Kösseine
Encyclopedia
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 the Kösseine as does the European watershed between the North Sea
and the Black Sea
. Around the Kösseine are the settlements of Wunsiedel
, Marktredwitz
, Bad Alexandersbad
, Waldershof
, Hohenhard, Neusorg
, Brand, Ebnath
, Nagel and Tröstau
, tourist resorts within the Fichtelgebirge.
On the Kösseine rises an eponymous stream (officially called the Kössein), which flows through Waldershof
and Marktredwitz
before discharging into the Rösla
, a tributary of the Eger, near Seußen.
blockfield with an area of 15.8 hectares (39 acre) which has been placed under protection. Various rock formations (the Kleine Kösseine, the Großer and Kleiner Haberstein, the Burgsteinfelsen, Mühlstein, Püttnersfel and Jakobifels) are protected natural monument
s. The twin peaks of the Kleine and Große Kösseine (Little and Great Kösseine), visible from almost all sides, is quite striking.
of Rhine
and Duke
of Bavaria. From 1542 (Caspar Bruschius: Des Vichtelbergs gründtliche Beschreibung) to the present day the mountain appeared in all local geographical and historical books and was famous for its outstanding views. By the 15th century its thick woods were already a favourite hunting ground of the Bayreuth margrave
s, and the forests supplied wood for construction and fuel to the surrounding villages. Granite quarrying began in the same century.
In 1785 and 1820 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
came to the Fichtelgebirge. He wrote scientific treatises about granite weathering
and made sketches of the various rock formations in the Kösseine area.
Because of its clear, far-reaching views in all directions of the compass (to the Bavarian Forest
, Rhön, Thuringian Forest
and Ore Mountains) the mountain has long been a popular destination. Its fame rose considerably as a result of the visit of the nobility from 13 June 1805 to 5 July 1805 and who stayed in (Bad) Alexandersbad
. On 17 June 1805 Frederick William III of Prussia
and his wife Louise
as well as a large entourage rode out to the Kösseine. Many newspaper
s reported the event and spread the mountain's renown.
) built a timber refuge hut with food for hikers. Due to the constantly rising number of visitors a permanent house was called for which was finally opened in 1903 after a long preparations and which was considerable extended in the years that followed. In 1924 a stone observation tower
, the Kösseine Tower (Kösseineturm), was built to replace the wooden towers. Both house and tower belong to the Fichtelgebirge Club. The house, built of Kösseine Granite and leased, offers accommodation and food all year round.
From 1998 to 2000 the Kösseinehaus was fully renovated, so that it now has all the modern facilities of an inn. The forest road to the house is out-of-bounds to private vehicles, so it can only be reached on foot. The Kösseinehaus is on the network of main hiking trails maintained by the Fichtelgebirge Club; it lies directly next to the High Way and is well used by walkers.
The volunteer workers of the Fichtelgebirge Club have laid out 13 marked hiking trails of varying lengths from all directions to the summit of the Kösseine. The surrounding villages include the Kösseine as a local attraction in their advertising brochures.
. Folk evenings, too, enjoy great popularity. Near the Kösseinehaus there is a large, wooden cross and a stone altar; mountaintop services on Ascension Day and other special occasions are a tradition here.
Kösseine Granite, which is a blue granite
that is unique in Europe, is also called Kleinwendern Granite or Schurbach Granite and occurs near Schurbach and Kleinwendern. Its also occurs in a narrow band at the Luisenburg Rock Labyrinth
north of the Kösseine that runs eastwards. Only the eastern part of the lower rock labyrinth consists of Kösseine Granite, the western part is made of Dach Granite. Kösseine Granite is quarried today only near Waldershof
in the district of Tirschenreuth.
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
in the High Fichtelgebirge
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...
mountains in Germany, lying in northeast Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
south of Wunsiedel
Wunsiedel
Wunsiedel is the county town of the Upper Franconian district of Wunsiedel in northeast Bavaria, Germany. The town became well known for its annual Luisenburg Festival and the Rudolf Hess Memorial March held by the Neo-Nazis here until 2005.- Geography :...
