Sights on and on the Seeberg near Gotha
On and on the Seeberg near Gotha there is a nature trail along with various sights .
geography
Vulture's Laugh
The Geierslache (also Geyerslache ) is a pond spring whose water flows into the Siebleber pond . The Geierslache is now a nature reserve. The drainage takes place via a pipe system and ends at the landing stage in the Siebleber pond. The amount of water (approx. 26 m³ / day) is not enough to fill the pond sufficiently, therefore there are plans to lead the water from the smith's fountain (see below) over the vulture pool into the pond. Another inflow comes from the receiving water of the Rot, a stream that comes from Siebleben and drains the plain between Siebleben and Tüttleben towards Seebergen and Cobstädt.
Siebleber pond
From historical documents it can be seen that the Siebleber Ried with today's pond area between Seebergen and Siebleben is the rest of an Ice Age lake. To create fertile terrain, the area was drained via the Rot-Bach, which flows into the Apfelstädt in Wandersleben . In 1717 the pond was rebuilt instead of the larger late glacial water surface. The excavation was used to build wide perimeter dams in the south, east and north. It was to become a ducal fish pond, one of many.
The increasing siltation made itself felt as early as 1760 . After initially good catches, the pond froze completely in the cold years 1754/55 and 1779/80, resulting in a total loss of fish. The fishing industry was resumed and operated until 1842 and again from 1917 to 1923. The largest recorded fishing harvest dates back to 1738: over 300 kg of pike , approx. 2.5 t of carp , 25 kg of perch and 650 kg of white fish were caught. After that, the harvest decreased steadily, due to freezing through in extreme winters, drying out in extreme summers, extensive pond work, leaky drainage (bad stagnation), lack of food and constant reduction of the water surface. The pond and the reed have been owned by Siebleben since 1831 (purchase price 16,000 Reichstaler ).
The pond was also used to produce wicker for the basket makers from Schönau vor dem Walde . In 1842 the pond was drained and cabbage was planted to curb the reeds , but without success. Since then, pheasants and ducks have been released on the pond, but breeding has been discontinued due to inefficient hunting results. The pond has been a nature reserve since 1967. Some nature lovers are still struggling with the impending siltation. Today the pond offers a habitat for various bird species and migrants. Moor frogs live in the Siebleber pond . Reed and candelabrum associations can also be found here. Today the water is supplied exclusively with water from the Geierslache, a source on the nearby Seeberg near Gotha.
A few years ago, in the presence of the mayor of the twin town Gastonia , a bench was inaugurated on the east bank of the pond, which stands on the building site of an earlier house, the foundation walls of which are still well preserved today.
Today the area of the Siebleber pond is a nature reserve with an area of 27.33 hectares.
The Siebleber pond (view from the east dam in west direction)
Log cabin "Teichschenke"
Drain on the east dam
" Gastonia " bench seat
Seating group with a memorial plaque to Hermann Löns
Jetty with the introduction from the vulture pool over a pipe
Healthy well
The year it was first mentioned is from the baroque inscription above the brick outlet of the (currently dried up) spring: 1682. According to legend, the spring was discovered by chance by a Seeberg shepherd who drank from its water and thereby recovered from a serious illness. The water is said to have had healing powers, which is why people from all over Germany came to the “water health resort” Seebergen to alleviate their illnesses thanks to the water from the Gesundbrunnen. In their heyday, the three springs supplied around 2,000 liters of water a day. After dry phases, the water flowed more vigorously again, especially in 1706 and 1769, after which the spring dried up again and again for several years or even decades. From 1932 the Löns community tried to preserve the spring design. After being damaged by the National People's Army , the spring fell dry again and was rehabilitated in 1993 by Seeberger citizens and in 1997 by ABM forces from the community. Today efforts are being made to restore the facility, but the access path with its securing handrails and the source area are currently (April 2010) in need of renovation. The wooden bridge originally leading over the source river ditch is currently (as of 2011) still dismantled.
Monuments and memorial stones
Riesen-Stein and Gustav Zahn's calm
The giant stone stands in memory of Georg Riesen (1866–1925), the founder of the Düppelgemeinde. The original facility was built by the Düppelgemeinde after his death in 1926. It was intended to commemorate the services of giants to the Seebergen community, but, like its successor, was destroyed in the post-war period. The current system dates from 2001.
