Pälzer Weltachs
The Pälzer Weltachs is a processed red sandstone on the 459 meter high Kleiner Roßrück near Waldleiningen in Rhineland-Palatinate . It bears a relief depicting “Lubrication of the World Axis” and a corresponding inscription, which is based on a poem by the Palatinate dialect poet Paul Münch . They were installed by a local forest officer in the 1960s. Today the rock is a destination for hikes in the Palatinate Forest . Once a year the "world axis" is ceremoniously "re-oiled". The rock can only be reached via hiking trails.
Origin and tradition
The Bavarian administration erected a pillar-shaped landmark on the Kleiner Roßrück in the 19th century for surveying purposes. After the forestry official had worked on the rock table that carried it, the “Palatinate World Axis” sculpted in this way was inaugurated in 1964. Your portrayal refers to Paul Münch's Die Pälzisch Weltgeschicht , which begins with the poem Mer Pälzer un die Weltachs . There it says that the world axis is in the center of the Palatinate state (the Palatinate within the limits of the Rhine district ) and that the Palatinate has been entrusted with the lubrication of the world axis since creation. Closely following the text, the inscription on the rock reads:
- Thou the world ax will be smacked unnoticed that nothing will go wrong
- (Here the world axis is lubricated and watch out that nothing happens)
At an annual ceremony, the Weltachs is re-oiled (lubricated) and traditionally Paul Münch's poem is recited. It is speculated that the rock table with the landmark on it originally inspired Paul Münch to write his poem.
Web links
- The Weltachs, at www.waldleiningen.de
Coordinates: 49 ° 23 ′ 39 ″ N , 7 ° 50 ′ 30 ″ E