Schneeberg (Fichtelgebirge)
Snow Mountain in October 2006
Pd3
The snow mountain is 1051 m above sea level with. NHN is the highest mountain in the Fichtelgebirge in northeast Bavaria and also the highest mountain franc. Even from afar you can see him at his former telecommunications tower of the Bundeswehr - a monument to the Cold War. The summit area consists of a block of granite sea and a rock castle, on the look-out turret Backöfele stands. Military buildings dominate the summit picture. Geographically, it belongs to the main unit High Fichtelgebirge (394). Since Sept. 2010, a redesign of the natural areas northeast of Bavaria existed.
Name
The name Schneeberg was interpreted as originating from Snede = limit. More likely, however, that the long snow deposits in the region was eponymous here.
The group of rocks on the highest point is called Backöfele, the name was transferred to the observation tower. During the Thirty Years War, there the inhabitants of the surrounding villages are said to have taken refuge, which also baked their bread there.
History
The mountain had because of its wide distance vision has always been an important strategic significance. 1498 Kunz of Wirsberg was instructed Captain on the Gebürg, by Margrave Friedrich, draw up a waiting order. On several mountains of the Fichtelgebirge, as well as on the Schneeberg, emerged Wart towers that had to hand in case of danger of fire or smoke signals to the adjacent waiting. The Weißenstädter 1520 there had set up a permanent guard. 1713 we saw the remains of this waiting.
1879 built the Fichtelgebirge section of the German- Austrian Alpine Club ( predecessor of the Society Fichtelgebirge ) the first simple climbing plant on the rock summit, at the same time a simple stone hut was built. 1904 followed a log cabin built in 1926 and the local chapter of White City of the Fichtelgebirge Club lookout tower Backöfele oak trunks.
The Air Force made in 1938 to build a 35 meter high wooden tower, whose purpose was considered secret. In 1942 he was burnt out " inexplicably " down. On November 14, 1951 U.S. forces commandeered part of the summit, erected several buildings and steel structures for antennas and parabolic mirrors. In 1961, the German armed forces the adjacent area north of the summit, leaving in 1963 to build the telecommunications tower of the telecommunications sector E, which began operating in 1967. The mountain top was a closed military zone, the Backöfele was now " locked in". After the end of the Cold War, the U.S. forces left on 30 April 1992 the Schneeberg, on 31 March 1993, the Bundeswehr their military reconnaissance operation a. The last soldier left on 30 June 1994, the air defense position Schneeberg, the properties were transferred to the Federal Property Management. The former Bundeswehr tower was to the company Mannesmann (now Vodafone) leased for purposes of mobile communications.
On 29 December 1995, the district Wunsiedel acquired on the initiative of Administrator Dr. Peter Seißer a 6500 m² large part surface in the former American prohibited area, on which also the Backöfele stands. In cooperation with the Fichtelgebirge Nature Park, restoration measures were carried out. Since 29 August 1996, there is again free access to the lookout tower Backöfele. As part of the restoration measures, the old refuge of the mountain rescue readiness White City was demolished, although the Fichtelgebirge Nature Park, had assured a few days earlier to try to get this cabin for hikers and mountain rescue. Then the willingness white city built a new refuge below the summit area.
In 2010, the former Bundeswehr tower was declared a national monument because of its historical significance.
Since June 2013, the former military site, including telecommunications tower by the Federal Agency for Real Estate tasks is offered for sale.
Biology
Due to the low average temperature of 3.7 ° C is still to be found in the summit region of the Schneeberg a glacial plant community. The green areas are not to be committed, since the plants are extremely sensitive occurs. Below the summit region is one of the last German not alpine capercaillie populations, which is also classified as vulnerable by virtue of capercaillie is considered highly susceptible to faults. Again and again found winter trails are evidence of the return of the lynx in the high Fichtelgebirge around the Schneeberg.
Hydrology
The snow mountain is the easternmost area in the river system of the Rhine dar. Southeast is located with the Seehausbrunnen a possible source of the White Maine. Usually the White Main source is, however, indicated near the four kilometers away ox head.
Hiking trails
The paved road to the snow mountain peak is closed to public traffic. The peak is, however, accessible via several trails. The starting points are Bishop Green, White City, Grange ( White City), Vordorfermühle, Leupold villages Hammer, Silver House ( Tröstau ) and the Seehausparkplatz on the B 303 / E 48 in question. The additions are between five and eight kilometers long. The Frankish mountain road runs over the snow mountain peaks as the highest point on the long-distance trail.