Odenwald

Odenwald
Odenwald
	Overview of the Odenwald
Highest point
Peak	Katzenbuckel
Elevation	626 m (2,054 ft); NHN
Coordinates	49°28′15″N9°2′28″E/ 49.47083°N 9.04111°E
Dimensions
Area	2,500 km2(970 sq mi)
Geography
	Odenwald
Country	Germany
Region	Hesse,Bavaria,Baden-Württemberg
Range coordinates	49°35′N9°1′E/ 49.583°N 9.017°E

TheOdenwald(German:[ˈoːdn̩valt]^ⓘ) is a low mountain range in theGermanstates ofHesse,BavariaandBaden-Württemberg.

Location

The Odenwald is located between theUpper Rhine Plainwith theBergstraßeand theHessisches Ried(the northeastern section of the Rhine rift) to the west, theMainand theBauland(a mostly unwooded area with good soils) to the east, theHanau-Seligenstadt Basin– a subbasin of the Upper Rhine Rift Valley in the Rhine-Main Lowlands – to the north and theKraichgauto the south. The part south of theNeckarvalley is sometimes called theKleiner Odenwald( "Little Odenwald" ).

The northern and western Odenwald belong to southern Hesse, with the south stretching intoBaden.In the northeast, a small part lies inLower Franconiain Bavaria.

Geology

Characteristicsandstoneformation nearEberbach

The Odenwald, along with other parts of the Central German Uplands, belongs to theVariscan,which more than 300 million years ago in theCarboniferousperiod ran through great parts ofEurope.The cause of thisorogenywas the collision ofAfrica’s and Europe's forerunner continents.

In theTriassic,about 200 million years ago, the land sank again, forming theGermanic Basinin which the metre-thick layers of red sandstone couldbuild up.These were later covered over with layers ofmuschelkalkfrom a broad inland sea, then followed by sediments from theLate Triassic(or Keuper). The South GermanCuestaLand thus formed.

When the land in the Odenwald wasupliftedagain about 180 million years ago, more than 100 m of the sedimentary layering, in parts, waserodedaway down to thebedrock,as can still be seen in the western Odenwald. The bedrock here is composed of a number of different rocks, among themgneiss,granite,diorite,gabbroin the Frankensteinpluton,and so on. In the eastern Odenwald, the red sandstone is all that is left of the sedimentary mixture. Farther east in the Bauland, the muschelkalk deposits still overlie theEarly Triassiclayers. Furthermore, in the south nearHeidelberg,there is stillZechsteinunder the Early Triassic deposits.

Roughly 50 to 60 million years ago,volcanoesformed along the great geologicalfaults.Still bearing witness to this time are theOtzberg,the Daumberg and the Katzenbuckel, all extinct volcanoes in the Odenwald. Furthermore, volcanism withacidicrocks has left a legacy ofrhyolitesnearDossenheim.

At roughly the same time, the Central European plate began to tear apart so that theUpper Rhine Riftdeveloped. Even as the Upper Rhine Rift valley still sinks today by just under a millimetre each year, the Odenwald, relatively to that, was uplifted to the height it has today. Along the faults, the small rivers Gersprenz and Weschnitz have, in part, carved their courses.

The Upper Rhine Rift is part of a fracture zone reaching from theMediterranean SeatoNorway.Right on the edge of the Odenwald, it is roughly 2 500 m deep, but has been filled in to its current height by river and sea sediment, for until about 20 million years ago, theNorth Seareached far inland, across theWetterauDepression into the Rhine Valley.

Geological maps

Granite-Gneiss-Odenwald (Altherr, 1999)^[1]
Granite-Gneiss-Odenwald (Stein, 2001)^[1]
Granite-Gneiss- and Redsandstone-Odenwald (Stein, 2001 + Weber,Geo-Naturpark)^[2]
Geological profile (from left): Rheinplane, Granite-Odenwald, Gneiss-Odenwald, Redsandstone-Odenwald (Geo-Naturpark)^[2]

History

About 2500 BC, there is evidence that theLinear Pottery culturesettled along the northern (Gersprenz) and southern (Neckar valley) edges of the Odenwald. About 400 BC,Celts(Gauls) settled throughout southern Germany. Almost all of the Odenwald was covered then withvirgin forest,and the outer edges were not settled.Germanic peoplesdrove the Celts westwards across the Rhine to what is nowFrance.

