschlossfelsen, which is designated as a natural and cultural monument and is also the largest rock reef in the Palatinate, is really fantastic. The name comes from a castle built on the rock towers many hundred years ago was built, but has long since fallen into ruin. Beautiful rocks run through the forest for more than a kilometer. Unfortunately often overcrowded on Sundays and public holidays...

This typical rock castle is the highest castle in the Palatinate. From here you have a fantastic view of the Wasgau. There are three other castle ruins in the immediate vicinity.

The White Lady of Hohenbourg Castle Not far from Hohenbourg Castle, just before the German-French border, is the Maidenbrunnen, which bears witness to a sad story: The lords of Hohenbourg and Wegelnburg were enemies for a long time. And as it was bound to happen, the squire Robert von Wegehiburg fell in love with Edwige, daughter of Lord von Hohebourg. She often lingered at the rich source between the two castles. One day Robert went hunting. He chased after a wild boar that rushed to the spring where Edwige was staying. In the heat of the moment, the wild boar jumped at Edwige, but Robert, a good hunter, was able to catch the wild boar just in time and won the heart of his beloved through this act. Often the two secretly spent time at this spring between the enemy castles. But one day the lord of Hohenbourg surprised his daughter in the arms of his archenemy's son. In blind rage he stabbed Robert in front of Edwige's eyes. She collapsed in grief and died on the spot, immediately following her lover to the realm of the dead. Since that awful day, two forget-me-not shrubs have been growing at this spring, now known as the Maiden's Well. It is not uncommon to see a white shadow over the Maidenbrunnen here at dusk: it is the ghost of Edwige, which descends from the cellars of the Hohenbourg and seeks the place of her love. There she sings sad words and sheds tears in the rivulet before vanishing again, carried by the wind. This legend comes from this link_: (https://www.wanderparadies-wasgau.de/hohenbourg.php)

The castle was cleverly built in and around a high sandstone spur. Many remnants of the walls are still visible. The architectural style and carved dates suggest different historical periods. The view from the highest point is breathtaking. Two information panels explain the panorama. In this respect, this castle far surpasses the much more extensive, but also lower-lying, Fleckenstein Castle.

A truly fantastic view to be enjoyed here in the late evening in silence and solitude.

It is a scenic highlight. The rocks are worth seeing in terms of size, variety of shapes and color effect. A number of paths can be strolled between the rocks, around the rocks and through crevices in these rocks, and you always discover new places. On the southern ridge there is another viewpoint with a view far into the Northern Vosges.

These massive rocks never fail to impress me. And what wind, water and sun shapes and leaves behind. Sometimes you can see faces or animals in the rocks. What do you see?