Süntel
Encyclopedia
The Süntel is a massif in the German Central Uplands
that is up to . It forms part of the Weser Uplands in Lower Saxony
southwest of Hanover
and north of Hamelin
.
and runs for about 12 km from northwest to southeast. It is surrounded by the valleys of the Aue
, Deister-Süntel and Weser. It is also part of the Weser Uplands Schaumburg-Hamelin Nature Park and the Calenberg Uplands
.
The Hohenstein hill and its immediate vicinity are a nature reserve
.
en sandstone
from the Lower Cretaceous
period as well as small anthracite deposits. Its northwestern part, including the Hohenstein with its 350 m long and 50 to 60 m high crags, comprises limestone
of the Upper Jurassic
period, the Corallian oolith
.
, but also has other species such as Oak
, Spruce
, Hornbeam
and Coast Douglas-fir
and rarer types like the Yew
and Wild Service Tree
. A botanic
rarity is the Dwarf Beech
(known in German as the Süntelbuche or "Süntel Beech") of which there are about a dozen old examples still in the Süntel (at Dachtelfeld and Bleeksgrund). The last great Dwarf Beech wood on the Westeregge was almost completely cleared in 1843. In addition there are numerous, rare species of flower such as varieties of Primula
, Spring Snowflake, Horseshoe Vetch
, Hart's-tongue Fern
, Spleenwort, Lady's Slipper
and Heath Spotted Orchid etc.
In addition to roe deer
and wild boar there are also mouflon
wild sheep in the Süntel. Rarer sights are the Barn Owl
, Kestrel
, Black Woodpecker
and Pine Marten
. The Black Stork
is occasionally seen on the southern slopes.
and tourism
quarrying plays an important role in the Süntel.
Süntel sandstone
was used for many notable buildings in the area such as the Rat Catcher's House in Hamelin
, Barntrup
Castle, Schwöbber Castle and Hämelschenburg Castle. Limestone from the quarries near Pötzen, Segelhorst, Langenfeld and Hamelspringe is used in road construction.
The town of Münder had a coal mine in the Süntel that operated for about half a century from 1809.
In the Süntel, as well as hiking trails with views over the valleys, there are also long, straight, rather monotonous forest tracks without any signs. The Hohenstein crags provide a training ground for rock climbers and mountaineer
s.
Central Uplands
The Central Uplands is one of the three major natural regions of Germany and covers most of the land area of the country. To the north lies the North German Plain or Northern Lowland; to the south, the Alps and the Alpine Foreland.- Formation :...
that is up to . It forms part of the Weser Uplands in Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
southwest of Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
and north of Hamelin
Hamelin
Hamelin is a town on the river Weser in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Hamelin-Pyrmont and has a population of 58,696 ....
.
Geographical location
The Süntel is the eastern extension of the WesergebirgeWesergebirge
The Wesergebirge is a low mountain chain up to high in the Weser Uplands in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony....
and runs for about 12 km from northwest to southeast. It is surrounded by the valleys of the Aue
Aue
Aue is a small town in Germany at the outlet of the river Schwarzwasser into the river Mulde in the Ore Mountains, and has roughly 18,000 inhabitants. Aue was the administrative seat of the former district of Aue-Schwarzenberg in Saxony, and is part of the Erzgebirgskreis since August 2008...
, Deister-Süntel and Weser. It is also part of the Weser Uplands Schaumburg-Hamelin Nature Park and the Calenberg Uplands
Calenberg Uplands
The Calenberg Uplands are a landscape unit in the Weser-Leine Uplands in Lower Saxony, Germany. They border on the Calenberg Land to the north and merge into the Weser Uplands in the west and the Leine Uplands in the east...
.
The Hohenstein hill and its immediate vicinity are a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
.