About AD 100, the older Odenwald line of theNeckar-Odenwald Limeswas built underRomanEmperorTrajan(98-117). This stretch of the Empire's border ran from Fort Wimpfen in the Valley (Kastell Wimpfen im Tal) northwards by way of the Forts of Neckarburken, the lesser forts of Trienz and Robern nearFahrenbach,Fort Oberscheidental, Fort Schloßau, Fort Hesselbach, Fort Würzberg, Fort Eulbach, Fort Hainhaus and Fort Hesselbach to Fort Wörth on theMain.Parts of the Odenwald now lay in Roman-ruledGermania Superior.

About 159, the Limes was shifted about 30 kilometres (19 miles) eastwards to theMiltenberg–Walldürn–Buchen-Osterburkenline. In 260, Roman hegemony fell. TheAlamanniwere also thrusting into the Odenwald and settling the land between the Main and Neckar, after whom came theFranks.In the 5th century, the Franks, underClovis I,divided the land up into districts.

In the 7th and 8th centuries cameChristianizationbyIrish-ScottishandAnglo-Saxonmonks (Pirmin,Boniface). On the muschelkalk lands of today's Bauland, which favouredagriculture,a broad mesh of settlements arose. The parts of the Odenwald farther in from the rivers, though, with their scantNew Red Sandstonesoils remained uninhabited. FourBenedictinemonasteries were assigned the job of opening the empty woods up by the central Frankish power (Carolingian),Lorsch Abbeyfrom the west, Fulda Monastery from the east and Mosbach Monastery from the south. Amorbach Monastery had the greatest importance for ecclesiastical, cultural and economic development in the eastern Odenwald.

In the 9th century in the southeastern Odenwald near the now more thickly settled Bauland, settlements were established. The muschelkalk-new red sandstone mineral boundary was crossed.

Name

The following are some theories about the origin of the nameOdenwald:

Some have claimed that the toponym comes fromOdins Wald(Odin’s Woods). The main problem here is that the godWodanaz(known in Norse asOdin) was worshipped in southern Germany under the nameWotan(inOld High GermanUuodan;compareMerseburg Incantations).
A further theory holds that there is a link between the name Odenwald and theRomanadministrative unit Civitas Auderiensium, which among other things included the range's northern reaches and might have been named after a tribe called theAuderienses.
There could be some kinship with the wordöde,not in the currently understood meaning in German ofdesert,but rather in the meaningthinly settled.
Einhard,the biographer ofCharlemagneused the termOdanwald.Therefore, the renowned historian Karl Christ establishes a connection to the Old High German (ahd.) expressionodan(=to enfeoff) and presumes, that theOdenwaldwas a hunting ground, which the King of the Franks Dagobert I. enfeoffed in 628 the Bishopric of Worms.^[3]
An eminent geographer of the 16th century, Sebastian Münster, proposed a tribal chief as the name giver (Odtonwald,821, =Odo's Woods). However, it is not proven whether there actually was a count or duke calledOdo(Otto). Finally, Münster's researches do not lead to any result.^[3]

Linguists who research phonetic changes and the sound shifts reject theories no. 1 to 3 and prefer 4 or 5; some historians favor no. 2.

Legends and mythology

The numerous Odenwald folk legends are mostly connected with historic geographic sites (castle, town, rock, road and so on) They relate:

mysterious actions and appearances of ghosts in a castle (for example the twoBergstraße-ruinsAuerbach - castleandWindeck) or in a nightscape respectively in a cottage: TheHöhmannnear Bensheim, theWhite Ladyof Mossau, theSchlurcherclose by Erbach, theMan without headnear Heppenheim, theGoast-nunsof monasterySteinbach.
the stories of knights and their ladies: Konrad and Ann-Els von Tannenberg, Edelmut von Ehrenberg and Minna von Horneck at theMinneburg,Georg von Frankenstein and Annemariechen, Hans von Rodenstein and Maria von Hochberg.
the apparitions of the devil:Teufelspfad(pathway of the devil) to theFelsberg,Teufelsstein(rock of the devil) in Gorxheimertal,Opferstein(altar stone) on the top of theJuhöhe.
or the apparitions of a witch: for example in the shape of a pig in Bensheim

In some stories the local aspect firstly is connected with monsters (knight Georg fights against the man-eatinglindwormnearFrankenstein-castle) and creatures of nature with magic potency (awater spiritchanged into a fox near Niedernhausen, themerwomanin theMeerwieseof Waldürn).

