Dünsberg

Overlooking the Dünsberg

View from pouring past the castles Vetzberg (left) and Gleiberg (right ) for Dünsberg

The Dünsberg is with 497.7 meters above sea level. NHN is the highest mountain in the area of Giessen and Wetzlar, Hesse. On the mountain was a large Celtic settlement ( oppidum ).

Geography

Geographically and geologically is the location in the district of Gießen Dünsberg, the top of which some 7 km (air line) north-west of Gießen and Wetzlar immediately north-east of the north-west of Fellingshausen ( a district of Biebertal ) rises, due to its special feature called a singularity at the southeast edge of the Gladenbacher mountain country, which is natural in space nor counted the Westerwald. By area, the largest part of the Dünsbergs belongs to Biebertaler district of Königsberg. The heavily forested mountain which is surrounded by a nature reserve, consisting predominantly of pebbles shales in the Carboniferous before about 360-300 million years ago caused. To the east, southeast and south of the cone-shaped mountain is somewhat removed the Lahn, which flows among others by casting and Wetzlar. His dominance over the 30 cm higher Beautifully Scheid in Beech ridge duty is 14 kilometers.

Dünsberg towers

Widely seen and clearly identified is the Dünsberg established by the 1974-1978 by the German Federal Post Office, 108 meter high telecommunications tower Dünsberg that replaces the built 1964-1966 steel lattice tower.

Immediately adjacent to the telecommunications tower is an observation tower erected in 1899 with an affiliate thereof restaurant. The view stretches among other things to the Westerwald, Vogelsberg and the Taunus.

The lookout on the Dünsberg

Telecommunications and observation tower

Lookout Tower (1904 )

Attractions

The Dünsberg is both landscape as well as a cultural monument of importance:

He is a popular destination for all ambitious cyclists and hikers as the highest mountain in the area. The Dünsberg can climb right on the mountain here ( closed to traffic ) both on public roads and a paved driveway and through various paths and unpaved paths.

In the municipality in Rodheim numerous original finds from the excavations are in the museum basement Celts. Since 1999, extensive excavations taking place there. To demonstrate the life of the Celts, a Keltentor and other buildings of a Celtic town were built by Dünsberg Club.

History

On the southern slope of the hill Dünsberg are grave finds from the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age. Therefore, a settlement is probably already in the pre-Celtic era. Systematic fortifications of the bell are detectable since the urn field period ( 8th century BC).

The Celtic settlement ( oppidum ), reached its highest peak during the La Tène period (around the 3rd century BC). From the estate still bear witness to three concentric circular walls as radicals. The rings reach a height up to 10 meters. The outer ring encloses an area of ​​90 hectares. It is estimated up to 2,000 inhabitants. Through the use of regional iron deposits of the place reached an economic boom. In the 1st century AD, began the decline of the settlement. The exact reasons are unknown.

After the end of the Celtic settlement of Dünsberg was, however, continued to be used as a fortified place because of its strategic location. So weapons finds from the 5th century are known. Discoveries on the eastern slope of the mountain are considered remnants of a castle Alamannic the 4th or 5th century. At that time, most likely a Alamannic regulus, a petty king, his seat on the mountain. Also from the Merovingian period finds are handed down from Dünsberg.

Directly on Dünsberg past once coming drew a probably early historical trail, from Gießen ( Glauberg? , Schiffenberg? ), The " Aar - Salzböde watershed " further led to the " Lahn- Dill- watershed " or to Angelburg, a major intersection of prehistoric and medieval long-distance routes. Here was probably also a key pre-Christian ( Celtic? ) Sanctuary, today's Wilhelm stones. The road was later called " Westfalenweg " because you could get him to Westphalia. From casting to customs beech today's L has 3047 succeeded him. It runs virtually on the same route.

During the Seven Years' War was the fall of 1759 or in March 1761, built a redoubt of French troops on the Dünsberg.

The district was, until 1 January 1977 Altkreis Wetzlar.