General
The southeastern part of the Süntel, including the Hohe Egge, consists mainly of WealdWeald
The Weald is the name given to an area in South East England situated between the parallel chalk escarpments of the North and the South Downs. It should be regarded as three separate parts: the sandstone "High Weald" in the centre; the clay "Low Weald" periphery; and the Greensand Ridge which...
en sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
from the Lower Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
period as well as small anthracite deposits. Its northwestern part, including the Hohenstein with its 350 m long and 50 to 60 m high crags, comprises limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
of the Upper Jurassic
Jurassic
The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
period, the Corallian oolith
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock are types of rock that are formed by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause mineral and/or organic particles to settle and accumulate or minerals to precipitate from a solution....
.
Features
The main geological features of the Süntel are:- The giant hill caves near Langenfeld, the largest dripstone cave in Lower Saxony,
- The Schillat Caves, open to visitors to look around,
- The two highest, natural, waterfallWaterfallA waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s in Lower Saxony at the Höllenmühle near Langenfeld at the head of the valley of the rocky Höllengrund and - The Hohenstein plateau north of Hessisch OldendorfHessisch OldendorfHessisch Oldendorf is a town in the Hamelin-Pyrmont district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Weser, approx. 10 km northwest of Hamelin. The adjective "Hessisch" is used since 1905, to distinguish it from other towns named Oldendorf. Hessisch Oldendorf was part of...
with rock faces and deep clefts.
History
- Historically interesting is the Dachtelfeld, a plateauPlateauIn geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
over 100 hectares (247.1 acre) in area and up to . In 782 Saxon rebels annihilated part of the FrankishCarolingian EmpireCarolingian Empire is a historiographical term which has been used to refer to the realm of the Franks under the Carolingian dynasty in the Early Middle Ages. This dynasty is seen as the founders of France and Germany, and its beginning date is based on the crowning of Charlemagne, or Charles the...
occupation troops, a defeat which was avenged in the same year by CharlemagneCharlemagneCharlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
at the Massacre of Verden. - The Hohenstein is an old Germanic cultCultThe word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
site dedicated to the god, Donar. Many ancient legends surround this hill and its rock outcrops: the Hirschsprung, Grüner Altar and Teufelskanzel. - On the Amelungsberg there are still the ruins of a medieval fort and a stone ageStone AgeThe Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
megalithMegalithA megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic describes structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.The word 'megalith' comes from the Ancient...
. - From more recent times there are traces of the coal mine in the southeastern part of the Süntel near Bad Münder.
- Between 1933 and 1938 the town of Hamelin erected the Horst-Wessel Monument, subsequently blown up
- There is a US radar station on the Hohe Egge in the Süntel and a NATO depot near Hülsede
Flora and fauna
The Süntel is covered by mixed woods which are dominated by BeechBeech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
, but also has other species such as Oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, Spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
, Hornbeam
Hornbeam
Hornbeams are relatively small hardwood trees in the genus Carpinus . Though some botanists grouped them with the hazels and hop-hornbeams in a segregate family, Corylaceae, modern botanists place the hornbeams in the birch subfamily Coryloideae...
and Coast Douglas-fir
Coast Douglas-fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii, known as Douglas-fir, Oregon Pine, or Douglas spruce, is an evergreen conifer species native to western North America. Its variety Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii, also known as coast Douglas-fir grows in the coastal regions, from west-central British Columbia, Canada...
and rarer types like the Yew
Taxus baccata
Taxus baccata is a conifer native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, northern Iran and southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related trees becoming known, it may be now known as the English yew, or European yew.-Description:It is a small-...
and Wild Service Tree
Wild Service Tree
Sorbus torminalis , sometimes known as the Chequer Tree or Checker Tree, is a species of Sorbus native to Europe from England and Wales east to Denmark and Poland, south to northwest Africa, and southeast to southwest Asia from Asia Minor to the Caucasus and Alborz mountains.It is a medium-sized...
. A botanic
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
rarity is the Dwarf Beech
Dwarf Beech
The Dwarf Beech, Fagus sylvatica Tortuosa Group, is a rare Cultivar Group of the European Beech with less than 1500 older specimens in Europe. It is also known as Twisted Beech or Parasol Beech....
