General    
The “Oberpfälzer Wald” is a low mountain range south of the “Fichtelgebirge” and north of the Bavarian Forest (the sticks I mentioned before somewhere) along the German Czech border. The Forest spreads out over a length of about 100 km between the towns of Waldsassen in the north and Waldmünchen in the south. And yes, geologically it basically consists of granite. The stuff everybody likes to have as countertops. You say doesn’t a forest usually consist of trees? Yes they are there too, but deforestation took place long time ago and the Forest is more like several forests areas now.
But anyways,….the main features of the Oberpfälzer Forest are deep valleys (but nothing like the Grand Canyon. Keep the scale in perspective here…this isn’t Texas!), mountaintop castles and castle ruins, panoramic views, lonely mountaintops, remote churches and chapels. And yes,…typical are the many clearings that remind of the time when the Oberpfalz used to be the industrial center of the Middle Ages. In medieval times the numerous hammer mills all over the rivers and brooks needed a lot of wood to operate and it was easier and cheaper to get than coal…and that’s why there are lots of clearings in the Forest still today, in spite of regular tree plantations.
Like I said before, the castles and castle ruins are a main feature here too (the Oberpfalz has the highest density in castles and ruins in Germany) and the reason for that was the political situation during the 11th and 13th century, but that’s another article entirely.

Weiden Mountains

A few of the highest mountains are….and don’t competition to Mount Everest here.
And some are in the Czech Republic today, which means the Forest didn’t care about the borders.

Cerchov or Schwarzkopf (black head?) - 1020m, Czech Republic
Dylen or Tillenberg - 939m, Czech Republic

Tillenberg

Entenbuehl (duck hill?) - 901m, Bavaria
Weingartenfels (wine garden boulder) 896m, Bavaria
Signalberg (signal mountain) 888m, Bavaria
Reichenstein (?) - 874m, Bavaria

Towns

Floss  www.floss.de 

Trenck festival in Waldmuenchen

Niedermurach http://www.vg-oberviechtach.de/index.phtml?NavID=160.7 
Freudenberg
Rötz http://www.roetz.de

Rivers

Wondreb

Geological Points of Interest

Geocenter (KTB) in Windischeschenbach   There you’ll find the highest land drill tower (83m) and the deepest drill hole (9101m) in the world including the most interesting geoscientific and geotechnical research project, the continental deep drill (?) program of the FRG (KTB). The active drilling phase ended in 1994, but it remains a modern information-, education- and geological meeting center for all ages.
 
It is open daily
 
May-October      10am-6pm 
Nov-April           10am-4pm

You can have a tour of the drill tower site staring at 5 people
15 June – 15 September   at 3pm

Groups and school classes need to make an appointment; also for the geological demonstration lab with a geologist you’ll need an appointment.

For more information:

Geo Zentrum an der KTB
Am Bohrturm 2
92670 Windischeschenbach

info@geozentrum-ktb.de
www.geozentrum-ktb.de

General information about geology and minerals found at the Oberpfälzer Wald

www.vfmg-weiden.de

The Bavarian-Bohemian Geopark is a project in the works. Since the northwest of the Bohemian Mountain Region is on of the worldwide most interesting geo scientific area, which is what Johann v. Goethe and Alexander von Humboldt already said.

More info about that at www.geopark-bayern.de

Basaltkegel Parkstein = basalt cone Parkstein. Since September 2005 the only genotype in the Oberpfalz that is one of the most important ones in the nation. The 40m tall cone sticks out like Ayers Rock in the middle of a bowl (Weidener Becken) and is crowned with a castle ruin and a chapel. It is what’s left of a 24 million year old volcano.

www.geologie.bayern.de/geotopeBayernsSchoenste/21.html or www.vfmg-weiden.de/parkst.htm

Kreuzberg Pleystein is known for its quartz boulder and its beautiful and rare minerals
 
