오프와일러‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪16‬개의 천연기념물

The Temple of Mercury is carved into a rock; you can only see the portal from the front; if you walk around the rock, you get the impression it's just a rock. Fascinating.

On this hiking highlight, we encounter the remains of a temple dedicated to MERCURY (Latin: MERCURIUS). Dating back to pre-Christian times, the deities of Roman and Greek mythology in particular have been preserved in the collective memory of people in Europe to this day. MERCURY is the "messenger of the gods" in Roman mythology; his counterpart in Greek mythology is Hermes. Both have the interesting combination of being gods of trade and merchants, but also of thieves.

On the site of the ruins of Wasenburg Castle, there are the remains of a much older building: a Roman sanctuary dedicated to Mercury. Parts of the temple were rebuilt in the 19th century.

The view is magnificent from the top of the tower which is accessible

even without the sun, always happy to see it appear!!

Magnificent 360º viewpoint over the Northern Vosges.

Where the Wasenburg ruins stand today, there once stood a Roman sanctuary dedicated to Mercury and a specula nearby. Parts of the temple were rebuilt in the 19th century. Parts of the Roman Temple of Mercury from the 2nd to 3rd centuries AD are still preserved on the Wachtfelsen (watch rock), not far from the Wasenburg ruins. Information board at the site: Take a look at the Wachtfelsen (watch rock), which was used by the Romans as a "specula," an observation post. Archaeological finds also testify to a temple dedicated to Mercury on this site. But make no mistake, the extension to the rock is a reconstruction from the 20th century (1913). It commemorates the remains of the temple and the Gallo-Roman settlement of this place long before the construction of the listed Wasenburg, which was finally destroyed by the troops of Louis XIV in 1677.

The Wasenburg was built in 1280 by Konrad von Lichtenberg on a castle site dating back to the 8th century. The castle was damaged in the Peasants' War and was almost destroyed by French troops in 1677. The huge nine-part magnificent window with seven rosettes is remarkable - a work of art that the stonemasons carved out of a single piece of sandstone. It is probably the most beautiful castle window of all Alsatian castles. The mighty shield wall, a bay window and the fireplace in the palace are also well preserved. A memorial plaque commemorates Goethe's visit in 1770, who came up here because of the magnificent window and the excellent view from the spa town of Niederbronn-les-Bains.