(known in German as the Süntelbuche or "Süntel Beech") of which there are about a dozen old examples still in the Süntel (at Dachtelfeld and Bleeksgrund). The last great Dwarf Beech wood on the Westeregge was almost completely cleared in 1843. In addition there are numerous, rare species of flower such as varieties of Primula
Primula
Primula is a genus of 400–500 species of low-growing herbs in the family Primulaceae. They include primrose, auricula, cowslip and oxlip. Many species are grown for their ornamental flowers...
, Spring Snowflake, Horseshoe Vetch
Horseshoe Vetch
Hippocrepis comosa, known as Horseshoe Vetch, is a flowering plant. It is the sole food of the butterfly species Polyommatus coridon, or the Chalkhill Blue....
, Hart's-tongue Fern
Hart's-tongue fern
Asplenium scolopendrium, Hart's-tongue Fern is a fern in the genus Asplenium, of the Northern Hemisphere.-Distribution:...
, Spleenwort, Lady's Slipper
Lady's Slipper
Lady's slipper orchids, lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids are the orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioidea, which includes the genera Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium...
and Heath Spotted Orchid etc.
In addition to roe deer
Roe Deer
The European Roe Deer , also known as the Western Roe Deer, chevreuil or just Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from...
and wild boar there are also mouflon
Mouflon
The mouflon is a subspecies group of the wild sheep Ovis aries. Populations of Ovis aries can be partitioned into the mouflons and urials or arkars...
wild sheep in the Süntel. Rarer sights are the Barn Owl
Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
, Kestrel
Kestrel
The name kestrel, is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects...
, Black Woodpecker
Black Woodpecker
The Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius, is a large woodpecker, 45–50 cm long with a 64–84 cm wingspan. Body weight is approximately 300-400 grams on average. It is easily the largest woodpecker in its range...
and Pine Marten
Pine Marten
The European Pine Marten , known most commonly as the pine marten in Anglophone Europe, and less commonly also known as Pineten, baum marten, or sweet marten, is an animal native to Northern Europe belonging to the mustelid family, which also includes mink, otter, badger, wolverine and weasel. It...
. The Black Stork
Black Stork
The Black Stork Ciconia nigra is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread, but rare, species that breeds in the warmer parts of Europe, predominantly in central and eastern regions. This is a shy and wary species, unlike the closely related White Stork. It is seen in...
is occasionally seen on the southern slopes.
Economy and tourism
In addition to forestryForestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
quarrying plays an important role in the Süntel.
Süntel sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
was used for many notable buildings in the area such as the Rat Catcher's House in Hamelin
Hamelin
Hamelin is a town on the river Weser in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Hamelin-Pyrmont and has a population of 58,696 ....
, Barntrup
Barntrup
Barntrup is a town in the Lippe district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It has an area of 59.46 km² and 9.431 inhabitants , and has 433 people who are out of work....
Castle, Schwöbber Castle and Hämelschenburg Castle. Limestone from the quarries near Pötzen, Segelhorst, Langenfeld and Hamelspringe is used in road construction.
The town of Münder had a coal mine in the Süntel that operated for about half a century from 1809.
In the Süntel, as well as hiking trails with views over the valleys, there are also long, straight, rather monotonous forest tracks without any signs. The Hohenstein crags provide a training ground for rock climbers and mountaineer
Mountaineer
-Sports:*Mountaineering, the sport, hobby or profession of walking, hiking, trekking and climbing up mountains, also known as alpinism-University athletic teams and mascots:*Appalachian State Mountaineers, the athletic teams of Appalachian State University...
s.