 
300 million years ago two continents collided and to make the story short what was on the ocean floor then sank, heated up, melted, came to the surface and turned into all the granite and quartz that you see around the area. By the way the last volcanic eruption in the area was at the Entenbühl near Neualbenreuth about 10 000 years ago, but supposedly we are not done yet!

www.pleystein.de
www.geologie.bayern.de/geotope/geotopeBayernsSchoenste/27.html

Burgberg Falkenberg The mountain and the castle Falkenberg (another giant lump of granite) is situated at the north entrance of the rugged romantic Waldnaabtal and is number 9 of the 100 best genotypes of all of Bavaria

www.geologie.bayern.de/geotope/geotopeBayernsSchoenste/9.html

Geological Tours I don’t wont to bore you with an endless lists of names you cant pronounce and that don’t tell you nothing, but there are many tours available that tell you how the area was created way back before the dinosaurs and you can find out on pages like

www.vfmg-weiden.de/geol.htm or www.geopark-bayern.de/Public/WeitereGeoTouren.htm

One of them is especially interesting the Bocklradweg on www.bocklweg.de,
and it has a page in English www.bocklweg.de/englisch/frameset.htm ! How about that?

Festivals, Plays and Re-enactments   

Re-enactment of the “Hussiten”-war at Neunburg vorm Wald Every year the historical play in five acts “Vom Hussitenkrieg” (a religious war, the Hussiten  didn’t think that the Pope should have political power and believed in “power alone through grace”(John Wyclif))is taking place at the Neunburger Burghof (castle) as it happened there. Your can watch 150 actors, flames, battles and medieval music and all. The historical background is the battle of the Earl Johann from Neunburg fighting back the religious bohemian group of the Hussiten at the battlefield at Hiltersried

dates in 2007: 30 June
6,13,20,21,27 July
3,4 August             at 9pm at the castle yard

Tickets 09672/9208-423
Info      09672/9208-421
www.neunburg.de
rathaus.stadt@neunburg.de

Die Geisterwanderung (ghost walk) to Nittenau

This one sounds interesting!

It is a ghostly comedy that takes place in three castles (Hof, Stefling, Stockenfels) with the hangman in Hof, the witches of Stefling and the moonshine beer brewers of Stockenfels. The spectators will be right in the middle being served with food and drink walking from one castle to the next with lanterns and listening to knight’s ballads and medieval music. At the end you get on a ferry across the river Regen and some more drinks at Marienthal. Busses will bring you back to Nittenau.
  
For tickets, hotel etc. contact:

Touristikbüro Nittenau 93149 Nittenau
Phone 09436/9027-33
touristik@nittenau.de
www.nittenau.de

dates in 2007

14 July, 4 August, 1 September
25th anniversary play 30 June, 1 July

        
Medieval Market at Nabburg  Well, this one is maybe too far away. Every two years, next one in 2008, the city of Nabburg organizes a medieval market like the Renaissance Festivals in the States with market, music, arts, crafts, plays for about 10 000 spectators.

Would you like to ask them why they don’t have one in 2007?

Stadt Nabburg, Oberer Markt 16, 92507 Nabburg
Phone 09433/1826
touristik@naaburg.de
www.nabburg.de

13.11.2006

Oberpfalz – The Eco-Ranch in Pfreimd has trouble with delivery of wood pellets and wood briquettes. The use of the used-to-be cheaper alternative to heating oil is now so widespread that the producers of the pellets cant keep up with the requests, says Hans Meier from the Eco-Ranch. The consequence is higher prices. Now a liter of heating oil is about 57 cents and the pellets will cost you about 50 cents. There is hope though because new production facilities are in the planning. Since more and more people plan to use wood pellets in the future it is unlikely for the prices to come down in the coming years, but it is still the more environmentally friendly alternative to heating oil.

