Spreepark (Neusalza-Spremberg)
The approx. One kilometer long Kerbsohlental of the Spree south of the former upper manor in Neusalza-Spremberg is called the Spreepark .
Geology and geomorphology
The valley of the Spree with its steep to steep slopes (up to 60 °) has heights between 8 and 15 m. The valley reaches a maximum width of 50 m.
Similar to the Höllengrund on Großschweidnitzer Wasser in Dürrhennersdorf , boulders up to 3 m long can be found in the river bed of the Spree, which occur mainly there and give rise to an unbalanced gradient, where hard porphyrite dikes run through the Lausitz granodiorite . It can be Wasserschliff- and on the surfaces of the blocks with rounded edges slightly whirlpool forms observed. All of these characteristics indicate the morphological type of a scale that occurs several times in Upper Lusatia and is therefore referred to in its entirety as Upper Lusatian scales .
On the southern slope of the 340 m high Sternberg , also called Stößerberg on older maps, which is surrounded by the Spree on three sides as a circular mountain, three bank terraces are clearly formed, the formation of which is likely to be related to that of the Kerbsohlental after the Saale cold period . In the river loop, the lead Richterflössel and Forellenflössel into the Spree. On the Sternberg, a Spremberger estate had a resting place laid out, from which star-shaped paths led through park-like forest. At the outlet of the Spree from the narrow valley, the water is slightly dammed up at a dilapidated weir and led to the former manor with its mill in a now ditch that has no function today . As with Sohland , the water was supposed to be stored in a dam in the 1930s . The then National Association for Homeland Security was able to prevent this construction project, which means that a diverse and scientifically interesting area has been preserved to this day.
A narrow hiking trail leads along the western bank of the Spree, which was created by friends of nature and homeland from Neusalza-Spremberg under their chairman at the time, Richard Fiedler (1902–1992), in the 1950s and 1960s along with a small tree nature trail (today are the signs have unfortunately disappeared). Today the eastern bank is also accessible through two metal bridges, of which the only bridge at the time was only allowed to be used for the local manor until 1945.
Flora and fauna
An ash-maple ravine forest stretches along the valley on the predominantly exposed slope to the east. The bridge pond and of it approx. 250 m above the brick pond are in front of the upper entrance to the gorge.
The natural composition of the valley and the hanging of nest boxes offer favorable conditions for an unusually rich bird life. More than 50 species of birds such as B. treecreeper , bullfinch , great spotted woodpecker , gray wagtail , kingfisher and dipper can be found in the Spreepark. Brook lamprey and otters also occur in the area.
The Spreepark is part of the southernmost part of the FFH area "Spreegebiet above Bautzen", which extends over the Richter and trout rafts to the Czech border.
Others
The crossings for pedestrians in the Spreepark are at risk during floods . When the water level rose, most recently in November 2010 and July 2012, they were destroyed. In the past, the charming and almost mysterious Spree Valley also gave rise to legends. The legend of the "Teufelskanzel in the Spreepark in Neusalza-Spremberg" refers to a devil's ghost during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). The natural gem Spreepark in Neusalza-Spremberg has nothing to do with the former Spreepark amusement center of the same name in Berlin-Plänterwald .
“The 'Teufelskanzel' in the Spreepark in Neusalza-Spremberg
Before the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) there lived on the manor Ober-Spremberg - the city of Neusalza was not yet founded - a respected owner. He was a just and courageous man. His wife, too, was goodness itself and alleviated many a hard lot. It was autumn again, and the old shepherd of the estate named Gotthelf was grazing the flock of sheep entrusted to him with his two dogs, as always. Since it was an exceptionally beautiful day, he decided to graze outside with his animals in the meadow near today's Spreepark and spend the night in his shepherd's cart. The full moon shone brightly in the hallways.
