Hohenstein (Wuppertal)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Hohenstein and the view of Barmen
The Hohenstein Park. The already exposed rock can be seen in the center of the picture.
Barmen around 1855 (vom Hohenstein), lithograph by Wilhelm Riefstahl
Information board at Hohenstein

The Hohenstein is a dolomite rock cliff in the Wuppertal city ​​area, which is located in a city ​​park of the same name, around 4,450 m² in size .

topography

The park is located in the Barmen district , south of the Rott residential area between Tannenstrasse and Bogenstrasse . It encompasses the steep, wooded slope, which is 65 meters wide and overcomes a height difference of around 15 meters. In the city park there is a children's playground and several information boards about the plants growing there.

The Hohenstein rock itself is protected as a natural monument.

history

The rock is a remnant of a coral reef from the Middle Devon around 390 million years ago. It is part of the Rhenish-Westphalian Limestone Range, which extends from the Sauerland to the Neandertal . During the Ice Age, the bank of the Wupper was at the site of today's park .

Old Germanic cult site

Before the Rott was developed as a residential area and the park was created, the striking rock was already a popular Barmer attraction. A description from the 19th century gives evidence of a Germanic cult site that is dedicated as an altar to the earth goddess Hertha :

“... a rugged and bare, rather large rock, probably driven up by volcanic violence in prehistoric times, with several smaller companies. It should be noted here, however, that the above-mentioned Hohe Stein is not only a pagan sacrificial site, but also - according to medieval Christian belief - a writing desk of the devil, like a smaller rocky knoll standing next to it called "the devil's dinette barrel" becomes."

- Wilhelm Langewiesche (1863)

The medieval theory of the inkwell is supported by a black spot on the rock, from which its other name "Devil's Pulpit" is derived. According to another interpretation, the rocks are supposed to represent a petrified bride and groom.

The park from the 20th century

The park was created as a wasteland with two footpaths around 1900 after the slope around the rock had remained undeveloped. The green area was designed by the Barmer garden architect Arthur Stüting and opened to the public in 1908. The park was a popular local recreation area and the view from Hohenstein was shown on postcards.

Today the city park presents itself in a different form than originally planned by Stüting; the trees have grown significantly in height and prevent the former far-reaching view of the Barmen district. For a long time, the rock no longer stood out from the wooded slope as a prominent point in the terrain. In 2008, however, the city exposed it again through a cut-out, and a notice board explains the history and significance of the rock.

Hohenstein Street

The center of Barmen (district) around 1761, with the Hochstraße (today Hohenstein ) at the top left in the picture

A Hohenstein street of the same name is located below the slope, still below Bogenstraße . It was given its current name in 1935, previously it was called Hohensteiner Strasse and Hochstrasse . It is first mentioned in 1858. On the map shown, the Bergisches Geschichtsverein dated the existence of the street to at least 1761. The street begins in the west on Loherstrasse and ends after about 1.1 km in the east in Rödigerstrasse . It forms the border between the residential areas Friedrich-Engels-Allee , Rott and Loh . The Städtische Realschule Hohenstein is located at Hohenstein 123.

  • Beginning of the street Hohenstein am Loh , 2018

  • Corner of Hohenstein - Adlerstraße (looking east), 2003

  • Wuppertal Barmen - corner of Hohenstein - Adlerstraße (looking west)

  • Staircase between Bogenstrasse and Hohenstein Strasse, above the entrance to the park, 2003

  • Corner of Hohenstein / Zur Dörner Brücke (looking west), 2003

literature

  • Wolfgang Stock: Wuppertal street names . Thales Verlag, Essen-Werden 2002, ISBN 3-88908-481-8 .

Web links

Commons : Hohenstein  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 51 ° 16 ′ 10.2 "  N , 7 ° 11 ′ 17.5"  E