Ochsenkopf (Fichtelgebirge)

The ox head, seen from the Waldstein from

Ox head in January 2005

The ox-head is the second highest mountain of the Fichtelgebirge with a height of 1024 meters. At the top there is an observation tower ( Asenturm ) as well as a transmission tower for FM and television programs of the Bayerischer Rundfunk. Geographically, it belongs to the main unit High Fichtelgebirge (394). Since Sept. 2010, a redesign of the natural areas northeast of Bavaria existed.

For ox-head leads from the south and north respectively a chairlift. The valley are located in the north in the town of Bishop Green and in the south in Fleckl, in the municipality of Warmensteinach.

In winter the ox head the possibility of skiing. In summer, the bike park and the summer toboggan run can be used. This is accessible from the valley station of the North. In addition, since July 2007, there is a climbing forest and a Ziplinepark since 2011, which can be visited by individuals and groups.

Only little to the east of this mountain, above the village Fichtelbergbahn, spring from the White Main - the right or northern source river of the Main, and the Fichtelnaab, one of the headwaters of the Naab. Right here runs the European Watershed. The Naab flows southward towards the Danube, the Main westward to the Rhine.

The mountain name

In ancient descriptions of the mountain the name ox head does not appear. The first descriptor of the Fichtelgebirge, Matthias von Kemnath (actually Matthias Widmann, born February 23, 1429 Kemnath ) reported in 1476: "A Bergk, high, weitt, wolbekant ligt in Beiern, Gnant Fichtelbergbahn ". In borderline descriptions 1499 and 1536 the mountain is called " Vichtelberg ", in which case the name had already been extended to the whole mountain. You will also find in old documents: 1317 the lords of Hirschberg received, inter alia, to the fief " violence to the Vythenberge ". In the 14th century the iron mining in the pit " was St. Veith " operated at the southern foot of the ox head. Vyth → → Veit Fichtel. Profiled home and name researchers have not talked here about the last word. The name ox head appears in mine files for the first time in 1495 when Lorenz of Nuremberg Ploben from the mine receives a fief on the Fichtelberge " at the ox-head ". That might be the first indication of the bull's head carved into a rock on the mountain top, which is still visible today.

The Asenturm

1878 with the founding of the section Fichtelgebirg the German - Austrian Alpine Club ( predecessor of the Fichtelgebirge Association ) took place on the ox-head already a lookout tower, a wooden skeleton of the State Survey. 1876 ​​had it there is a stone pillar erected surveying ( surveying Saxon pillars, still present today ) and surrounded by a wooden frame. Later, this framework was prepared as a lookout and somewhat increased, but in 1894 was the construction of " very wacklich ", is reported. The Fichtel Mountain Club ( FGV ) improved this construction using again and again. Forestry Master List of Bishop Green left in 1896 to rebuild the tower and increase by ten meters.

On 21 December 1902, the FGV - local group Bischofsgruen applied to the FGV main club building a solid stone tower and had a basis of 230 marks as a first installment. It While the decision was taken for a tower, but it took another year to the realization of the project, since the First World War all plans zunichtemachte now. Not until 1922 that attacked the FGV - AGM the former decision on the tower again and determined that the participating FGV - local groups would teach in " the least possible delay acceleration" the documents for a new building.

Meanwhile, the plans of the architect Hans Bayreuth Reissinger were submitted on 14 May 1922 which found wide acclaim. Difficult is designed to obtain the necessary funds, the decision was made despite the incipient inflation for a fundraiser at the FGV - local groups. The chronicler wrote: "What helped all these paper notes that are later even became worthless in the course of days and hours." Despite all the difficulties the company Haeffner & wedge began in Bayreuth in 1922 with the tower and when money was scarce, it was the FGV - members who participated as assistants at the Tower.

They were housed in Grassemann and Fichtelbergbahn and went daily to their workplace on the mountain top. The Bishop Green Schools put themselves in the service of the cause, students with backpacks transported building materials to the mountain summit. In the winter months, construction activity rested; it was resumed in May 1923 and as the FGV was back before cash-strapped, packed members of the FGV - local groups Hof, Bayreuth, Bishop Green, Fichtelbergbahn, Munchberg and Schwarzenbach to active. On August 26, 1923, the Asenturm could with his little remodeling as an economic area solemnly the public are passed. From all directions were 5,000 people, some arrived by special trains, flown to the summit of the ox head. Fanfare sounded and " core- German " speeches were made, as the chronicler. Spending on the Tower amounted to DM 2.5 billion.

