Bartenwetzer
The Bartenwetzer , a lumberjack with his ax, is the symbolic figure of the Melsung citizens in northern Hesse on the Fulda .
history
In the Middle Ages , most of Melsung's citizens lived from logging . The woodcutters went every morning with their beards (Middle High German term for ax or hatchet ) to cut wood in the forest. On the "Bartenwetzerbrücke" they sharpened (sharpened) their beards in the soft sandstone of the railing. The traces of this activity can still be seen today in the deep round notches in the bridge railing.
From this incident the local name Bartenwetzer developed for the inhabitants of Melsungen.
There is a small turret on the Melsung town hall . The symbolic figure of the Bartenwetzer appears there twice a day (at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.).
Bartenwetzer Bridge
The stone Bartenwetzer Bridge ( ⊙ ) was built in 1595/96 in just 1 1/4 years and, with its two Bartenwetzer figures, is one of the most beautiful bridges in Hesse . This is where Melsung shipping was founded in the 17th century. The Melsungen-Bartenwetzerbrücke stop on the Bebra – Kassel railway line has existed since May 2011 . This station is only served by the RegioTram Kassel .