50 m further left in the forest is the memorial stone for the Gotha natural scientist Gustav Zahn (1846–1921), who also wrote about the flora of the Seeberg. The memorial stone has no name plate.
Friedrichsbuche
The Friedrichsbuche is reminiscent of the Gotha chief forester Friedrich Fischer (1898–1977), who did a great job of creating new green spaces and opening up the forests through new paths in the Gotha area. At the foot of a beech tree donated by his hunting companions to the hunting party stands the memorial stone, robbed of its bronze plaque.
Hofmann's peace
This is how friends of Karl "Karli" Hofmann describe a seat that they erected on the Seeberg in honor of the Gotha district and chief forester. Hofmann was honored with the 2002 Environment Prize for his commitment to nature conservation.
Veit stone
The memorial stone in honor of Erich Veit, the initiator of nature conservation in the city and district of Gotha and volunteer district nature conservation officer from 1935 to 1965, is a few meters from the Gotha zoo car park . The subject teacher for mathematics and biology gained recognition as a mushroom advisor , guide on botanical hikes and co-founder of the natural history museum. He worked at the Orthopedic Children's Hospital on Seeberg and created nature reserves in Gotha, Waltershausen , Tabarz and Winterstein . On the occasion of the 31st anniversary of his death, the Veit stone was erected in his honor on November 15, 1996.
Log cabin and Deinhard's rest
A log cabin and a memorial stone are dedicated to the patron of the city of Gotha, Johann Friedrich Deinhard. After his death, he gave the city 35,000 marks to build a swimming pool, which is now the Old City Bath .
Gratz square
August Gratz was a forest keeper under Hierling, who did some good for the keepers on the Kleiner Seeberg. His memorial stone is now on the fork in the road in front of the old observatory, originally at the current location of the farm building.
Duke stone
With regard to the Seeberg, the greatest achievement of Duke Ernst II (1745–1804) was the construction of the Seeberg observatory . He is honored with a memorial stone that was ceremoniously unveiled on April 20, 1904 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his death.
Zach Stone
The Hungarian baron, surveyor and astronomer Franz Xaver von Zach was appointed to Gotha by Duke Ernst II in 1786. In memory of the first director of the Seeberg observatory , the Zach-Stein stands today in the beer garden of the old observatory . On the occasion of his 250th birthday (June 4, 1754) on October 27, 2004, the memorial plaque was attached to a historic column that once supported the astronomical clock of the observatory.
Here rest
In honor of the Secret State Councilor Theodor Hierling, who lived from 1843 to 1926, the Thuringian Forest Association built a complex with a memorial stone and bench. The lawyer worked in Ohrdruf , as a prison director in Ichtershausen , Gotha, Friedrichswerth and Gräfentonna . He held influential positions as state secretary , board member, supervisory board member and ministry member under Duke Alfred . Under his successor, Duke Carl Eduard , as head of the "Forest" department, he was also responsible for the Seeberg and was responsible for reforestation. In 1926 the complex with the bank and memorial stone was badly damaged and was renewed. In 2001 the record was stolen and replaced by local companies.
Löns monument
The original monument to Hermann Löns was erected on August 26, 1928 by the Seeberger Jagdgesellschaft at the highest point on the Seeberg. The Lönsgemeinde was founded on June 4, 1932 at the instigation of the Seeberg citizen Rudolf Spittel and saw its task in the care and preservation of the flora and fauna. The memorial was demolished by the NVA in 1972 for military reasons . The building material of the old monument was used for the reconstruction. The inauguration took place on September 19, 1998. Today's Löns memorial stands above the Düppel parking lot.
ways
Nature trail
The nature trail is located on the Kleiner Seeberg and is part of the hiking trail to the former Gotha observatory . The path begins above the Gotha zoo parking lot . The local flora and fauna along the way are described and explained by labeled signs. A roundabout at the rest area with information boards provides an illustrated overview of the animals and plants that occur on the Seeberg. The Gothaer Tierpark is located below this path and offers another opportunity to see the local fauna.
Graf-Gleichen-Weg
The Graf-Gleichen-Weg , named after the noble family of the Counts von Gleichen , is a hiking trail that leads from Gotha to the Wachsenburg Castle . It is 20 km long, has an easy level of difficulty and runs over the Seeberg to the "Düppel" inn, through Seebergen to the Wechmarer Speicher, into the Freudenthal and past Gleichen Castle to the Wachsenburg.