Secondly the local legend is connected with the genre of the historic saga: a historic person or an original is portrayed anecdotally (the count of Erbach and Luther, resp. theRaubacher Joggel,landgrave Ludwig VIII: of Hesse-Darmstadt, robberHölzerlips).

Thirdly a local tale explains anetiologicalor original myth (aetiological saga). For example, there is explained:

why a name is given: manyWildweibchensteine(Wild Woman-Rocks) in the Odenwald,Teufelsstein(stone of the devil),Teufelspfad(path of the devil),Opfersteine(altar stone) andHundsköpfe(dogheads) on top of theJuhöhe,Hölzerlips-stone,Schimmeldewoogfor the village Schönmattenwag (→Folk etymology) or the phrase “hinnerum wie die Fraa vun Bensem”,
why a natural phenomena, for example a typical landscape, was formed: the saga creates a mythic history for the places of thefelsenmeerand theHohensteinnear Reichenbach (because giants stoned each other) or theHerrgottsfelsen(Godrock) near Darmstadt (act of revenge by the devil for finessing),
why a castle (Minneburg) was built at a special place (Minnebergat the Neckar) and was so named hereafter,
why a mysterious stone carving was inset in a castle-wall: figure of a dog at the portal of theMinneburgnear Neckargerach, theBleckerat the town gate of Buchen, theBreileckerabove the door of Breuberg-castle.

Beside these legends there are two famous and well-known Odenwaldsagas:

In theNibelungenlied(see alsoNibelung) the dragon slayerSiegfried,on a hunting trip (instead of a failed campaign) leading from theBurgundiancity ofWormsinto the Odenwald, is murdered byHagen of Tronje.Since no exact spot for this deed has been handed down, countless communities, especially in the Hessian Odenwald are squabbling over the right to call themselves “Siegfried’s Murder Site”, for example a spring near Gras-Ellenbach (Siegfriedsbrunnen), Mossautal-HüttenthalLindelbrunnen) or Heppenheim (Siegfriedbrunnen).

The ruins ofRodenstein(below-mentioned) andSchnellertsnearFränkisch-Crumbachare the setting of an Odenwald ghost story: during the night the knightRodenstein(theRodensteiner) flies with a berserker-cornet through the air to prophesy the beginning of a war (Wild Huntmotif).

"Siegfried's Death" (Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld,1847): Hagen murdered Siegfried by a spring in the Odenwald.
Picture of Siegfrieds assassination in the Nibelungenlied-manuscript k (1480–90)
Siegfriedbrunnenby Wilhelm Trübner. In the legend there is no exact description in respect of the hunting trip.
Rodenstein Castleis the scene of theRodensteinerghost legend (19th-century picture).

Topography

Mountains

Over 600 m

Katzenbuckel(626 m; lookout tower),Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis,Baden-Württemberg
Neunkircher Höhe(605 m;Kaiser Tower),Bergstraße district,Hesse

TheCrystal Teaching Patharound theKatzenbuckelstarts near the old volcanic quarry (below-mentioned)
Neutsch with a view to Neunkirchen and theNeunkircher Höhe
View fromWeschnitz- Valley to the mountainsHardberg(with transmitter),Götzenstein,Kisselbusch(from left)
Weschnitz- Valley with a view toTromm-mountain range