Hills
The main hills and elevations of the Süntel are – with heights in metres above Normalnull (NN):- Hohe Egge (437,5 m) with its Süntel Tower (south) and transmission mast (north; 435,2 m); in the centre of the Süntel
- Bakeder Berg (ca. 375 m); southwest of Bakede
- Hoher Nacken (or: Hohenacken; ca. 375 m); northeast of Pötzen
- Dachtelfeld (356,0 m); in the centre of the Süntel
- Katzennase (352,7 m); northeast of Hessisch Oldendorf-Haddessen
- Südwehe (ca. 350 m)
- Hohenstein (340,5 m; including the Grünem Altar, Teufelskanzel, Hirschsprung and nearby Kreuzstein; between Langenfeld and Zersen
- Amelungsberg (ca. 325 m); northeast of Segelhorst
- Borberg (ca. 320 m), including the Roter Stein crag; north-northeast of Hessisch Oldendorf-Bensen
- Ramsnacken (ca. 320 m), including the Moosköpfe crags; southwest of Langenfeld
- Riesenberg (ca. 310 m), with its quarry; south of Langenfeld
- Schrabstein (Schrabst; 300,2 m); between Rohdental and Langenfeld
- Iberg (ca. 300 m); between Auetal-Rannenberg and Hessisch Oldendorf-Langenfeld
- Moosköpfe (ca. 300 m); southeast of Langenfeld
- Mittelberg (297,0 m); north of Hessisch-Oldendorf-Barksen
- Mattenberg (288,6 m); west of Hamelspringe
- Hasseln (286,5 m)
- Osterberg (260,1 m); northeast of Hessisch Oldendorf-Bensen
- Hünenburg (251,7 m); between Rohdental and Rannenberg
- Westerberg (249,2 m); north of Hessisch Oldendorf-Bensen
- Baumgartenberg (232,1 m); north of Hessisch Oldendorf-Segelhorst
- Hülsebrink (227,2 m); north of Klein Süntel
- Wendgeberg (or: Wenchenberg; ca. 223 m), north-northeast of Hessisch Oldendorf-Zersen
Valleys
The valleys of the Süntel include the:- Bleeksgrund
- Höllengrund
- Langes Föhrtal
- Schneegrund
- Totental
- Wellergrund
Towns and villages
The towns and villages of the Süntel include:- AuetalAuetalAuetal is a municipality in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 10 km south of Stadthagen, and 22 km east of Minden. Its seat is in the village Rehren.- External links :**...
- HülsedeHülsedeHülsede is a municipality in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
- Bad Münder am Deister
- Hessisch OldendorfHessisch OldendorfHessisch Oldendorf is a town in the Hamelin-Pyrmont district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Weser, approx. 10 km northwest of Hamelin. The adjective "Hessisch" is used since 1905, to distinguish it from other towns named Oldendorf. Hessisch Oldendorf was part of...
- HamelinHamelinHamelin is a town on the river Weser in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Hamelin-Pyrmont and has a population of 58,696 ....
Inns
The forest restaurants in and around the Süntel include the:- Krackes Ruh, near HülsedeHülsedeHülsede is a municipality in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
- Eulenflucht, between Hohe Egge and Hamelspringe (Bad Münder am Deister)
- Bergschmiede, near Bad Münder am Deister
- Süntelturm on the Hohe Egge, near Bad Münder am Deister
- Pappmühle, near Zersen
- Baxmann-Baude, near Zersen
- Weinschänke, in Rohdental
Literature
- Helga Knoke: Wald and Besiedlung im Süntel. Schaumburger Studien Heft 22, Verlag C. Bösendahl Rinteln 1968
- Friedrich Kölling: Die Süntelwaldgenossenschaft. Ein Beitrag zur Rechts- and Wirtschaftsgeschichte einer Schaumburger Markgenossenschaft; Fritz Holstein: Das Statut der Süntelwaldgenossenschaft Bensen. Die forstliche Bewirtschaftung des Süntelwaldes; Scheide: Die Jagd im Süntel. Schaumburger Heimathefte, Heft 10. Bösendahl, Rinteln (Weser) 1962