Weiden- the Fasching season 2007 started today, the 11^th Nov at 11 minutes past 11 am. What is Fasching? Well, you could compare it to Mardi Gras in Louisiana and the season ends on the same day, Ash Wednesday February 21st.  This year’s prince and princess of Weiden’s Fasching is Marcus I. (Marcus Schumme) and Jessica I. (Jessica Bock). This year’s motto for Fasching is “The world has no borders”. The kids prince and princess is Pia and Nico and both are students of the Rehbühl school in Weiden. Nico was even born on the 11^th of November!  You can find more about the Fasching season on http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/karneval.htm

Grafenwöhr – Preparations are on the way for the “cooking world championship” The best cooks the US Army (?) has got are getting ready for the championship that takes place in Luxemburg from November 18-22. Test object on post in Graf was the 12^th tank brigade “Oberpfalz” and as a thank-you they received a 3-course meal. Their judgment ”It was very good and recommendable”. The US cooks have to compete with ten more military cooking teams. Chief Warrant Officer Robert Sparks is hoping for first place. Their task is to cook a 3-course menu for 100 people. This championship takes place every four years.

Amberg – The McDonald’s in Amberg is closing! I don’t think I ever heard news like that. The reason is declining sales. Restaurant owner Max Seliger says that sales went down for years since the city declared the lower part of the Bahnhofstrasse in 1999 a car-free zone. The restaurant will close November 25^th, …..but they already found a replacement. The “Wienerwald Express” will move in, it is Germany’s version of KFC, only much better!!

Theuern- The “Team Oberpfalz Projekt” (not sure what they are about!?) or short TOP started a initiative to promote health in teachers! During a health day in Theuern for school directors and the school board, Dr Richard Bessoth informed about “Staying healthy with good work!” Directors and teachers received tips on how to prevent stress related diseases. Through team discussions and coaching the teachers would become more balanced. Studies have shown that teachers have more than average burnout-syndrome and psychosomatic diseases and depression.

Weiden- Oh here we go! Remember in the States…it is not “Merry Christmas” anymore but “Happy Holidays” instead to be politically correct? Well, in Germany there is a day in November dedicated to St. Martin (ironically the symbol for neighborly love and sharing) and for decades the kindergarten kids would craft little lanterns with candles in them, light them and have a parade through town to honor St Martin. But anyways, this years St Martin’s parade of the day care “Kunterbunt” in Weiden will be called “lantern fest” instead, to reflect religious neutrality. A lot of parents are not happy with that and I don’t blame them. What’s next? We call Eastern the “Bunny Fest” instead? Christmas will be the “Present Fest”, oh yeah it is that already anyways!J Funny enough that we don’t do away with the “Christmas” tree, it started out as a pagan symbol? Or the Easter bunny and the eggs…..we’ll end up with a bunch of holidays without meaning, except for retail businesses of course. How sad.

The most popular of the saints’ days is St. Martin on November 11. Martin of Tours lived in the 4th century. He started out as a Roman soldier, was baptized and became a monk. Because of his exemplary life he was, (very much against his will,) appointed Bishop of Tours. The goose, animal symbol of St. Martin, is a common meal around St. Martin's Day. Legend has it that geese betrayed him with their gabbling when he tried to hide in a stall as he was to be appointed bishop. Placed at the beginning of winter, many pagan fertility and light celebrations are connected with this holiday, such as the Martin's fires (bon fires and burning wheels,) and the Martin's singing. When evening falls children, carrying Martin's lanterns and torches, parade through the streets. While parading they sing about the generosity of St. Martin and the procession may end with the lighting of a bonfire. Finally the children go from house to house and recite verses, for which they are rewarded with sweets or, more so these days, with money. In some areas the legend is reenacted in which St. Martin shares his cloak with a beggar in the cold of winter.

The real reason that the geese are butchered around St. Martin's Day is that they are ready for harvesting at this time of the year. In this country as well as in the old, goose feathers were used for pillows and featherbeds, quills were used for writing, the eggs were good for baking, the fat was needed for baking and could be eaten on bread, the bird made a great roast and even the wing could be used for dusting.