Over 450 m

Hardberg(593 m), Bergstraße district, Hesse
Stiefelhöhe(584 m), Hesse/Baden-Württemberg border
Tromm(577 m; lookout tower), Bergstraße district, Hesse
Krehberg(576 m; with Krehberg transmitter), Bergstraße district, Hesse
Königstuhl(567.8 m;observatory,funicular railway),Heidelberg,Baden-Württemberg
Krähberg(555 m),Odenwaldkreis,Hesse
Kinzert (554 m),Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis,Baden-Württemberg
Weißer Stein(550 m; lookout tower),Rhein-Neckar-Kreis,Baden-Württemberg
Hohe Warte (548 m), Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg
Spessartskopf(547 m), Bergstraße district, Hesse
Falkenberg (546 m), Odenwaldkreis, Hesse
Waldskopf(538 m),Gorxheimertal-Trösel, Bergstraße district, Hesse
Das Buch (535.30 m; near Lindenfels), Bergstraße district, Hesse
Wagenberg (535 m), Bergstraße district, Hesse
Eichelberg (526 m; lookout tower), Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg
Götzenstein(522 m), Bergstraße district, Hesse
Melibokus(„Malschen “) (517.40 m), Bergstraße district, Hesse
Morsberg(517 m), Odenwaldkreis, Hesse
Felsberg(514 m; with Felsenmeer), Bergstraße district, Hesse
Knodener Kopf (511.20 m), Bergstraße district, Hesse
Wannenberg (482 m),Miltenberg district,Bavaria
Daumberg(462 m), Gorxheimertal-Trösel, Bergstraße district, Hesse

Overlooking theKrehberg(view from Lindenfels)
The Waldskopf in the Gorxheim valley
TheMelibokusnearZwingenberg
With a view from theLauter- Valley (Hohenstein) to theMelibokus(right) and theAuerbachCastle (background, in the middle)
TheGesprenz-Valley gneiss-sandstone-mountain range:Böllsteiner Höheon the left,Morsbergin the middle
TheFelsberg(with transmitter, view from theLauter-Valley),Auerbach-Castle andMelibokuson the left
The Daumberg in the Gorxheim valley
TheWeschnitz-Valley withHirschkopf-Juhöhe-mountain range (view from the Tromm)

Over 300 m

Heiligenberg(445 m), Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg
Knorz (404 m; near Lautern), Bergstraße district, Hesse
Otzberg (367 m; withOtzberg Castle),Darmstadt-Dieburg,Hesse
Auerberg (339.70 m; with Schloss Auerbach), Bergstraße district, Hesse
Breuberg (306 m; with Breuberg Castle), Odenwaldkreis, Hesse

Bodies of water

Flowing water

Countless streams rise in the Odenwald, the longest of which are the following:

Weschnitz (60 km), tributary to the Rhine
Mümling (50 km), tributary to the Main
Gersprenz (47 km), tributary to the Main
Lauter (43 km), tributary to the Rhine
Erf (40 km), tributary to the Main
Elz (Elzbach) (34 km), tributary to the Neckar
Finkenbach (20.5 km), joins the Ulfenbach in Hirschhorn, runs to the Laxbach, tributary to the Neckar
Ulfenbach (19.1 km), joins the Finkenbach in Hirschhorn, runs to the Laxbach, tributary to the Neckar
Grundelbach, (10 km), flows from Trösel to Weinheim
Modau (42 km), tributary to the Rhine
Mud (24 km), tributary to the Main
Steinach (22 km), tributary to the Neckar

The Gersprenz inDieburg
The Mümling inErbach
The Eutersee nearHesseneck

Standing water

There are a few bodies of standing water in the Odenwald, among which are the following:

the MarbachReservoir
the Eutersee

Political divisions

Districts (with district seats)

Bergstraße district(Heppenheim)
Darmstadt-Dieburg(Dieburg,administration inDarmstadt-Kranichstein)
Main-Tauber-Kreis(Tauberbischofsheim)
Miltenberg district(Miltenberg)
Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis(Mosbach)
Odenwaldkreis(Erbach)
Rhein-Neckar-Kreis(Heidelberg)

District-free cities

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Odenwald istwinnedwith:

Falkirk,Scotland^[4]

Transport and tourism

The Odenwald is known as a leisure destination easily accessible from the urban areas ofMannheimandFrankfurt.It is known for its clean thin air and was once known for its health sanitariums. There are many marked hiking paths through the rural areas. Wildblueberries,strawberriesandmushroomsare to be found in the forests.

