Wittekindsquelle (Porta Westfalica)
The Wittekindsquelle on the upper southeast slope of the Häverstädter Berg in the Wiehengebirge near Porta Westfalica is a spring that has now dried up. It is named after Widukind , the Duke of the Saxons. The area of the source is located in the Wittekindsberg nature reserve .
description
The Wittekindsquelle is located within the ramparts of the Wittekindsburg . The presence of this spring was probably an important prerequisite for the construction of the Latène Age hill fort.
The spring developed into a popular destination in the second half of the 19th century. In the Wilhelmine era, the spring was lavishly provided with a temple-like stone spring grotto. A semicircular relief was placed over the grotto with a grille. On the relief, the exposure of the spring by Widukind's horse was shown. A water basin was also created below the spring. The relief depicting the miracle of the spring was later stolen and has since been lost.
From the mid-1930s, increased mining activities began to extract iron ore in the Wiehen Mountains. In the area of the Wittekindsberg, several new tunnels for ore mining were created. The mining disrupted the underground water-bearing layers and ultimately the Wittekindsquelle dried up in 1938.
Today only remnants of the originally elaborately designed spring grotto are preserved.
Surname
There are various traditions relating to the so-called source miracle Widukinds about the origin of the name Wittekindsquelle.
According to tradition, at a meeting between the Saxon Duke Widukind and Emperor Charlemagne, who wanted to convert the Saxons to the Christian faith, there was a violent argument about the different doctrines. In the course of the dispute, Widukind demanded a sign from Charlemagne to prove his Christian faith. Widukind's horse then scratched its hooves and exposed the spring. By this miracle spring, as far as the legend goes, Widukind was so impressed that he submitted to the Frankish king, converted to Christianity and was baptized.
In addition to the source on the Wittekindsberg, there are so-called Wittekinds sources in the Wiehengebirge:
- Wittekindsquelle on the grounds of the Evangelical Church in Bergkirchen (Bad Oeynhausen)
- Wittekindsquelle (Lübbecke)
- The spring within the Wallburg Babilonie is also sometimes called the Wittekinds spring
literature
- Paetow, Karl: Die Wittekindsage , Hameln / Hannover, 1994, ISBN 3-87766-051-7
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Topographical Information Management, Cologne District Government, Department GEObasis NRW ( Notes )
- ↑ Nature reserve "Wittekindsquelle (Porta Westfalica)" (MI-038) in the specialist information system of the State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection in North Rhine-Westphalia (see map view)
Coordinates: 52 ° 14 ′ 51.6 ″ N , 8 ° 52 ′ 52 ″ E