. The highest elevation of this granite
Granite
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...
massif is the summit of the Große Kösseine, . The border between the Bavarian provinces of Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia is a Regierungsbezirk of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia , all now part of the German Federal State of Bayern .With more than 200 independent breweries which brew...
and Upper Palatinate
Upper Palatinate
The Upper Palatinate is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of Bavaria.- History :The region took its name first in the early 16th century, because it was by the Treaty of Pavia one of the main portions of the territory of the Wittelsbach Elector...
runs over the Kösseine as does the European watershed between the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
and the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
. Around the Kösseine are the settlements of Wunsiedel
Wunsiedel
Wunsiedel is the county town of the Upper Franconian district of Wunsiedel in northeast Bavaria, Germany. The town became well known for its annual Luisenburg Festival and the Rudolf Hess Memorial March held by the Neo-Nazis here until 2005.- Geography :...
, Marktredwitz
Marktredwitz
Marktredwitz is a municipality in the district of Wunsiedel, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 22 km west of Cheb, 50 km east of Bayreuth and 50 km south of Hof/Saale.The town celebrated the Horticultural Show 2006 in cooperation with Cheb....
, Bad Alexandersbad
Bad Alexandersbad
Bad Alexandersbad is a municipality of Germany in Oberfranken , in the district of Wunsiedel. Population : 1,240. The municipality consists of the villages Dünkelhammer, Kleinwendern, Sichersreuth and Tiefenbach....
, Waldershof
Waldershof
Waldershof is a town in the district of Tirschenreuth, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 22 km northwest of Tirschenreuth, and 3 km southwest of Marktredwitz....
, Hohenhard, Neusorg
Neusorg
Neusorg is a municipality in the district of Tirschenreuth in Bavaria, Germany....
, Brand, Ebnath
Ebnath
Ebnath is a municipality in the district of Tirschenreuth in Bavaria, Germany....
, Nagel and Tröstau
Tröstau
Tröstau is a municipality in the district of Wunsiedel in Bavaria in Germany....
, tourist resorts within the Fichtelgebirge.
On the Kösseine rises an eponymous stream (officially called the Kössein), which flows through Waldershof
Waldershof
Waldershof is a town in the district of Tirschenreuth, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 22 km northwest of Tirschenreuth, and 3 km southwest of Marktredwitz....
and Marktredwitz
Marktredwitz
Marktredwitz is a municipality in the district of Wunsiedel, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 22 km west of Cheb, 50 km east of Bayreuth and 50 km south of Hof/Saale.The town celebrated the Horticultural Show 2006 in cooperation with Cheb....
before discharging into the Rösla
Roßla
Roßla or Rossla is a village and a former municipality in the Mansfeld-Südharz district, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the municipality Südharz. From 1706–1803, Roßla was the seat of Stolberg-Rossla....
, a tributary of the Eger, near Seußen.
Conservation and natural monuments
In the vicinity of the Große Kösseine peak is a large 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...
blockfield with an area of 15.8 hectares (39 acre) which has been placed under protection. Various rock formations (the Kleine Kösseine, the Großer and Kleiner Haberstein, the Burgsteinfelsen, Mühlstein, Püttnersfel and Jakobifels) are protected natural monument
Natural Monument
A natural monument is a natural or natural/cultural feature of outstanding or unique value because of its inherent rarity, representative of aesthetic qualities or cultural significance....
s. The twin peaks of the Kleine and Große Kösseine (Little and Great Kösseine), visible from almost all sides, is quite striking.
History and famous visitors
The Kösseine was first mentioned in the records on 7 March 1283, when large parts of the Kösseine (Choezsin) were transferred to Duke Louis the Strict, Count PalatineCount palatine
Count palatine is a high noble title, used to render several comital styles, in some cases also shortened to Palatine, which can have other meanings as well.-Comes palatinus:...
of Rhine
Ryn
Ryn is a town in Poland located 19 km southwest of Giżycko, in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. Until the reorganization of 1999 it had been assigned to Suwałki Voivodeship. It had a population of 3,062 inhabitants as of December 31, 2004....
and Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Bavaria. From 1542 (Caspar Bruschius: Des Vichtelbergs gründtliche Beschreibung) to the present day the mountain appeared in all local geographical and historical books and was famous for its outstanding views. By the 15th century its thick woods were already a favourite hunting ground of the Bayreuth margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
s, and the forests supplied wood for construction and fuel to the surrounding villages. Granite quarrying began in the same century.