 (http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/stmartin.htm)

Weiden- The roadside assistance in Weiden was called up more than ever before in this last week. The reason was that many cars are not winterized yet. The reasons they got called out for are always the same: No winter tires, frozen doors and empty batteries. They would like to remind people to winterize now since the temperatures will go down in the coming days.

District Amberg-Sulzbach- the beekeepers association “Unteres Vilstal” is renting out bee colonies! Therefore they are looking for trial-beekeepers. From March until July in the coming year interested folks can rent a bee colony including equipment. There will be support from professional beekeepers. More information on that, you can get Saturday at the castle restaurant in Theuern at 3 pm.

Amberg-The Leo-Club in Amberg is selling advent calendars again this year. The money will go to social causes. Among others they will support the local self-help group “From woman to woman”. You can buy the calendar for 5 Euros in the Amberg car-free zone on November 25 where they enter you in a drawing also. Also the calendar is on sale at the Amberg movie theaters, Amberg newspaper, Augustin Naturkost, bakery Kredler, brewery Sterk, book store Lieret, Dr. Reindl-Postler, eventam, beauty salon Schaller, gardening center Rupprecht, gift shop Geschenkeecke, Heidtmann, Mode Bauer, Porzellan Garerie, travel agency Augsberger.

Amberg-Starting December 1^st the center of Amberg will have a toy store again. Susanne Moedel will open a 250 square meter toy store in the upper floor of the Moedel-Haus at the marketplace. On the bottom floor there will be a fashion shop “dress-store” opening on the same day.

Zwiesel- in the Bavarian Forrest the annual regional conference between Lower Bavaria, the Oberpfalz and the Czech Pilsen took place. Specialists in politics, economy and culture discussed problems and ways for cooperation at the borders. Center point was the tourism and the traffic situation. Zwiesel a nice tourist town famous for their blown glass also has a webcam http://www.kt100.de/zwiesel/

Weiden-well, too late but I tell you anyways. The Organ association (and I do mean the instrument) came up with a great idea to collect money for the “Max-Reger-Organ” in the Michaels church, which was recently built. They had a “market of valuables” at the Kulturhaus Hans Bauer. You could buy paintings, antics, jewelry and other objects at this “yard sale”. Of course they also had some coffee and cake to go with it. All pieces had a firm price and when they couldn’t be sold they went back to the owners. The chief organ builder Friedbert Weimbs is busy tuning the organ and you can officially hear it play for the first time on Christmas.

Weiden- The china company Bauscher Weiden built a new showroom in honor of their 125^th anniversary. The company Bauscher Weiden was founded in 1881 by the brothers August and Conrad Bauscher. Today Bauscher Weiden is the biggest and most modern hotel china and crystal manufacturer in Europe. They produce 120 000 pieces daily and sell them to more than 120 countries. One of their most famous customers is the 7 star Hotel Burj al Arab in Dubai.

Oberviechtach- the police had to free a couple from their involuntary prison in a vacation home. The 58 year old and his girlfriend were winterizing the house and the trap door to the basement closed and they weren’t able to open it. Good thing they had a cell phone, from which the called the police to come and free them ….J

Oberviechtach is a famous spa town and also known for its location on the “Glassroad” and for a famous traveling doctor “Doktor Eisenbart” in the 1600’s. www.oberviechtach.de Unfortunately no page in English!

During the rebuilding the need for civilian workers was big and the US military turns into the biggest employer in the area, but the people dislike that in 1951 the training area Hohenfels is being enlarged and 85 more towns have to go during the Korea Crisis and the Cold War. The towns people didn’t like to give up their cemeteries most of all. I believe there are annual bus tours today for the relatives to visit those cemeteries and towns in the training area.

The administration and barracks are in the northern part, the training area in the center and the Vilseck military community (actually a whole different town) in the southern part of the Grafenwöhr Training Area. Today it employs about 3600 workers from the local area. The locals have learned to live with the noises and convoys through towns. Mom told me that after a while you don’t even notice the shooting anymore and that she used to see the big targets in the training area from her grandma’s kitchen.