Roads

The planned extension to theOdenwaldautobahn,that is, theA 45(Dortmund–Aschaffenburg), was never realized. Nevertheless, all theseBundesstraßenrun through the Odenwald:

B 27:Mosbach-Buchen-Tauberbischofsheim
B 38:Reinheim-Groß-Bieberau-Brensbach-Reichelsheim-Fürth-Mörlenbach-Birkenau-Weinheim
B 45:Groß-Umstadt-Höchst-Bad König-Michelstadt-Erbach-Beerfelden-Eberbach
B 47:Bensheim-Lindenfels-Reichelsheim-Michelstadt-Amorbach
B 426:Darmstadt-Mühltal-Ober-Ramstadt-Reinheim-Otzberg-Groß-Umstadt-Höchst-Breuberg-Obernburg
B 460:Heppenheim-Fürth-Mossautal- Hüttenthal

Furthermore, theNibelungenstraßeand theSiegfriedstraßerun through the Odenwald, partly along the roads listed above.

Railways

Odenwald RailwayfromDarmstadtorHanauby way ofGroß-Umstadt WiebelsbachtoEberbach,opened in 1882, since December 2005 run with modernItinotrains.
Weschnitz Valley RailwayfromWeinheimtoFürth,opened in 1895.
Überwald RailwayfromMörlenbachby way ofWald-Michelbachto Wahlen, opened in 1901, abandoned in 1996.
Hetzbach–Beerfelden linefrom Hetzbach toBeerfelden,opened in 1904, abandoned in 1954.
Mosbach–Mudau line(locally known as theEntenmörder– “Duck Murderer” ) fromMosbachtoMudau,former 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 in)narrow-gauge railway,opened in 1905, abandoned in 1973, since 1980 right-of-way has been converted into a cycling path.
Neckar Valley RailwayfromHeidelbergby way ofEberbachand Mosbach toBad Friedrichshall-Jagstfeld,opened in 1879.
Neckarelz–Osterburken line,opened in 1866 as part of theBaden Odenwaldbahn
Madonnenland RailwayfromSeckachtoMiltenberg.
Gersprenz Valley RailwayfromReinheimtoReichelsheim,opened in 1887 and abandoned by 1963.

Special day trips

In Hainstadt, Hesse (a constituent community ofBreuberg) in the Mümling valley is aquarrywhich has been turned into aclimbingfacility by theOdenwälder Kletterfreunde('Odenwald Climbing Friends'). There is also a climbing path secured by wire cables. The Odenwald Climbing Friends take care of the paths. The quarry also lies in the DAV's (Deutsche Alpenverein e. V.– a mountain climbing club)DarmstadtSection feeder area.
Beneath the 514 m-high Felsberg and north ofLautertal-Reichenbach is found aFelsenmeer– literally 'cliff sea' – consisting of many weathered stones strewn about the ground which have fallen down from the cliff after having come loose from erosion. TheRomansused it as a stone quarry.
In Eberstadt, a constituent community ofBuchen,one of southern Germany's most importantdripstone caveswas discovered in 1971. It is open to the public.
Around the Katzenbuckel runs theKristall-Lehrpfad('Crystal Teaching Path'), which graphically shows the volcanic development in the Odenwald.
From Höchst im Odenwald snakes the Obrunnschlucht (gorge) as a romantic fairytale path towards Rimhorn with many model buildings (palaces, castles and mills) along the valley.
The Odenwald is threaded with a network of more than 10,000 km (6,214 miles) of hiking trails.
Because the roads have so many bends, the Odenwald is a popular outing destination for motorcyclists.
Every year one of the greatest Halloween events in Germany is organized on theFrankenstein Castle(see above). The same name suggests a connection withMary Shelleysfamous filmed novelFrankenstein or The Modern Prometheus.The horror scenery and the comedians dressed up as ghosts and witches spook the huge audience.
Walking and climbing through theMargarethenschlucht(Neckargerach) or theWolfsschlucht(Wolf's Glen) nearZwingenberg castle(Zwingenberg/Neckar)
Zwingenberg Castle(see above) is the place of an annual castle festival.Carl Maria von Webersromantic operaDer Freischütz(translated asThe MarksmanorThe Freeshooter) is performed at the entrance of the gorgeWolfsschlucht.The plot is based on a German folk legend which the composer discovered in theGespensterbuch('Book of Ghosts') during his sojourn in Neuburg Abbey nearHeidelbergin 1810. It is believed, that he also was inspired by the Wolf's Glen in aNeckartributary valley, but there are many places in Germany with the same name. Anyway. In act 2 the protagonist Max meets the diabolic Caspar in the supernatural creepy opera sceneWolfsschluchtto become the best shooter with the assistance of magic power. Now a risky action starts.

