Oberjoch

47.51510.4058333333331139Koordinaten: 47 ° 30 ' 54 "N, 10 ° 24' 21" E

Upper yoke ( 1,136 m) is a district of Bad Hindelang market on a high saddle in the Bavarian- Swabian district of Upper Allgäu region. The place is advertised as " Germany's highest parish village", but there are higher-lying settlements in Germany ( Feldberg- place Winklmoosalm, Gerstruben ).

Geography

The climatic health resort in the Allgäu Alps, over the Ostrach valley on the northern edge of the Limestone Alps, on a sunny high plateau between the mountains Iseler and Ornach, at the German Alpine Road, which leads as federal highway 308 on upper yoke to Austria with the border station Schattwald. The Oberjochpass applies with 107 curves as the crookedest street in Germany.

History

Oberjoch had developed especially on agrarian basis. Records of 1482 report that many " Zillenpuhler " settled in upper yoke. The settlers since the 15th century, probably came from the Ostrachtal up and were Alemannic descent. As such, they preferred the closed group settlement, but found a road ( the Roman mule track ) as a guide before, so that the old place was a long-drawn, somewhat open shape.

The Alemanni Although always tried to establish self-sufficient as possible Hofwirtschaften, but the self-sufficiency in Oberjoch never have been quite possible. In contrast, the height above the height limit of the grain cultivation ( in the Northern Limestone Alps at about 1000 m) speak, the unfavorable soil conditions in the valley ( with low gradient waterlogged and thus acidic soils) and the unfavorable climatic conditions ( as a result of east-west extension of the Jochpasses a long-lasting, thick snow cover ). So the natural conditions allowed only a modest livestock whose income had to be bolstered by a sideline. Opportunity offered the craft of nail smith, the road (accommodation of the teamsters, Ross feeding) and linen weaving ( flax cultivation in the Ostrach ).

With the beginning of the 20th century, the existence conditions of Oberjocher deteriorated rapidly. The transport infrastructure of the Allgäu by the railway line Immenstadt, Sonthofen, Oberstdorf, brought the dissolution of self-sufficiency in itself. The Ostrachtal farmers were now able to cereals and root crops cheaper to buy than to grow. The Ostrachtal, which had already given up the cultivation of flax in the first half of the 19th century, now completely turned over to the more profitable grassland management. The Oberjocher farmers continue to run cattle and timber industries. They were compared with the Talbauern there still worse. Even on a second innovation that brought the Talbauern new benefits that Oberjocher could share only slightly, namely the round cheese. This is due to the required high amount of milk. The Oberjocher farmers were due to the natural conditions keep a few cows and therefore did not take this quantity of milk.

By the end of the 19th century upper yoke had reached its greatest extent as mountain village. The place, with more then 21 houses a hamlet than a village, consisted of 13 agricultural properties, were added Salzstadel, Customs House, Tollhouse, church and three nail forging. Finally, since, by the introduction of pips rubber shoe soles in 1920 came to the sideline in the nail forging, which produced mainly nails for hiking boots to a complete standstill, many Oberjocher decided to migrate. Only seven agricultural property therefore recorded the map of 1930.

A new impulse was then in the 1930s, the development of tourism. He continued in spite of the expansion of Jochstraße 1895-1900 in upper yoke until 1932. Unlike the rest of the Alpine region, where tourism as a spa tourism like in Bad Oberdorf by the hotel " Luitpoldbad " began as early as the 18th century and then as mountaineering and summer resort at the end of the 19th century, set in upper yoke of tourism the same as then in modern form, the winter sports tourism, a. In 1932, the Münchner mountain publisher and editor of the journals " winter " and " mountain comrade," Rudolf Rother, Hotel Inge Castle, after the Alps, Gasthof Löwen ( from the salt road time) and the high-pass House (1927 /28) as an exclusive hotel, which in 1938 was greatly enlarged, the third lodging facility in the village was. Through the magazines not only the new hotel was advertised, but especially the safe snow conditions and beauty of Oberjochs even in the Ruhr published.