Historical places
Seeberg observatory
From 1787 to 1791, the Seeberg observatory was built on the western slope of the Seeberg, still in the urban area of Gotha, under Duke Ernst II . The scientific management was initially with Franz Xaver von Zach . His successors were Bernhard August von Lindenau , Johann Franz Encke and Peter Andreas Hansen . In 1839 he left Seeberg as director at the time. He saved some of the instruments in the new observatory in Gothaer Jägerstrasse (see Gotha observatory ). The dilapidated Seeberg observatory served as a restaurant until a fire in 1901. Today, two memorial plaques in the grounds of the "Alte Sternwarte" restaurant, newly built in 1904, commemorate the founder of the Seeberg observatory, Duke Ernst II. And its first director, Franz Xaver von Zach.
Forge well
The source room of the blacksmith fountain was restored by two nature lovers in 2004 with the help of the city of Gotha's water management. Archaeological finds from the Early Bronze Age have been found in this area . Here the early settlers found fertile soil, forest and water. From the later Iron Age were cinder blocks found, an indication of the processing, the forging of iron. Originally, the water was led through a wooden pipe to the Siebleber Mönchshof to feed a fountain . On the occasion of the construction of the Gotha-Erfurt railway line at the northern foot of the Seeberg, the line was replaced by a cast line and carried out in the form of a culvert under the track. After Siebleben, the water was led to Oberstrasse to feed a fountain there. Today it is planned to divert the water to the Siebleber pond. The spring releases over 50 m³ of water per day.
Iffland source
The source at Siebleber Hölzchen was mentioned as early as the 17th century and was made famous in 1778 by the actor August Wilhelm Iffland . He met his colleagues Heinrich Beck and Johann David Beil here while the three of them were engaged in the theater at the Gotha Court Theater. By the way, all three were students of the actor Conrad Ekhof .
The natural spring was taken in 1899, and a year later it was named Iffland-Quelle at the request of the Gotha History Association. A bench was set up next to the spring in front of the Iffland oak natural monument . The spring did not always have water despite several renovation measures. The bench was removed again to protect people from falling branches and integrated into a new seating area at a safe distance.
Excursion restaurant Düppel
The Düppel excursion restaurant, built in 1862/63, is located on the north-eastern slope of the Großer Seeberg, on the Ludwigshöhe . It was built by Seeberger Ludwig Schüller as a small pub. According to tradition, the name is traced back to soldiers who once fought at the Düppeler Schanzen and then transferred to Gotha, who coined the saying "Let's storm the Düppler Schanzen" when visiting the excursion restaurant. Originally it was also used as a clubhouse, also by the Düppelgemeinde and the Lönsgemeinde.
Holy back
The Heilige Lehne is a burial ground on the Great Seeberg from the Iron Age. The excavations were carried out from 1927 by Professor Georg Florschütz . Human settlement remains between 4,000 and 5,000 years old have been found here.
Historical water pipe tunnel on the Seeberg
This tunnel with a length of 500 meters was created by the city of Erfurt in 1897 for water extraction. In 1899, however, it was shut down again by the city of Erfurt due to insufficient delivery. The municipality of Seebergen took over this tunnel in 1926 for water use. But it is no longer in operation today.
Former NVA missile base
An NVA missile base was located on the crest of the mountain . The object was used for air defense of the GDR border. The system was built in a circle, and in the middle was the communications center with bunker. Even today you can clearly see traces of this past.
Bibliography
- Wolfgang Förster: The Seeberg - the local mountain of the city of Gotha, as well as the neighboring communities Seebergen and Günthersleben-Wechmar , 2003
- Wolfgang Förster: The Siebleber pond - beauty plus calm equals enjoyment plus relaxation , 2006
References and comments
- ↑ Information board at the pond
- ↑ Andreas M. Cramer, Die Gothaer Sagen , Gotha 2005, p. 98
- ↑ The miracle source on the Seeberg at www.echt-gothsch.de
- ↑ Thuringian hiking trail ( Memento of the original from May 26, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Chronicle of the excursion restaurant Düppel ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ http://referenz.mediaonline-gotha.de/bestattung/homepage.asp?id=22