In 1785 and 1820 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
came to the Fichtelgebirge. He wrote scientific treatises about granite weathering
Weathering
Weathering is the breaking down of rocks, soils and minerals as well as artificial materials through contact with the Earth's atmosphere, biota and waters...
and made sketches of the various rock formations in the Kösseine area.
Because of its clear, far-reaching views in all directions of the compass (to the Bavarian Forest
Bavarian Forest
thumb|The village of Zell in the Bavarian ForestThe Bavarian Forest is a wooded low-mountain region in Bavaria, Germany. It extends along the Czech border and is continued on the Czech side by the Šumava . Geographically the Bavarian Forest and Bohemian Forest are sections of the same mountain range...
, Rhön, Thuringian Forest
Thuringian Forest
The Thuringian Forest running northwest to southeast, forms a continuous stretch of ancient rounded mountains posing ample difficulties in transit routing save through a few navigable passes in the southern reaches of the German state of Thuringia. It is about long and wide...
and Ore Mountains) the mountain has long been a popular destination. Its fame rose considerably as a result of the visit of the nobility from 13 June 1805 to 5 July 1805 and who stayed in (Bad) Alexandersbad
Bad Alexandersbad
Bad Alexandersbad is a municipality of Germany in Oberfranken , in the district of Wunsiedel. Population : 1,240. The municipality consists of the villages Dünkelhammer, Kleinwendern, Sichersreuth and Tiefenbach....
. On 17 June 1805 Frederick William III of Prussia
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 his wife Louise
Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was Queen consort of Prussia as the wife of King Frederick William III...
as well as a large entourage rode out to the Kösseine. Many newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s reported the event and spread the mountain's renown.
Structures on the summit
In 1805 the first primitive shelter was erected and, in 1833, another one. In 1882 the Fichtelgebirge Section of the German-Austrian Alpine Club (forerunner 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...
) built a timber refuge hut with food for hikers. Due to the constantly rising number of visitors a permanent house was called for which was finally opened in 1903 after a long preparations and which was considerable extended in the years that followed. In 1924 a stone observation tower
Observation tower
An observation tower is a structure used to view events from a long distance and to create a full 360 degree range of vision. They are usually at least tall and made from stone, iron, and wood. Many modern towers are also used as TV towers, restaurants, or churches...
, the Kösseine Tower (Kösseineturm), was built to replace the wooden towers. Both house and tower belong to the Fichtelgebirge Club. The house, built of Kösseine Granite and leased, offers accommodation and food all year round.
From 1998 to 2000 the Kösseinehaus was fully renovated, so that it now has all the modern facilities of an inn. The forest road to the house is out-of-bounds to private vehicles, so it can only be reached on foot. The Kösseinehaus is on the network of main hiking trails maintained by the Fichtelgebirge Club; it lies directly next to the High Way and is well used by walkers.
The volunteer workers of the Fichtelgebirge Club have laid out 13 marked hiking trails of varying lengths from all directions to the summit of the Kösseine. The surrounding villages include the Kösseine as a local attraction in their advertising brochures.
Culture and Kösseine Granite
The mountain hut on the Kösseine has been a venue for folk musicians for a long time who, at regular intervals, play authentic folk musicFolk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. Folk evenings, too, enjoy great popularity. Near the Kösseinehaus there is a large, wooden cross and a stone altar; mountaintop services on Ascension Day and other special occasions are a tradition here.
Kösseine Granite, which is a blue granite
Granite
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...
that is unique in Europe, is also called Kleinwendern Granite or Schurbach Granite and occurs near Schurbach and Kleinwendern. Its also occurs in a narrow band at the Luisenburg Rock Labyrinth
Luisenburg Rock Labyrinth
The Luisenburg Rock Labyrinth is a felsenmeer made of granite blocks several metres across and is part of the Großes Labyrinth Nature Reserve near Wunsiedel in Germany. For a long time its formation was believed to have been caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes...
north of the Kösseine that runs eastwards. Only the eastern part of the lower rock labyrinth consists of Kösseine Granite, the western part is made of Dach Granite. Kösseine Granite is quarried today only near Waldershof
Waldershof
Waldershof is a town in the district of Tirschenreuth, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 22 km northwest of Tirschenreuth, and 3 km southwest of Marktredwitz....
in the district of Tirschenreuth.