For half a week early July theHeppenheimer(see above) Street theatre namedGassensensationenoccupies several places und corners of the old town with presentations for children and adults. The outdoor performances include very popular loud and simple genres with music, dance, mime, circus arts and slapstick, but also sensitive theatre plays or songs in discrete spaces.
The granite rocks of theJuhöhenear Heppenheim inspired people to imagine fairy tales. They told, that the holes were offering cups for the devil. Stones nearby got chapped, when he sharpened his claws. According to a local version of theRodensteinerlegend theWild Huntercrossing theJuhöhelost his cry of hounds: They crashed and where rammed in the ground. Even today the petrified dogheads are on view at the top of the hill. So the rocks are calledHundsköpfe.Flat ironis the name of another granite formation near theJuhöhe.A long time ago Giant-ladies made use of it to set their Sunday dresses in order.

Climbing path at theBreuberg-Hainstadtquarry
Hohensteinnear Reichenbach (Baryte-quartz-cliff)
Borsteinnear Reichenbach (Baryte-quartz-cliff)
Giant tortoise gneiss rocks (Böllstein)
Granite rocks (Tromm)
Reichenbach-Felsenmeer:The giant column (Riesensäule) is a workpiece of Roman stonemasons.
Granite rocksWildfrauhaus(Fischbachtal)
Zwingenberg (Neckar) gorge:Wolfsschlucht
When Caspar und Max begin with casting the magic bullets in theWolf’s GlentheWild Huntappears in the air with demoniacal noise.
The rocks at theJuhöheare supposed to be the petrified dogheads of theRodensteinercry of hounds
It is said, that the holes of theOpfersteinewere offering cups for the devil.
People of theKreiswaldnear theJuhöhetold, that a long time ago the granite formation was the flat iron of Giant-ladies

Castles

The Odenwald is home to many historic castles and palatial residences. In times past the fortresses on the top of the Odenwald mountains controlled Bergstraße and the Weschnitz-, the Gersprenz-, the Mümling- and the Neckar-Valley.

