Kreckwitz Heights
| Kreckwitz Heights Krakečanske hórki |
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|---|---|---|
| height | 196 m above sea level HN | |
| location | Saxony , Germany | |
| Mountains | Kreckwitz Heights | |
| Coordinates | 51 ° 12 '35 " N , 14 ° 30' 18" E | |
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The Kreckwitzer heights ( Upper Sorbian Krakečanske hórki ; popularly also "Kreckwitzer Berge") is a chain of hills consisting of a total of four wooded hills, the highest point of which is the Mittelberg at 196 m above sea level .
location
The Kreckwitzer Heights are located approx. 6 km northeast of the Saxon city of Bautzen in Upper Lusatia . They run over a west-east extension of approx. 1200 m almost parallel to the federal motorway 4 and extend over a total area of approx. 0.25 km². The hills Krähenberg, Lindenberg, Mittelberg and Bauerberg (from west to east) are named.
The eponymous town of Kreckwitz is located about 500 m southwest of the mountain ranges , and in the south the town of Litten (1 km). To the north there is Doberschütz (1 km) and Pließkowitz (2 km). The district road 7220 connects Kreckwitz and Doberschütz and leads directly past the first hill. To the east there are also the villages of Purschwitz (1.5 km) and Kleinbautzen (1.5 km).
geography
The southern slopes of the hills drop steeply by up to 30 meters in altitude. This opens up a good view of the Lusatian mountains in many places , which rises about 10 km away. The lowest point in the area is reached at almost 154 m above sea level on the Albrechtsbach flowing southwards . In particular, to the north of the range of hills, there are several similar high mountain ranges, which are similar to the main hills in terms of their geology, flora and fauna. Behind it, the terrain gradually slopes down into the Upper Lusatian Heide biosphere reserve and pond landscape .
geology
The steep shape of the hill results from the granodiorite rock formations on top and below . These can be found on all four hills and on many elevations in the area such as the Teufelsstein and the Tschemelschka.
Flora and fauna
All four hills are densely forested throughout, which is mixed forest with a slight overhang to deciduous forest . The forest is not yet old. Except for a few trees, the Kreckwitzer Heights were therefore still characterized by meadow growth around 100 years ago. The southern slopes of the main hills facing the sun [as well as many surrounding elevations] are heavily overgrown with waist-high thorns and grasses in summer, while the northern slopes mostly reveal the forest floor and rock structures in many places. On the path that runs south of the hill, there are also many fruit trees, more precisely sweet cherries, which were leased to residents of the surrounding villages by the community as local administration during the GDR .
The growth of the forest now serves as a habitat for many native animals. Even a wolf was spotted here again in 2011. Also worth mentioning are the many anthills of the large wood ant , which, especially in spring, when the first warming rays of the sun rise, form entire streets from the crawling insects in the undergrowth .
Unique in the area is the strong occurrence of common ivy , which can mostly only be found on the summit and the north side of the Krähenberg, where it grows into the treetops in autumn.
Historical
At the foot of the western hill there is a 1.10 m high atonement cross with a narrow sword carved into it. According to the story, it was erected in memory of a chaplain who was slain by the Kreckwitz residents on Christmas Eve at the foot of the hill. The background was his vehement resistance to the wishes of the Kreckwitzers, who wanted to change to the Lutheran faith during the Reformation . The Kreckwitzers had to set up this cross as atonement .
Due to its geographical location, the Kreckwitzer Heights were also repeatedly the scene of fighting in various wars. The battle of Bautzen , for example, on May 21, 1813, had its main battle area here. As a reminder of this time, inscriptions were carved into two rocks that are still very well preserved today. Both rocks can be found on the south side of the Mittelberg (third hill from west to east) below the summit in the middle of a group of rocks.
The Blücher monument is located directly north of the first western hill on another ridge .
During the Second World War , battles were also fought at the Battle of Bautzen on and around the Kreckwitzer Heights. During the GDR times, the Kreckwitzer Heights were used from time to time by the National People's Army for exercise and maneuvering purposes.
Surroundings
The four main hills from west to east:
- Krähenberg (188 m above sea level)
- Lindenberg (187 m above sea level)
- Mittelberg (195.9 m above sea level)
- Bauerberg (180 m above sea level)
On a map from the time of the Wars of Liberation, the Lindenberg is referred to as Eichenberg and the Bauerberg as Kirchenberg. The names and heights of the other two elevations as well as the one below were taken from a survey map [measuring table sheet].
Other prominent elevations in the immediate vicinity are:
- Blücherhügel (184 m above sea level)
- Tschemelschka (175 m above sea level)
The Tschemelschka is an approximately 1200 m² large island in the middle of an arable field, consisting of bushes, trees and rocks typical of the area. It is located 500 m north of the Blücherhügel.
- Galgenberg (185 m above sea level)
The Galgenberg rises immediately to the east of the Tschemelschka. Its ridge extends for about 400 m in an east-west direction parallel to the main hills of the Kreckwitzer Heights to the south.
- Schafberg near Doberschütz (181 m above sea level)
The Schafberg is a double knoll that runs in an east-west direction and borders directly on the village of Doberschütz. While arable land and meadows are on the western hilltop, a large part of the eastern elevation is heavily overgrown with trees and bushes. From the western part there is a view of Bautzen and the Lausitzer Bergland in the south and southwest , Quatitz , Großdubrau and Doberschütz in the west and northwest , and the Boxberg power plant in the north.
- Vineyard (184 m above sea level)
- Koppatsche (189 m above sea level)
The Koppatsche marks the westernmost point in this area. It is located 500 m southwest of the vineyard and 800 m northwest of the four main hills. Like the vineyard, it runs in a north-south direction, is completely forested on the ridge and surrounded by arable land. Pine trees can be found in particular on the respective south sides. However, they do not have any significant rock formations.
- Lindenberg (183 m above sea level)
The Lindenberg is located northwest of the town of Kleinbautzen. Its east side is covered with numerous cherry trees. To the north of this elevation there is a quarry and the Teufelsstein.
- Teufelsstein (175 m above sea level)
- Cammenzberg (167 m above sea level)
This elevation is the northernmost in the area and is located near the town of Pließkowitz, around 1.7 km from the four main hills of the Kreckwitzer Heights. It consists of two small forest areas that are separated from each other and are surrounded by arable land in all directions. The connecting road between Pließkowitz and Kleinbautzen passes on the west side.
Another larger group of rocks is located 700 m west of Kleinbautzen near the four main hills of the Kreckwitzer Heights and can be reached on foot from Mühlstraße in Kleinbautzen. Surrounded by meadows and arable land, there are numerous rocks of different sizes, which are also made of granodiorite, hidden between some trees on an area of around 1600 m². The largest rock in this formation has an estimated size of 8x3x3 m at the widest points and is therefore one of the largest visible rocks in the entire area, along with the rocks of the Teufelstein.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Andreas Bensch: The Battle of Bautzen 1813 . 2nd Edition. Lusatia Verlag , Bautzen 2003, ISBN 3-929091-57-7 , p. 29-32 .
- ↑ Bastian, Olaf; Porada, Haik Thomas; Röder, Matthias; Syrbe, Ralf-Uwe (Hrsg.): Oberlausitzer Heide- und Teichlandschaft: A regional inventory in the area of Lohsa, Klitten, Großdubrau and Baruth . Böhler, Cologne 2005, ISBN 3-412-08903-6 .
- ↑ Brügner: The Battle of Bautzen the 21th May 1813. 1824, accessed on July 2, 2017 (German).
- ↑ Measurement table sheet 4753 Weigersdorf. 1938, Retrieved July 2, 2017 .