Rother, even dedicated skiers and mountaineers, therefore had the idea further to that developed four years before him the sports-minded General Reichenau, under whose direction the Berghaus Iseler was built for a Ulmer message unit. 1934 was followed by the Reich Labour Service camp on the road to lower yoke, 1937, the Police School (now a children's hospital, the rehab clinic Santa Maria in upper yoke ), 1938 Cafe Lanig. Oberjoch now grown almost exclusively for tourism further, it emerged on the street a number of shops, guesthouses and B & Bs. The center was formed at that time out at the local fountain of Gasthof Löwen. Here is a grocery store was opened, the inn received a new east wing, the former farm property No. 9 is a ski workshop was operated. From the inauguration of the Iseler - ski-lift in 1940 had been hoped for a further upswing of the town, but did the Second World War provisionally a spanner in the works.

In the period from mid-April to May 2nd, 1945 a part of the senior management team of the Army Research Center Peenemünde was referring led by General Walter Dornberger and Wernher von Braun quarters in the " Haus Inge castle on the height". From there, the staff in Reutte went on 2 May 1945 in American captivity. In the following years was von Braun and his team significantly to the U.S. space program and the manned moon landings.

After 1945 Oberjoch but was further developed rapidly, with the resort center and compacted in the peripheral health facilities to be built. The Tourist borough building a high mud bath, developed the bus line come- with, building a ski factory ( HOSP -Ski) is building five additional lifts with improved departures, a new Catholic church, apartment houses, air spa facilities and long easy walks.

On the night of 28 February to 1 March 1990, the storm " Wiebke " devastated the trees at the bottom and at the Iseler Ornach almost completely. Reason was the effect of the nozzle topography of high saddle and flanking mountains. The entire area was reforested in the next 10 years again in order to return there again in ordinary forestry can.

Alpine Training Centre Allgäu

The Alpine Training Center Allgäu ( ATA) in upper yoke was opened on 16 December 2005. It is the central location for the promotion of German ski talent. On a cordoned-off area here a performance-oriented ski training, for the stars of tomorrow will take place. For training center includes a warehouse and a functional buildings in the target area. The route, which is suitable for the core disciplines of giant slalom and slalom and has already proven itself in European Cup races, is used by Allgäu young drivers, the national cadres, as well as course groups of national teams. The floodlights are, especially for school-age youth, the basic conditions have been created in order to train in the late afternoon and early evening hours at a high level and high frequency can. In addition, the recreational athletes benefit from the improved conditions, which can use the advanced options around the Iselerbahn in your off hours. Operator of the ATA is the Allgäu Ski Association.

Data:

• Difference in altitude: 310m
• Length of track: 920m
• Max. Gradient: 50 %
• Min. Gradient: 20 %
• 20 floodlight towers with 200 lux illuminance

Kematsried Moss

The approximately 23 -acre Kematsried Moss ( Moss is a commonly used in the Bavarian name for a Moor ) is located east of upper yoke. Almost adjacent to the village and surrounded by the streets today to Schattwald and lower yoke, the moorland spreads. The origin of the name Moor " Kematsried Moss " is unclear. 1435 emerged the first name written as " Krämetzried " on. Perhaps there is in this name an old, mutilated personal name, possibly the name but also with the name " Kremmat " do for juniper. The ending- reed is more from the Old High German " hreod " (which means marsh soil ) derive, as it would be an indication of clearing.

When Kematsried Moss is a peat bog. It owes its existence solely on rainfall. Hydrological it, as opposed to the different types of fens, regardless of sources or ground water or standing water areas (lakes, ponds ). 's The attribute " high" has nothing to do with the location in the mountains. Rather, show fully developed raised bogs in cross section an hour-glass shaped bulge that can be several meters. The Kematsried Moss certainly can not clearly see this bulge. It expands flat, with no apparent inclination on the saddle. It seems that the Vertorfungsprozess has come in this bog in parts in any case to a halt. Also, the findings of the resident plant communities speaks for it. A transverse path divides the moor in two distinct parts.

