Top 20 Natural Monuments around Speinsharter Forst

directly on the dam between the two ponds

Dam that separates the large and small Rußweiher - beautiful view of both ponds

The rampart on the Rauher Kulm is a fortification at the foot of the Rauher Kulm. Gate area of the rampart Area disturbed by quarrying The Rauher Kulm, as a basalt mountain in the otherwise flat surroundings, was already visited by people in prehistoric times. The rampart made of basalt blocks runs around the foot of the mountain. Finds point to the Bronze Age, the Celts, the time of the Carolingians and the Slavic settlement chambers. Fighting took place during the time of the Hungarian invasions. Even if the rampart has been disturbed by later interventions, including the creation of an English garden across the entire mountain or the mining of the basalt in quarries, the course can be recognized from the basalt boulders. There is a lower main rampart with at least two gate areas and another fortified area at medium height. The hilltop castle is, however, classified as largely late medieval. Several burial mounds are also known. It is assumed that the settlement was located within the protective wall, so that it was not just a refuge. The predominantly stone remains were reinforced by wooden structures, among other things. There is evidence of post-and-slot walls, kennel-shaped walls and additionally secured gate areas. The cartographer Johann Christoph Stierlein made a drawing of the Rauher Kulm and recorded both the rampart and the hilltop castle.[1] The rampart was researched at the beginning of the 20th century by Adalbert Neischl on behalf of the Nuremberg Natural History Society and Hugo Obermaier, who completed Neischl's work. Hans Losert has been carrying out excavations for over ten years and is responsible for the scientific analysis.

The Rauhe Kulm is a volcano around 25 million years old that never erupted. The magma that solidified inside was exposed over the years by erosion until the current formation was created. It was protected as a natural monument in 1949 and is now part of the Upper Palatinate Forest Nature Park. There are several routes you can walk around or climb the mountain. A 25 m high observation tower was built on the summit. After a somewhat arduous climb, you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the Fichtel Mountains, the Franconian Alb and northern Upper Palatinate. In the Middle Ages, this view also fascinated those rulers who built a castle on the summit. However, it was destroyed in 1554. The surrounding forests have been in Bavarian ownership for around 200 years. Previously, they were an elementary basis for obtaining wood as fuel for smelting and the many iron hammers in the region. The Upper Palatinate was the "Ruhr region of the Middle Ages". Back then, the only source of energy was the forests. Today, foresters are doing everything they can to develop mixed and structurally rich forest stands.

The rock, a nepheline basalt, contains a number of inclusions, souvenirs from the depths, so to speak. On the one hand there is olivine and augite, on the other hand (especially in the "tuff") sandstone (presumably Keuper sandstone). The small olivine deposits weather easily, which is how the centimeter-sized "holes" in the basalt came about. On the Kleiner Kulm (popularly known as the "bad Kulm"), small augite crystals (similar to Anzenberg) have repeatedly been found in the "tuff". In the past (now overgrown), the sharp contact between the basalt and the surrounding sandstone was clearly visible on the Rauher Kulm. Today, the changing vegetation (the basalt forms a different, fairly good humus) reveals the subsoil. The enormous sea of blocks on the south and east flanks of the mountain is a form of weathering that was favored by the ice ages.

The ring wall itself dates back to the time of the Celts and probably served as a refuge or place of worship. The remains of the ramparts are still clearly visible and make for an exciting exploration tour. The climb to the summit is a bit strenuous, but the view and the historic atmosphere definitely make the effort worthwhile.

The Rauhe Kulm is an impressive basalt cone in Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, and a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers. With a height of 682 meters, it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape1. The mountain was formed around 21 million years ago by volcanic activity, with the magma solidifying beneath the earth's surface, forming the distinctive shape of the Rauhe Kulm2. At the summit there is a 25-meter-high observation tower that offers a panoramic view of the Fichtel Mountains, the Franconian Jura and northern Upper Palatinate2. The Rauhe Kulm is not only geologically interesting, but also historically significant. Archaeological finds indicate that the mountain was already inhabited in Celtic times around 500 BC2. The remains of a ring wall bear witness to this early settlement2. The area around the Rauhe Kulm is protected as a natural monument and provides a habitat for rare animal and plant species2. Particularly noteworthy are the basalt block heaps, which create unique habitats due to their special microclimatic conditions2. A visit to the Rauher Kulm is worthwhile not only because of the impressive view, but also because of the fascinating geological and historical aspects. Source: KI

The old basalt quarry directly next to the archaeological excavations is part of the Geopark