Top 20 Natural Monuments around Hofkirchen

The Hohe Stein von Fürstenstein – a Geotope The summit cliffs, composed of Saldenburg granite, exhibit pronounced spheroidal and mattress weathering. Several block flows lie at the foot of the rocky outcrop. Cliffs and block flows are the result of erosion, particularly by soil creep and weathering in the periglacial zone (permafrost region) of past ice ages. They are typical of higher elevations in the low mountain ranges between glacial zones. Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU). https://www.umweltatlas.bayern.de/standortauskunft/rest/reporting/sb_geotope/generate?additionallayerfieldvalue=275R001

Beautiful idyll at the former sawmill! There are bathing areas at the pond and also at the stream.

A wonderful idyll at the former sawmill! The old shed and the mill building are now lovingly furnished holiday apartments where you can relax. There are bathing areas at the pond and also at the stream. The small chapel is also worth a visit.

Unique idyll by the creek

With its oldest mill pond in the Bavarian Forest and a still functional water wheel, the Kollnbergmühlweiher is one of the 21 listed natural treasures in Lower Bavaria. The pond and its natural surroundings are a natural idyll that is even home to the rare kingfisher. The hiking trails No. 50 Niedermayer Gedächtnisweg and No. 53 Rabensteinrunde both lead directly past the Kollnbergmühlweiher. A short walk around the entire Kollnbergmühlweiher pond is also possible.

The natural monument "Hoher Stein" right next to our beautiful Fürstenstein Castle is listed in the geotope register of the Bavarian State Office for the Environment (No. 275R001). The granite summit cliffs show pronounced weathering of the "Felsburg - woolsack formation" type with block flows in the foothills. These were created in the last ice age. The rock massif at the "Hoher Stein" is a unique and bizarre-looking rock formation and is reminiscent of the bow of a ship from prehistoric times and is therefore popularly known as Noah's Ark. Here is a short film about the "Hoher Stein" https://youtu.be/CHBNj38zEWs?si=fzT_zkrlhFWMAbRh

Minimally crowded on hot days.

high stone The natural monument "Hoher Stein" right next to our beautiful Fürstenstein Castle is listed in the geotope cadastre of the Bavarian State Office for the Environment (#275R001). The granite summit cliffs show pronounced weathering of the "Felsburg - Wollsackbildung" type with block currents in the foothills. These were formed during the last ice age. The wool sack weathering Wool sack weathering is a special form of weathering that produces typical manifestations. It occurs on solid rock when certain conditions are met. This form of weathering is mostly found in granite, but it is also occasionally found in other solid rocks. The process of wool bag weathering always takes place underground and always produces rounded shapes. The name of this weathering is derived from these round shapes, since the weathered stones once reminded people of stacked woolen sacks. In our latitudes, wool sack weathering took place mainly in the Tertiary period with its warm and humid climate more than 3 million years ago. The massive granite usually does not form a homogeneous mass, but is penetrated by fine fissures and fissures. Chemically aggressive water penetrates through these into the rock and begins to decompose it. If the rock fissures intersect approximately at right angles - which is often the case - rough cuboid blocks are thus specified. Water and acids have larger attack surfaces on the corners and edges of these blocks than on the sides. As a result, all sharp and angular parts of the rock blocks are rounded off over time, resulting in ellipsoidal boulders. By washing away the topsoil and the weathering residues, the rounded stone blocks are uncovered in the further course of the story and the process of wool sack weathering is thus ended. What remains are often adventurous-looking rock formations, which are also referred to as ROCK CASTLES - as in the legend of the HOHEN STEIN