Attractions and Places To See around Speinsharter Forst - Top 20

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 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.

Speinshart Monastery was built in the 12th century as a Romanesque monastery complex. The monastery and church are one of the most important and beautiful monuments in the Upper Palatinate. The monastery itself is not open to visitors for viewing the interior, but the church itself, built in the 17th century in a Baroque style, is worth a visit.

Around the cone, hikers will find a well-developed network of paths through varied mixed forest and old beech forest stands. The newly marked paths mostly lead along well-paved forest paths, but also along natural hiking trails. The exposed basalt slopes are a valuable habitat for numerous animals and rare plants. Around 90 different lichens and mosses grow and thrive on the heat-storing basalt boulders. The Rauhe Kulm has been protected as a natural monument since 1909 and has been a nature reserve in accordance with European standards (FFH) for several years. In 2013, the Rauhe Kulm was voted Germany's most beautiful natural wonder.

Around the cone, hikers will find a well-developed network of paths through varied mixed forest and old beech forest stands. The newly marked paths mostly lead along well-paved forest paths, but also along natural hiking trails. The exposed basalt slopes are a valuable habitat for numerous animals and rare plants. Around 90 different lichens and mosses grow and thrive on the heat-storing basalt boulders. The Rauhe Kulm has been protected as a natural monument since 1909 and has been a nature reserve in accordance with European standards (FFH) for several years. In 2013, the Rauhe Kulm was voted Germany's most beautiful natural wonder.

The Rauhe Kulm rises 682 metres high from the middle of the landscape and is visible from all directions. It is surrounded by the Fichtel Mountains to the north, the Steinwald to the east, the heights of the Franconian Jura to the south and the Franconian Switzerland to the west. It owes its striking shape to its volcanic origins around 20 million years ago. The exposed basalt slopes are a valuable habitat for numerous animals and rare plants. Around 90 different lichens and mosses grow and thrive on the heat-storing basalt boulders. The Rauhe Kulm has been protected as a natural monument since 1909 and has been a nature reserve in accordance with European standards (FFH) for several years. In 2013, the Rauhe Kulm was voted Germany's most beautiful natural wonder.