Short cultural historic walkabout to prominent places in the surrounding area of the castle hill
 |
You start your tour to the cultural historic walkabout to prominent places in the surrounding area of the castle hill at the parking site of the castle hill. The parking lot can be reached by following the street 'Am Joachimsberg' and 'Kuhsteige'.
This starting point of walkabout tours leads you towards the area 'Alter Rain'and just after few meters you will reach your first walking destination the oak 'am Roten Meer'
'
The oak 'am Roten Meer' is mentioned in 'Knaurs ' Field Guide' and has an estimated age of 350 years and a girth of 5,50 meters. That oak is the biggest tree in the bounds of Herrenberg. In former times the oak was called the 'Hut-Eiche' (hat-oak) and served as a protection place against the heat for the the cattle, which was led via the area 'Kuhsteige' up to the area 'Alter Rain'. Also the area 'Lämmleshalde' reminds to earlier times, when the cattle was put out to graze. The so called 'Kuhsteigbrunnen' (fountain) which is mentioned on the sign, was at the very end of the 'Stuttgarter Straße'. There is no relation between the oak 'Rotes Meer' and the old testament. It's a made up legend which was told over the years.
Wooden supply pipes (Teuchel) for the deanery foundation were stocked in the hollow which was filled with water. The hollow was filled up by the waste water of the street. The red coloration of the hollow resulted from the fine dust of the sandstone on the road, which was flushed with rain water into the mine. You can find the red sandstone in the back quarry. The red sandstone was used for the road surface. It was a special highlight for the citizens if this rarely incident happened.
 |
Walking back at the roadside between 'Rotem Meer' and the old oak, you will have a wonderful panoramic view of the Gaeu.
Back on the street you will reach the castle hill after a short stroll.
The colonization of the castle hill was in the years 6000-4000 BC and later. It's proved by funds. The location of the hill invited huntsmen of the middle- and new stone age to settle down. In the Middle Ages it was the location of the castle of the Count Palatine II. of Tübingen. The castle was raptured in 1807. Only the ancient west tower, 7,70 x 7,70 meters, with an indoor dungeon, is still a lookout tower today.
In the tower you can still see the hole, where the captured prisoners were lowered down with a winch to the dungeon. At the outside of the wall the so called 'Angstloch' (fear hole) is still visible.
The tower offers a fantastic panoramic view on the town and the landscape. A sign, which is fixed at the tower balustrade shows how the castle areal looked like in the Middle Ages. On several other signs you can find the towers, villages and sightseeings of the Gaeu and the Swabian Albs. Having the Foundation Church in your backside you can see the 'Kanonenbuckel' which can be reached after few steps. The 'Kanonenbuckel' rises up to 7 meters above the plateau of the castle hill. It has an extension of 40x40 meters. A real huge rise.
Until today it hasn't been clarified when and why the 'Kanonenbuckel' has been prepared.
In the 18th and 19th century it was set up the 'Hochwacht' (lookout station) at this place. The origin of its name comes from an alarm cannon, placed in a fortified barrack and stationed at the 'Kanonenbuckel. The cannon was activated from the 'Hochwacht' as a fire alarm signal for the town and the surrounding area.
In case of a fire in town, the cannon was shot six times, in case of a fire within a district borough four times and in case of a fire more distanced the cannon was shot two times. The shots were the signal for the local 'fire helpers' (ancient form of the fire brigade) to turn out. Later the task was overtaken by the fire riders. At the same time when the alarm cannon was shot the town bells were rung. After 1807, when the castle of Herrenberg was already destroyed, the 'Hochwacht' still existed. King Frederik of Wuerttemberg left the almost demolished tower magazine as a gift to the town. In a half-timbered tower, constructed on the magazine, the 'Hochwächter' (guard) was based until 1835. In 1841, on the occasion of the 25-years-ruling-jubilee of King William I. some linden trees and oaklets were planted on the hump 'Kanonenbuckel'.
Here on the plateau of the castle hill you can have a break in the 'Schlosskeller' restaurant. Please have a look at the opening hours.
From the 'Kanonenbuckel' your arrive at the 'Birgenwegle' one of the most beautiful paths around the castle hill.
In front of the 'Kanonenbuckel' turn left down the hill. After approximately 30 meters turn right and you're on the path 'Birkenwegle'. The first meters you're walking on the ancient deanery fountain pipe which is spring-fed by the fount called 'Lüglenquelle'.
'
The name 'Birkenwegle' (birch tree path) was given to the path because of the birches at the side of the pathway. Unforunately the storm 'Lothar' damaged lots of the trees. As a reminder to that storm a small birch tree was planted. The small birch and a memorial sign can be found at the end of the path towards the area 'Alter Rain'.
'
On this romantic path the hiking tour leads back to the parking lot. On the street towards the castle hill keep left in direction to the quarry.
'
The reed sandstone, a characteristical sign of the castle hill, can be found in the quarry. Conserved in a tray, 10 meters high, the reed sandstone prevented the castle hill of degradations. Reed sandstone develops with the flow in of sandstone and strong changing stream courses. It is a popular building material which was used for the construction of the Fundation Church.
'
Just some more steps and you're back at the parking site, the starting point of your cultural historic walkabout to prominent places in the surrounding area of the castle hill.
Walking time total appr. 45 minutes.
Lenth of the tour 2,4 kilometres
Sturdy shoes are recommended
Autor: Horst F. Sehorsch, Guide