オーバーエルスバッハの天然記念物・トップ20

At 950 meters, the Wasserkuppe is the highest mountain in Hesse and the symbol of the Rhön Mountains. Up here, you can feel the freedom, as the Wasserkuppe is considered the cradle of gliding – pilots have been taking to the skies here for over 100 years. But it's not just aviators who enjoy it: In summer, you can hike or cycle across vast plateaus with magnificent views, while in winter, ski lifts, cross-country ski trails, and toboggan runs beckon. Around the summit, you'll find the Aviation Memorial, the Gliding Museum, and numerous places to stop for refreshments. The Wasserkuppe is located in the heart of the Hessian Rhön Nature Park, which, with its open highlands, beech forests, and species-rich meadows, is a paradise for nature lovers. Here, you can explore the unique landscape on premium hiking trails like the Hochrhöner or on nature trails. The nature park also boasts star parks, rare animals like the red kite and the wildcat, and botanical treasures like gentian and orchids.

Despite the prolonged frosty weather, the ice layer was still quite thin today...feet off the lake

Beautiful monument on basalt… a great view in fine weather including.

Monument from another time. But it is impressively done, today it encourages climbing.

The memorial was erected on a volcanic chimney, which was formerly called Lerchen Hügel, later called "Loessl Steine". Carl Oskar Ursinus had designated this place for an annual commemoration, since Eugen von Loessl had started his last flight from here on August 9, 1920 during the first Rhön competition. On August 14, 1921, Wilhelm Leusch, the second person to die in gliding, also died at this point due to a surface failure due to a faulty design of his glider.

“Each of these crosses can tell its own story and what prompted people to erect “their” cross at this point. (...) These wayside crosses were erected as visible signs and attract the attention of many people. The cross is a symbol of life. It stands as a sign of our Christian hope and wants to direct our gaze to Jesus Christ, who has overcome death (...). The cross is part of our life as it was in the life of Jesus. So I wish that many people … visit the crosses, whether as places of stillness and breathing space before God, whether as places for community gatherings, prayer and praise to God.” (Text source: Dean Rainald M. Ollig in: "Crossroads... small sacred monuments as a sign of popular piety")

Nice path through the red moor. You can see the Heidelstein very nicely from the observation tower at the end

From the Kreuzberg there are good views: From its northern slope there is a view of the Black Mountains, the Dammersfeldkuppe (second highest mountain in the Rhön; with restricted area of the Wildflecken military training area), the upper Sinntal, the Wasserkuppe, the Langen Rhön, the Thuringian Forest and the Brendtal . When visibility is very good, the Taunus with the Großer Feldberg can be seen in the west. Then there is an impressive view of the southern foreland of the Hohe Rhön and all the way to Schweinfurt (Wiki) from the Blockmeer located east to south-east below the summit plateau.