FrankensteinnearDarmstadt/Upper Rhine Rift valley
Frankenstein Castle
The ruins ofTannenbergnear Seeheim (Seeheim-Jugenheim)
HeiligenbergCastle near Jugenheim (Seeheim-Jugenheim)
AlsbachCastle, view fromMelibokus(Alsbach-Hähnlein)
The ruins ofAuerbachCastle nearBensheim
Park and mansionFürstenlagernear Bensheim-Auerbach
SchönbergCastle (Bensheim-Schönberg)
Bergstaße:Starkenburg(view from Maiberg,Heppenheim)
StarkenburgwithSchlossberg(Heppenheim)
WeinheimCastle
The ruins ofWindeck(Weinheim)
WachenburgnearWeinheim(Two-Castles-Town)
Wachenburg(view fromHirschkopf-tower),Weißer Stein (lookout tower) in the background
StrahlenburgnearSchriesheim
The ruins ofSchauenburginDossenheim
BirkenauCastle near Weinheim
The ruins ofLindenfelsCastle,Bürgerturm(tower)
View fromWeschnitztalto Lindenfels (left), in the background right of centre:ReichenbergCastle, left picture margin:Neunkircher Höhe
The ruins ofRodensteinnearFränkisch-Crumbachare the setting of a ghost story:Rodensteinerflies with a berserker-cornet in the night through the air to prophesy the start of a war (see above).
ReichenbergCastle, entrance, nearReichelsheim
Gersprenz-Valley with Reichenberg
LichtenbergCastle (Fischbachtal)
Neunkircher Höhewith a view toLichtenbergCastle (left) and theReinheimer Bucht:Otzbergto the right of centre
Castle Grounds in Lichtenberg in Odenwald,Wilhelm Trübner,1900. Colección Carmen Thyssen Bornemisza.
extinct volcanoOtzbergand the old fortVeste Otzbergwith the white tower
ErbachCastle
FürstenauCastle (nearMichelstadt) with decorative gateway arch
Old Castle inBad König
BurgBreubergnear Höchst in the summer of 2006
BreubergCastle, keep (Bergfried) and main gate
The ruins ofWildenberg(Kirchzell) from the High Middle Ages, built in the Staufer era, whereWolfram von Eschenbachis said to have written parts of hisParzival.
Portrait of the medieval poetWolfram von Eschenbachfrom the Codex Manesse
Fireplace in the great hall. In WolframsParzivalthe author indirectly compares the gigantic fireplace in theGrail Castlewith that ofWildenberg:“so groziu fiwer sit noch e sach niemen hie ze Wildenberc” (line 230,12-13)
The ruins ofFreiensteinnearBeerfelden
WaldleiningenCastle in the British-style (near Mudau)
HeidelbergwithCastleand the Old Bridge over riverNeckar
NeckarsteinachwithMittelburg(left) andVorderburg(in the middle)
Neckarsteinach:Vorderburg
Neckarsteinach:Mittelburg
Neckarsteinach:Hinterburg
Neckarsteinach:The ruins ofSchwalbennest
The medieval feudal lord and poet (minnesinger)Bligger von Steinach(Portrait from the Codex Manesse) resided in Steinach (Neckarsteinach)
Dilsbergwith mountain fort
Tower and wall of Dilsberg nearNeckarsteinach
Hirschhorn with Hirschhorn Castle
The ruins ofEberbachCastle
Zwingenberg Castle(also called theZwingenburg) (Zwingenberg/Neckar)

Music

Songs have been written about the Odenwald:

Es steht ein Baum im Odenwald( “There Stands a Tree in the Odenwald” )
Tief im Odenwald( “Deep in the Odenwald” )
Der Bauer aus dem Odenwald( “The Farmer from the Odenwald” )^[5]

References

^^a ^b"Institut für Geographie: AKN - Mitarbeiter Jens-Philipp Keil".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-12-11.Retrieved2012-05-15.
^^a ^b"Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße Odenwald".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-07-31.Retrieved2012-05-15.
^^a ^bMorneweg, Karl: Offizieller Führer des Odenwald-Klubs durch den Odenwald und die Bergstrasse. Ravenstein Frankfurt a.M. 1926, S.33.
^Falkirk Twinning Association ArchivedMarch 23, 2012, at theWayback Machine,www.falkirktwinning.org Retrieved 2011-05-07
^text and melody Archived2007-09-28 at theWayback Machineon the webpage of the Catholic Student Association Markomannia Münster in theKV.

External links

Odenwald – Official page of Odenwald-Regional-Gesellschaft (OREG)(in German)
UNESCO Geo-Park – Official page of Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße-Odenwald(in German)
Odenwaldklub – Official page of Odenwaldklub(in German)
Regionalentwicklung Odenwald – Official page of Interessengemeinschaft Odenwald e.V. (IGO)(in German)

[uni-giessen.de-1] "Institut für Geographie: AKN - Mitarbeiter Jens-Philipp Keil".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-12-11.Retrieved2012-05-15.

[geo-naturpark.net-2] "Geo-Naturpark Bergstraße Odenwald".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-07-31.Retrieved2012-05-15.

[Morneweg-3] Morneweg, Karl: Offizieller Führer des Odenwald-Klubs durch den Odenwald und die Bergstrasse. Ravenstein Frankfurt a.M. 1926, S.33.

[Falkirk_twinnings-4] Falkirk Twinning Association ArchivedMarch 23, 2012, at theWayback Machine,www.falkirktwinning.org Retrieved 2011-05-07

[5] text and melody Archived2007-09-28 at theWayback Machineon the webpage of the Catholic Student Association Markomannia Münster in theKV.

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