While the US is closing posts and bases all over Europe, Graf is not one of them. In the coming years the US is investing 700 million dollars in the area and more troops will move in.

Netzaberg/New Town near Eschenbach will be a town for 4000 people with 830 houses.

As of today the training area stretches over 350 square kilometers, which is about 1/5 of the district of Neustadt a.d. Waldnaab. It can easily be found on the map…its that big blank spot left to Weiden. About 15000 troops and their families live in the region on post and in housing areas in nearby towns. Almost every US soldier stationed in Europe came through Graf one time or another. Or some might remember the lovely dust bowl of Hohenfels better J

In June 2006 Russian troops came to train with US soldiers for the first time. During Vietnam Graf was the most important post in Europe, also for the first Gulf War, Yugoslavia, and the Iraq War.

Politicians called it a “Marshall-Plan” for the Oberpfalz when the expansions for Graf were announced. The Pentagon decided to invest a total of 700 million Euros, which is about just as many dollars, in the Graf area and most of the locals welcome it in the not so prosperous region.

12.09.2006  Spooky!

www.Ghost-Walk.de is your chance to get to know the Oberpfalz castles and fortresses and the legends around them. If you love Halloween, the middle ages, or like scary stories, this could be the trip for you. The Oberpfalz has the highest density in Germany of castles and fortresses, even though many of them are only ruins by now. You get to learn some about the culture and life in the Oberpfalz in the middle ages and the stories behind many of those really old buildings all around you.
You can book a tour…I believe they take place at night…there is one right here in Weiden too (http://www.ghost-walk.de/tour_buchen_.html gives the links to the 4 available tours) and you’ll meet in a certain spot. Your tour guide is dressed up in the appropriate costume, including the obligatory ferret and halbert (medieval sword). They used to have ferrets in the Middle Ages to keep the mice away or used them for rabbit hunts, but only used the female ones since the males kill and eat the rabbits themselves . In the middle ages people kept more ferrets than cats around the house and today it is pet number 3 in Germany after dog and cat. Every participant will get a torch to carry. During the walk the guide will tell you legends and ghost stories related to the area or building. The appearance of the ghosts is not guarantied! About 15 minutes before the tour ends the group enters an inn (if you want) where you’ll be accepted into knighthood including the certificate.
The page does not have an English version….maybe if you show some interest and e-mail them they’ll change that and have an English tour too? I just think the whole idea behind the tours is really cool.

If you’re interested in how a former farm in the Oberpfalz looked like, why don’t you visit the Farmers Museum “Edelmannshof” in Perschen, near Nabburg. It used to be the church community center in 1605 and got remodeled into the “Oberpfälzisches Bauernmuseum” (Bauernmuseum = farmers museum) in 1964 and therefore counts as one of the oldest museums of this kind in Bavaria.

The building is in the shape of a “U” and is closed off by a gate. The building includes a grain silo brought over from the town Losenried (district Roding), a brick oven for baking bread with all needed utensils. There is also a bird house (martin house) for the pigeons. Did I mention they eventually got ate at some point? The structure also includes a well with pump.

When entering the front door you’ll get to the living quarters as well as to the cows stable (“Wohnstallhaus” which means people and animals lived under the same roof, but separate rooms J). The rooms are fully furnished, as they would have been.

The barn is utilized for meetings and exhibitions. Bordering the barn is the hay and straw barn with farming vehicles. The garage includes an antique Lanz-Bulldog (tractor) and a “Lokomobile”, which is a drivable steam engine.

After your roundtrip on the farm you can go to the “Brotzeitstueberl” = luncheon hall (the former storage for the oats = “Hobernbodn”) for a hearty farmers luncheon.

But what has all this to do with Weiden? Well, you just have to come back and find out.

Yours drooly,

Bubba