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Externsteine, Teutoburger WaldAmazing Natural Rock Formations in Northern Germany
These natural rock outcrops are a remarkable sight. in Northwestern Germany near Detmold. The sandstone pillars rise from an otherwise unrocky landscape.
The stones were part of the site of a Christian monastery from around 1100 to the 15th century. The five sandstone pillars form a wall, and the monks hewed stairs into the rock to create a chapel high above the ground. Here there is a hole in the rock and a corresponding target on the wall behind the altar that is reputed to line up with the midsummer sunrise. Visiting the Externsteine.The stones are near Detmold, in a part of the Teutoburger Wald nature reserve. The closest small town is the town of Horn, but the stones can be reached from Detmold which has a railway station. Near the car park and bus stop there is a restaurant and a couple of small stalls to refresh visitors before the short pleasant stroll through the forest to get to the stones. The Teutoburger Wald nature reserve has a number of longer trails and hiking paths for the more active visitor. To actually climb up the stairs carved in the rock there is another entrance charge payable at a hut by the foot of the stairs. The stairs are quite narrow and it is not easy for people passing up to get by people coming down, so a certain amount of congestion is to be expected on holidays and summer weekends! It is perfectly possible to enjoy the stones from the ground without climbing them, and the walk round the small decorative lakes at the foot of the stones shows them off from all angles. By CarThere is a large car park near the site. Fortunately this is a little way away from the stones so there is a short walk through the forest to get to see the stones, and the car park is not visible from the site. A charge of 1 Euro is made for entry to the car park, pedestrians and those arriving by public transport get in free. By Public TransportTourist Bus Line 792 goes to the Externsteine from Detmold railway station. Mystical AssociationsRudolf Steiner considered this to be the centre of the German folk-spirit, and others have identified the mystical presence of the stones. The astronomical alignment of the hole in the chapel and the midsummer sunrise indicates a not totally Christian symbolism, which hints at previous pagan traditions. Symbolic Rock carving of the Cross Above the Tree of Life.The large carving near the stairway to the chapel depicts the body of Christ being takem down from the Cross, above the Tree of Life. Presumably this was to symbolise the pagan ways submitting to the power of the new religion, helping reluctant converts get the message. Nearby AttractionsThe Teutoburger Wald nature reserve Bad Driburg – thermal mineral water spa and baths LocationOn Google Maps GPS Location51.86984 N 8.91718 E ReferencesMagisch Reisen durch Deutschland, David Luczyn, p196 ff
The copyright of the article Externsteine, Teutoburger Wald in Germany Travel is owned by Richard Mudhar. Permission to republish Externsteine, Teutoburger Wald in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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