Epprechtstein
Encyclopedia
The Epprechtstein is a mountain in the northern Fichtelgebirge
in northeast Bavaria, . It is mineralogically the most interesting mountain in the entire Fichtelgebirge range. Around the summit there are about 20 quarries
, in three of which Epprechtstein granite is quarried. The others are closed and partially overgrown.
's main hiking trails.
slab stands the ruined castle of Epprechtstein. This is the old tower-like main residence on which a staircase has been built leading to an observation platform. From here there is a panoramic view of the Waldstein
ridge, the Großer Kornberg
, to Schwarzenbach an der Saale
and Oberkotzau
as far as Hof, and south to the inner Fichtelgebirge and Kösseine
. 250 metres southeast is a service hut belonging to the Kirchenlamitz Mountain Rescue service.
enfeoffed the brothers Ulrich, Henry and Nickel, known as the Sacks, with Epprechtstein fortress; the von Wilds being co-owners. In 1337 Emperor Louis of Bavaria
enfeoffed the bailiff (Vogt
) Heinrich von Plauen with a small part of the fortress. In 1352 the burgraves of the Nuremberg stormed the 'robber castle', and were then granted it as a fief. In 1355/1356 they bought the castle and took full possession of both fortress and the Office (Amt) of Kirchenlamitz. 200 years later the castle was destroyed by troops of Vogt Heinrich von Plauen and fell into ruin.
had acquired the Margraviate of Bayreuth, its new rulers, King Frederick William III
and Queen Louise
visited Epprechtstein on 21 June 1805 with a large entourage. The stone table and stone benches, poetically called the Devil's Table (Teufelstisch), were specially built for the royal party to take luncheon. William III is said to have received the message that Napoleon I and his troops had crossed the Rhine whilst on the Epprechtstein.
Fichtelgebirge
The Fichtelgebirge is a mountain range in northeastern Bavaria, Germany. It extends from the valley of the Red Main River to the Czech border, a few foothills spilling over into the Czech Republic. It continues in a northeastern direction as the Ore Mountains, and in a southeastern direction as...
in northeast Bavaria, . It is mineralogically the most interesting mountain in the entire Fichtelgebirge range. Around the summit there are about 20 quarries
Quarries
Quarries - The "Royal Quarries" — not found in Scripture — is the namegiven to the vast caverns stretching far underneath the northern hill, Bezetha, on which Jerusalem is built. Out of these mammoth caverns stones, a hard limestone, have been quarried in ancient times for the buildings in the...
, in three of which Epprechtstein granite is quarried. The others are closed and partially overgrown.
Climb
The mountain may be climbed from Buchhaus to the north on one of the Fichtelgebirge ClubFichtelgebirge Club
The Fichtelgebirge Club is a large walking club and local heritage society in Bavaria and recognised conservation group with 20,000 members in 55 local groups. As the name says, its main sphere of activity is in the Fichtelgebirge mountains in north Bavaria...
's main hiking trails.
Ruins of Epprechtstein Castle
On the treeless summit on a long, steep-sided graniteGranite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
slab stands the ruined castle of Epprechtstein. This is the old tower-like main residence on which a staircase has been built leading to an observation platform. From here there is a panoramic view of the Waldstein
Waldstein (mountain range)
The Waldstein is a mountain range in the northern part of the Fichtelgebirge Mountains in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, in southern Germany.Its highest elevation is the Großer Waldstein which is high. In addition, the Epprechtstein, the Kleiner Waldstein and the ridge of the Hallerstein Forest, south...
ridge, the Großer Kornberg
Großer Kornberg
With its high peak the Große Kornberg is the northeast cornerstone of the Fichtelgebirge Mountains in south Germany. It forms a wooded ridge, which is recognisable from a long distance by its former military surveillance tower It is also the local 'house' mountain of Schönwald and Schwarzenbach an...
, to Schwarzenbach an der Saale
Schwarzenbach an der Saale
Schwarzenbach an der Saale is a town in the district of Hof, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, 11 km south of Hof. Within the town is the Gedenkstätte Langer Gang, a memorial to the Nazi victims of the Helmbrechts concentration camp, which was near Schwarzenbach an der...
and Oberkotzau
Oberkotzau
Oberkotzau is a municipality in Upper Franconia in the district of Hof in Bavaria in Germany....
as far as Hof, and south to the inner Fichtelgebirge and Kösseine
Kösseine
The Kösseine is a massif in the High Fichtelgebirge mountains in Germany, lying in northeast Bavaria south of Wunsiedel. The highest elevation of this granite massif is the summit of the Große Kösseine, . The border between the Bavarian provinces of Upper Franconia and Upper Palatinate runs over...
. 250 metres southeast is a service hut belonging to the Kirchenlamitz Mountain Rescue service.
History of the castle
In a deed of gift by Duke Otto II of Merania a certain Eberhardus de Eckebretsteine was mentioned for the first time in 1248. In 1308 King Henry VIIHenry VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VII was the King of Germany from 1308 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1312. He was the first emperor of the House of Luxembourg...
enfeoffed the brothers Ulrich, Henry and Nickel, known as the Sacks, with Epprechtstein fortress; the von Wilds being co-owners. In 1337 Emperor Louis of Bavaria
Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Louis IV , called the Bavarian, of the house of Wittelsbach, was the King of Germany from 1314, the King of Italy from 1327 and the Holy Roman Emperor from 1328....
enfeoffed the bailiff (Vogt
Vogt
A Vogt ; plural Vögte; Dutch voogd; Danish foged; ; ultimately from Latin [ad]vocatus) in the Holy Roman Empire was the German title of a reeve or advocate, an overlord exerting guardianship or military protection as well as secular justice...
) Heinrich von Plauen with a small part of the fortress. In 1352 the burgraves of the Nuremberg stormed the 'robber castle', and were then granted it as a fief. In 1355/1356 they bought the castle and took full possession of both fortress and the Office (Amt) of Kirchenlamitz. 200 years later the castle was destroyed by troops of Vogt Heinrich von Plauen and fell into ruin.
Royal visit of 1805
After PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
had acquired the Margraviate of Bayreuth, its new rulers, King Frederick William III
Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
and Queen Louise
Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was Queen consort of Prussia as the wife of King Frederick William III...
visited Epprechtstein on 21 June 1805 with a large entourage. The stone table and stone benches, poetically called the Devil's Table (Teufelstisch), were specially built for the royal party to take luncheon. William III is said to have received the message that Napoleon I and his troops had crossed the Rhine whilst on the Epprechtstein.
Epprechtstein granite labyrinth
In 2009 the town of Kirchenlamitz built a labyrinth of huge granite blocks at the foot of the mountain, near the village of Buchhaus.Sources
- Dietmar Herrmann: Lexikon Fichtelgebirge. Ackermann Verlag Hof/Saale.
- Werner Bergmann: 750 Jahre Burg Epprechtstein. Verlag der Stadt Kirchenlamitz/Ofr.
- Dr. Hans Vollet und Kathrin Heckel: Die Ruinenzeichnungen des Plassenburgkartographen Johann Christoph Stierlein. 1987.
- Dietmar Herrmann: Granitlabyrinth Epprechtstein, in: Der Siebenstern 2009, p. 344
External links
- Epprechtstein
- Ruins of Epprechtstein Castle at the home page of the House of Bavarian History (plans, history, architecture, condition)
- Granite labyrinth