フランケンエックの湖・トップ20

So no one has to slip through the fence to take photos

Something really great was built there. The platform was newly installed and now you have a great view of the quarry and the lake.

Since June 2024, there has been an observation platform on the edge of the Nordbruch crater lake, which offers a great view of one of the two basalt lakes. Information board no. 7 next to the viewing platform tells the interesting story of this quarry: "The basalt deposit around Forst is 820 m long and 260 m wide and is slightly dumbbell-shaped. The Margaretental runs through the middle of the deposit, which is why the basalt had to be mined in TWO separate quarries. The north quarry was the first to be opened up in 1841, but production there was only for the quarry's own needs. Five years later, in 1846, mining also began in the south quarry. In 1897, mining in the north quarry was stopped until a lease agreement with the municipality of Forst made further mining possible in 1911. A 2800 m long cable car was built to transport the extracted rock, which ended directly at the railway line near Deidesheim and was only replaced by a transport road in 1969. Mining in the south quarry was stopped in 1964. In December 1990, operations in Nordbruch finally ceased. Following the closure, both sites were recultivated and officially returned to nature in 2011."

Platform with a great view of the basalt lake deep in the crater. Now nobody has to climb over the fence anymore 😉

There is also a small hut not far away. Please bring your own delicious beer or wine.

absolutely beautiful here. There are also "animations" that make the pond a nice (stopover) destination for families.

The lake is frozen over in winter when it has been cold for a longer period of time. You can admire the sunset when the sun goes down and the sky is not full of clouds. Boy oh boy. In May you can hear fat toads croaking here; absolutely beautiful.

In honor of Franz Schweizer, who was born in St. Martin on April 12, 1886 as the son of a master tailor. From an early age he was drawn out into the wide world. At 18 he stayed in Frankfurt am Main, where he happened to be the henchman of the magician who was performing at a circus. He traveled the country with him until he met the famous magician Strack-Bellachini from Marburg in Görlitz. With him he traveled Europe for two years. Then he improved his tricks and started his own business.