ギルザーベルクの天然記念物・トップ20

Unfortunately, there is not much to see of the ring wall, so this highlight degenerates into a hodgepodge of the Kellerwald.

Here the storks find enough food for themselves and their offspring, great.

On the summit of the Wüstegarten (Desert Garden), the remains of a ring wall are visible. The stone wall is connected to the conflicts between the Conradines and the Liudolfingian Saxon dukes, initially as late Carolingian counts, then as holders of the royal office under Conrad I. It most likely dates from the 9th century AD.[5] A plaque affixed to the Wüstegarten, however, dates it to the Iron Age and indicates its use as a fortified defensive site and cult site. The oval measures 200 m × 140 m. The wall still preserved today is up to 7 m wide in places. It was archaeologically investigated in 1963. It was determined that the stones form an outer and inner face. No wooden structures or superstructures could be identified. No evidence of settlement at the site was found either. A quartzite block with a hemispherical depression, displayed in the entrance area of the Jesberg town hall and found on the summit plateau, is popularly interpreted as a sacrificial bowl, thus suggesting Celtic use of the Wüstegarten (Desert Garden) as a cult site or place of sacrifice. However, there is absolutely no evidence of a non-natural origin for the bowl or any use of the stone. Furthermore, finds that would indicate the presence of a Celtic population are completely absent in Lower Hesse. The Wüstegarten is first documented in 1475 as "der wuste garten" (the desert garden). In the 16th and 17th centuries, the rampart, called Heidelburg, is mentioned in writings and documents under the names Heulburgk, Hulnburgk, Hedelberg, and Heidelburg. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C3%BCstegarten

A geo-highlight! The rock formation on the main ridge of the desert garden, which is inclined at around 50°, looks like a trap. The geotope owes its unusual shape to thick-bedded ridge quartzite. Parts of the slabs have broken off along the bank joints and crevices, so that the slab has been modelled - similar to a taut mousetrap. Source: https://www.geopark-grenzwelten.de/die-mausefalle-auf-dem-w%C3%BCstegarten.html

Great rock with a beautiful view, summit cross and hiking book

It is wonderful that there are so many people who make it possible for the storks to build a nesting place.

Finally a real summit cross on the Kellerwaldsteig! 👍

An interesting rock formation with a funny name.