フォイヒトヴァンゲンの天然記念物・トップ20

Nice hiking trail there. Unfortunately the top of the giant sequoia tree has broken off. The Schöneburg can no longer be seen. Only the remains of the rampart and the moat are visible. A sign points this out.

The magic forest borders a playground for giants. It is definitely worth seeing for grown-up children too. 😉 A section of a nature fitness trail also leads through the magic forest and who knows, maybe you'll even come across a unicorn like we did.

Enchanted in the magic forest

In addition to great views, the mountain also offers hands-on geology

The geological educational and hiking trail leads from the Schieferbruch hiking car park in Wittelshofen over the south-western ridge to the Hesselberg. There are numerous earth outcrops or quarries that show the geological peculiarities of the Hesselberg. Numerous information boards provide technical background information. The summit quarry can be a very special experience. This has been cleared of bushes in recent years as part of the refreshment of the geological educational and hiking trail and can therefore be easily walked. https://www.hesselberg-panorama.de/geologe-lehr-und-wanderpfad.html

The Posidonia Slate Mine is located on the western edge of the Hesselberg, the highest mountain in Middle Franconia. The Hesselberg formed approximately 200 million years ago as an inselberg in the Jurassic Sea. It consists of three main geological layers: black, brown, and white Jurassic, with intercalated oil shale. This slate mine is a "geological natural monument" and part of the "Hesselberg Geological Trail." The Posidonia Slate, also known as oil shale, formed in the shallow marginal zone of the Jurassic Sea during the Mesozoic Era. The dead organic material trickled down and, together with other substances, formed a sludge. Due to the lack of oxygen, this sludge developed into oil shale over long periods of time. The oil shale is known for its outstanding fossil preservation. Due to the low-oxygen and partially anoxic, so-called euxinic, environment at the time of deposition, very well-preserved crinoids, ammonites, fish, and ichthyosaurs have been found. https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC2E8H5_posidonienschiefergrube

The geological educational and hiking trail has been attracting visitors from near and far to the Hesselberg for over 40 years. But 40 years also represent a period in which a lot can change. Therefore, it was high time to renew the nature trail. “15 new windows into the history of the earth” provide information about the geology around the Hesselberg over a 3 km route. Information boards, earth outcrops and fossils appeal in a variety of ways to nature lovers, hikers as well as students and school classes. With a walking time of approx. 1.5 hours, there is a lot to discover and see on the tour around and on the Hesselberg. Source: https://www.lpv-mittelfranken.de/geologen-lehrpfad-am-hesselberg.html

Great "carvings" in a small space. Nice that there is such a thing.