Wurzelbrink
Encyclopedia
The Wurzelbrink is a hill south of Lübbecke
which, at , is the second highest peak in the Wiehen Hills in north Germany
. Immediately to the south is the no less majestic Kniebrink
. There is an old and rather small watchtower, the Wartturm
, on top of the Wurzelbrink, which was built in 1857, whose outstanding views of the local area are partly obscured by the trees that have now grown up around it.
, towers above the surrounding terrain. About 20 years ago, when the trees were much lower, the hills of the Stemweder Berg
(also called the Stemme Hills or Stemmer Berge), which are up to high, could be seen in good weather about 25 km away. Between the Wiehen Hills and the Stemweder Berg lies the broad expanse of the Lübbecke Land, that used to form the independent district of Kreis Lübbecke until the regional reforms of the 1970s. To the northeast, the Großes Torfmoor
("Great Peat Moor") can be made out about 6 km away between the villages of Gehlenbeck/Nettelstedt and the Mittelland Canal. This is the most northerly and largest lowland moor in Westphalia and is a nature reserve. The only wild white stork
s in Westphalia breed here. To the east the Wiehen Hills run in a curve to the Westphalian Gap a good 25 km away, which is visible in good weather.
Unfortunately this view is obstructed today by the tall trees that have grown up; there is only a rather restricted view to the south: in that direction the rolling terrain of the Ravensberg Hollow. On the horizon one can clearly make out the Teutoburg Forest
, also called the Osning. Particularly striking is the large TV tower near Bielefeld
. In very good conditions, with the aid of binoculars, the sword point of Hermann's Monument (Hermanns-Denkmal) can be seen.
The Mensinger Ravine
begins on the eastern side of the hill and runs northwards.
It is worth noting that if the tower were raised by a few metres, as has been done for the neighbouring observation tower on the Nonnenstein, it would afford the hiker clear views again.
So far the source has not been given any legally binding name. However, local residents have for decades called it, jocularly, the Mickey Mouse Spring.
According to unofficial chemical analysis the spring water generally has very low levels of pollutants. Only the proportion of copper ions is relatively high for human consumption but this use is still safe.
Lübbecke
Lübbecke is a town in northeast North Rhine-Westphalia in north Germany. This former county town lies on the northern slopes of the Wiehen Hills and has around 26,000 inhabitants. The town is in the Eastwestphalian district of Minden-Lübbecke...
which, at , is the second highest peak in the Wiehen Hills in north Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Immediately to the south is the no less majestic Kniebrink
Kniebrink
The Kniebrink, at , is the third highest mountain in the northern German Wiehen Hills. Its immediate summit belongs administratively to the village of Oberbauerschaft in the municipality of Hüllhorst...
. There is an old and rather small watchtower, the Wartturm
Wartturm (Lübbecke)
The Wartturm is an observation tower in the Wiehen Hills on the Wurzelbrink, a wooded hill that, at 319 metres, is the second highest in this hill range. The tower stands on the territory of the town of Lübbecke....
, on top of the Wurzelbrink, which was built in 1857, whose outstanding views of the local area are partly obscured by the trees that have now grown up around it.
Views
Towards the east the "King of the Wiehen Hills", the HeidbrinkHeidbrink
The Heidbrink is a hill which lies south of Lübbecke in central Germany and, at , is the highest peak in the Wiehen Hills. It is also the highest elevation in the district of Minden-Lübbecke in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia...
, towers above the surrounding terrain. About 20 years ago, when the trees were much lower, the hills of the Stemweder Berg
Stemweder Berg
The Stemweder Berg is a ridge up to on the border of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony in Germany and is the northernmost and smallest of Germany's Central Uplands ranges....
(also called the Stemme Hills or Stemmer Berge), which are up to high, could be seen in good weather about 25 km away. Between the Wiehen Hills and the Stemweder Berg lies the broad expanse of the Lübbecke Land, that used to form the independent district of Kreis Lübbecke until the regional reforms of the 1970s. To the northeast, the Großes Torfmoor
Großes Torfmoor
The Großes Torfmoor is a raised peat bog or moor located in the northeast of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany south of the Mittelland Canal. It is between the town of Lübbecke and the community of Hille...
("Great Peat Moor") can be made out about 6 km away between the villages of Gehlenbeck/Nettelstedt and the Mittelland Canal. This is the most northerly and largest lowland moor in Westphalia and is a nature reserve. The only wild white stork
White Stork
The White Stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average from beak tip to end of tail, with a wingspan...
s in Westphalia breed here. To the east the Wiehen Hills run in a curve to the Westphalian Gap a good 25 km away, which is visible in good weather.
Unfortunately this view is obstructed today by the tall trees that have grown up; there is only a rather restricted view to the south: in that direction the rolling terrain of the Ravensberg Hollow. On the horizon one can clearly make out the Teutoburg Forest
Teutoburg Forest
The Teutoburg Forest is a range of low, forested mountains in the German states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia which used to be believed to be the scene of a decisive battle in AD 9...
, also called the Osning. Particularly striking is the large TV tower near Bielefeld
Bielefeld
Bielefeld is an independent city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 323,000, it is also the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold...
. In very good conditions, with the aid of binoculars, the sword point of Hermann's Monument (Hermanns-Denkmal) can be seen.
The Mensinger Ravine
Mensinger Ravine
The Mensinger Ravine is a steep-sided valley in the Wiehen Hills in Central Germany that is situated on the territory of the town of Lübbecke in the district of Minden-Lübbecke....
begins on the eastern side of the hill and runs northwards.
It is worth noting that if the tower were raised by a few metres, as has been done for the neighbouring observation tower on the Nonnenstein, it would afford the hiker clear views again.
Spring on the Wurzelbrink
On the western slope of the hill, a spring rises immediately next to a hiking trail. The spring has been comprehensively walled in. Occasionally you can see the locals fill cans and other containers on carts here, with this apparently very drinkable source of water, for their domestic use. In the springtime the source yields 10 litres of water per minute. In summer, the yield can drop to more or less nothing, however, depending on the weather.So far the source has not been given any legally binding name. However, local residents have for decades called it, jocularly, the Mickey Mouse Spring.
According to unofficial chemical analysis the spring water generally has very low levels of pollutants. Only the proportion of copper ions is relatively high for human consumption but this use is still safe.