In the western part of the moor, a tree - shrub vegetation has settled, as it is usually characteristic only of the Randgehänge of a raised bog. In places, can already speak of a clear bog forest. In this area, the marsh is no longer growing. In the east of the moor - cross path lying part, however, you can hardly find trees, only the edge for road to Schattwald out. Here we meet still more characteristic of the high moor representative of the peat mosses: in the Rüllen ( small natural watercourses ) occasionally the white beak sedge ( Rynchospora alba ), and various types of Schlenkentorfmoosen (eg, the spit - peat moss (Sphagnum cuspidatum ) ) and growing on the drier sites to small clumps ( tussocks ) Bulttorfmoose (eg the Magellan peat moss (Sphagnum magellanicum ) ). The peat mosses have the amazing ability to absorb many times their dry weight of water in their pores (up to about 30 times ). You are in a sponge comparable. The mosses usually grow if the peat bog is still growing, that is not artificially drained or has taken place in a natural way no water outbreak, every year a few millimeters in height. Go down the root parts from die slowly and derive a result of abundant ground water and the related lack of air to a Vertorfungsprozess. Thus, a raised bog grows slowly to its characteristic hourglass shape in the air. Depending on the degree of decomposition of vegetable raw material, different types of peat can be distinguished.

Looking determining factor in the eastern moorland region are especially extensive holdings on the ground is flat drawn-out, barely higher than two meters expectant pines or pines ( mountain pine, Pinus montana or bog pine, Pinus mugo ). In between, often extend heath plants, such as significant areas of grass bulrush ( Trichophorum caespitosum ), which also indicate the final stage of mire development. In places, you find also smaller potholes, ie water holes, at. After a long drought, for example, if the Rüllen are water-free, you can see the upcoming peat. The individual clumps of Bulttorfmooses then have bright white discoloration. It is drought phenomena. Raised bogs are generally nutrient-poor as fens. This also applies to the respective peat. Also, the species richness of plants in the bogs is much lower than in the fens.

Fortunately, there has been no comprehensive attempts at cultivation of the moor, only the edges of the Moores were cultured. In the first decades of this century, and just before and during the Second World War, however, was stung for energy reasons isolated peat. These interventions can be seen also in some ditches that have changed the water balance of the bog. The mire - transverse or Ringweg accompanying, rectilinear ditch is a testimony of these operations. The here and there, wooden cottages were partially used as a hay barn, partly in connection with the peat. For heating purposes Besides the attempt of agricultural cultivation and the Torfabstich was also peat for medical purposes healing taken ( mud baths in the hotel Inge Burg ). Today such interventions are no longer possible.

In the early postwar years, a small mud bath was still operated, but which soon was out of date and its bathing established. After a long break, the bath was 1982/83 in approximately 2000 volunteer hours worked renewed, which can be considered as an attraction Oberjochs today. The material costs were raised through donations, so that to date, no entrance fee is charged. The lifeguard is organized on a voluntary basis. The bath is opened at pool temperatures of 9-19 clock and despite the lack of heating due to the natural heating effect of the bog soil in summer a pleasant temperature of about 20 ° C.

Structures

Chapel of St. Jakob in Oberjoch

Holy Spirit Church in Oberjoch

Holy Spirit Church in Oberjoch

• Chapel: At the old Jochstraße is south of the upper yoke just before Steilabstig Ostrachtal into the so-called Chapel.
• Chapel of St. James: From the first chapel we only know that it was canceled in 1731 and built on the present site a larger chapel.
• Holy Spirit Church: The foundation stone was laid in 1968.

Panorama

Personalities

• Hans -Peter Lanig, born in 1935, and his sister Evi were famous skier in the 1950s. Hans -Peter won the silver medal at the Winter Olympics in 1960 in Squaw Valley.
• Anton Morent (1924-2006), bus operators, mentor of tourism in the Upper Allgäu and agencies of the Federal Cross of Merit.