That night the old shepherd had an experience that had never occurred to him in his long life. He had laid down to rest. Suddenly he woke up from a bright glow. A ball of fire flitted past the old elm tree where he had parked his cart and immediately disappeared into the nearby forest. The Spremberger church tower clock has just struck the twelfth hour. Sleep was over now. Until morning he pondered what the matter was. When it got light, he went to the forest and looked to see if anything of the fiery sign could still be seen. He had not yet gone fifty paces into the forest, today's Spreepark, when suddenly there was an eerie rustling, as if a strong storm was about to break out. It rustled more and more, but still no branches moved in the forest. The old man's hair rose on end, he didn't know whether to go on or to run back. However, he took heart and walked cautiously on. Then it seemed to him as if the roar was retreating from him. Suddenly he saw a fiery glow, and in the middle of it stood the devil in person! Gotthelf collapsed unconscious in shock.
Early on the landlord found his shepherd lying in the grass, guarded by the dogs. He took him home and told his wife everything. Now they both waited for the old man to open his eyes again and to come to. When Gotthelf opened his eyes, he first asked about his flock and his dogs. Then he fell into an uneasy sleep again, from which he was startled again and again with confused speech. Sometimes he spoke of a ball of fire, sometimes of the devil in the midst of fiery embers. Another servant had to look after his sheep that day. The old man couldn't do it. When Gotthelf came to fully that afternoon, he had to tell the landlord everything that had happened that night, then he was sent home. While there, however, he was constantly brooding over the nightly incident. Because he could not find peace, he went to his friend Christoph, the shepherd of the neighboring Nieder-Friedersdorf manor, that evening. The way there led through the Spreepark, because at that time the current road to the neighboring towns did not yet exist. He had to pass the stones again where he had seen the bad one that night. Although he was busy looking for clues, he found nothing. He only noticed a hole in the rock that was full of water. At the border between the two manors he unexpectedly met his friend who had already heard of the spook. He couldn't stand it at home anymore. He had to see his friend to find out what had happened.
They sat down on a tree stump at the edge of the forest, and Gotthelf had to tell what he had experienced. Christoph listened attentively, then said: 'When I was a little boy, my grandmother sometimes told me that there are people who are in league with the devil. They then meet with him in remote places. This stone on the Spree is definitely such a meeting point. We need to explore that. Gotthelf, listen very carefully to what I tell you! When the full moon is back in four weeks, we'll meet at eleven o'clock at night by the elm, a hundred paces to the left of the stone. Firm faith in God will protect us from being harmed by evil. But don't tell anyone about it! ' The next few weeks passed endlessly for old Gotthelf. But finally the time had come, the full moon was in the sky again.
At the appointed time they met and shook hands in silence. Then Christoph whispered to Gotthelf: 'When we get to the stone, we start to pray, then step on the rock and say: "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen!" Now come, let God rule ! ' They had only taken a few steps and it was as if they were paralyzed. Was it fear or the power of the devil? There was rustling and rustling everywhere. There was a loud rustling and gusty gusts of wind swept through the forest. But the two were not confused. With firm trust in God's help, they continued straight towards the stone. There they haltingly said their little saying. But they hardly had the amen when there was a terrible din, so strong that everything was being smashed to the ground. And suddenly there was a deep silence. The men listened anxiously to see what would come next. But everything remained quiet. Only the dead leaves were whirled around by an invisible hand. Then there was a devilish laugh - and grave silence was around them. Then they ran back quickly. Gotthelf took Christoph with him to Spremberg so that he didn't have to go home alone through the eerie forest that night. Not until the next morning did Christoph go back to Friedersdorf.
Since then, nobody in the Spreebusch has seen or heard of the devil. He's gone forever. The 'Teufelskanzel' in Spremberger Spreepark was also called 'Baptismal font with fiery water' in earlier times. "
literature
- Theodor Schütze (Ed.): Between Strohmberg, Czorneboh and Kottmar (= values of our homeland . Volume 24). 1st edition. Akademie Verlag, Berlin 1974.
Coordinates: 51 ° 1 '53.8 " N , 14 ° 32'22.7" E