アウラハの天然記念物・トップ20

It's a beautiful place! Totally idyllic.

The only nature reserve in the city of Ansbach with an area of 52 hectares. The eponymous Scheerweiher was created in the Middle Ages as a fish pond by damming two streams. Since then, the pond has developed into an ecologically mature body of still water in Middle Franconia. Coming from Schalkhausen, there is a car park immediately after the railway underpass. The unmarked circular path around the nature reserve leads from the car park to the small observation tower, which offers a beautiful view of the extensive pond area with just a few steps. Following the road, you reach the Scheermühle via the Scheerweiher dam. The water from the pond was used to operate the Scheermühle, which was built in the 17th century, until 1930. This is indicated by a wooden coat of arms in the gable of the roof of the half-timbered house. Continuing through the forest towards Neudorfer Mühle, the path finally leads in an arc back towards the car park. The last section of the path runs along a former road, parallel to the railway tracks, back to the starting point. More than 60 species of birds breed in the area, and toads and newts use the nearby pond to spawn. Over five thousand common toads form one of the largest populations in the Franconian Heights natural area.

The "Gumbertsbrunnen" is a "captured" spring, idyllically located in the forest, where there is also a place to rest. The spring collects the "Onoldsbach" which flows into the Rezat near Ansbach. There is a legend about this spring: Gumbertus, the founder and abbot of the Benedictine monastery of the same name, and his monks refreshed themselves on the delicious water of the spring during walks, hence the name "Gumbertus Spring". The water of the spring is said to have been used by Gumbertus to baptize the heathens who were to be converted in this area.

Near Hürbel am Rangen, a district of Lehrberg, you can find the oldest tree in the Frankenhöhe Nature Park, the Kreuzeiche (Cross Oak). Various sources seem to dispute the age of this impressive tree. According to the information board on site, the Kreuzeiche is about 600 years old. Other sources say it's 800 years old. In any case, it is a truly impressive tree, with a circumference of about 6.5 meters at breast height. There are two possible explanations for the name "Kreuzeiche": One is that it stands at the intersection of the old high-altitude trail from Hinterholz to Steinersdorf and from Neudorf to Lehrberg; the other is that the crown of the oak tree grows like a cross. Numerous legends also surround the Kreuzeiche: One example is that of Hans Roi, a restless wagon driver who, every night during Advent, rides from the Kreuzeiche around the Bocksberg on a black horse with his head tucked under his arm.

There are some benches from which you can observe and enjoy nature and the pond.

Nature reserve, limited access!

The Gumbertus Fountain is worth a short detour.

A small spring in the middle of the forest.