The name Asenturm

Apparently there was initially difficulty in finding a name for the lookout, because different FGV - local groups resisted the name of Bayreuth tower, which was brought into the conversation. Also with respect to the sense award for the stone tablet on the tower, there were different opinions, he must have content for all time, was the opinion. Professor Ludwig Hacker from Wunsiedel had suggested the following slogan: " weather and storm defies the Asenturm, Tu 's like him, my German Reich ". Lively was discussed in his time FGV - Main Committee on this proposal. Proponents argued that the ox-head had always been a sacred mountain where the Aesir, the Germanic gods lived. Opponents of the name pointed out that there were no signs that a Germanic culture is detectable here, which is why the name Asenturm be rejected. After a vote of Hackersche motto was then but accepted with 12 votes to 4.

Establishment of the National Survey

The summit of the ox head has always played a significant role in geographical surveying. The first accurate measurements of the Fichtelgebirge mountains fell in the reign of the Bayreuth Margrave Friedrich, who reigned from 1735 to 1763. The famous French cartographer and director of the observatory in Paris, César François Cassini de Thury stayed in Bayreuth in 1761 and led the so-called triangle measurements in the vicinity of the residence. He also chose the ox head as trigonometric starting point. The Margrave accompanied the scholars in person to the mountaintop and was interested in working with the measuring instruments. The Fichtel Mountain Club reminded of this important visitor with a stone sign at Asenturm with the inscription " 1761 stayed here Margrave Frederick the scholars Cassini ". The survey documents are in the State Archives.

From the records of Bishop Green Scherber priest Heinrich in his book Umsichten on the ox-head shows that aufstellte on the ox-head Bernhard von Lindenau from the observatory Gotha in October 1808 measuring instruments at a free-standing rock wall. He also had a trigonometric character build in the form of a wooden pyramid, which was incidentally also used as the first lookout. In addition to degree measurements led by Lindau and height measurements and contributed through his scientific publications significantly to the knowledge of the Fichtelgebirge. For the exact instrument location in 1810 a cross and arrows were carved into a rock and 1850 were added above the cross the letters HDNP for main triangle mesh point added. The Felseinmeißelungen are still clearly visible. 1876 ​​established the Royal Saxon State Survey under the direction of Professor nail near the HDNP a stone pillar in obelisk form, which was used for the purposes of European arc measurement. Since the Saxon government at that time took care of the construction and financing of that post, he went down in history as the Saxon surveying piers. The obelisk is still visible the rest of the pier, which was originally much higher.

Ox-head Proterobas

The green ox-head Proterobas is a hard rock. The rock deposits from the Permian is a lamprophyre, a gangue, between Bishop and Green Fichtelbergbahn. The presence pervades the ox head as a passage that takes place in a length of about 8 km and a width of 5 to 30 meters in South- northwest direction through the massif over the mountain ox head. This natural stone such as granite is resistant to weathering and can be polished. In the Third Reich there was a rock that was used by Arno Breker, Fritz Klimsch, Josef Thorak and Artur Sansoni for stone sculptures preferred because it looks like granite, but does not reach its hardness. This rock was used in the construction industry for floor and stair coverings, wall panels, wall and curbs.

Since the 15th century Proterobas was melted to glass buttons and hollow glass and in archaeological excavations, it was found that the stone material melted from the mid-17th century in a glassworks in the forest area Wolfslohe at 1300 ° C and at 700 to 1000 ° C to black glass buttons and glass beads has been processed. In Bischofsgruen the so-called ox-head glasses were manufactured in the late 17th century.

Locations around the ox-head

• Bishop Green
• Fichtelbergbahn
• Mehlmeisel
• Warmensteinach

The transmitters

→ Main article stations ox head

The cable cars

→ Main article funicular ox-head South

→ Main article funicular ox-head North