# Reinhardswald
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{{Short description|Range of hills in Kassel, Hesse, Germany}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=June 2015}}
{{Expand German|Reinhardswald|date=March 2022}}
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[[File:Herbst Oberweser.jpg|thumb|Valley of the [Weser](/source/Weser) with the Reinhardswald]]
thumb|Oak stand in the Reinhardswald
thumb|In the Reinhardswald: the ancient forest of Sababurg
[[File:Alte Eiche Sababurg.JPG|thumb|Old [oak](/source/oak)s in the ancient forest of Sababurg]]
The '''Reinhardswald''' ({{IPA|de|ˈʁaɪnhaʁtsˌvalt|-|De-Reinhardswald.ogg}}) is a range of hills up to {{Höhe|472.2|DE-NN|link=true}} and covering an area of over 200 km²[[http://geoextra.hmulv.hessen.de/wrrl_viewer/viewer.htm WRRL Hesse] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601034411/http://geoextra.hmulv.hessen.de/wrrl_viewer/viewer.htm |date=2009-06-01 }}] in the [Weser Uplands](/source/Weser_Uplands) in the district of [Kassel](/source/Landkreis_Kassel), [Hesse](/source/Hesse) ([Germany](/source/Germany)). Of this, 183 km² are part of the [unincorporated area](/source/unincorporated_area) known as ''Gutsbezirk Reinhardswald''.
The area is known for its [myth](/source/myth)s and [legend](/source/legend)s, such as [Grimms' Fairy Tales](/source/Grimms'_Fairy_Tales), and the "[Sleeping Beauty](/source/Sleeping_Beauty)" castle of [Sababurg](/source/Sababurg) is internationally known.[Thomas L. Johnson and Eberhard Michael Iba. ''The German Fairy Tale Landscape''. (2006), pp. 115 and 168.][Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince. ''Frommer's Germany.'' (Oxford: Wiley, 2011).]
== Geography ==
The Reinhardswald is located in the north of North Hesse between [Kassel](/source/Kassel) and [Bad Karlshafen](/source/Bad_Karlshafen), [Hann. Münden](/source/Hann._M%C3%BCnden) and [Hofgeismar](/source/Hofgeismar). In the north and east this [woodland](/source/woodland) area runs up against the [Weser](/source/Weser) and, in the southeast and south against the [Fulda](/source/Fulda_(river)); both rivers form locally the border with [Lower Saxony](/source/Lower_Saxony). In the west it borders partly on the [Esse](/source/Esse_(Diemel)) and, in the northwest, on the [Diemel](/source/Diemel).
To the north of the Reinhardswald, on the far side of the Weser, is the [Solling](/source/Solling), to the northeast is the [Kiffing](/source/Kiffing) and to the east, the [Bramwald](/source/Bramwald). To the southeast, beyond the Fulda, is the [Kaufungen Forest](/source/Kaufungen_Forest); not far away to the southwest of the Reinhardswald the [Habichtswald](/source/Habichtswald) looks down on the [Kassel](/source/Kassel) Basin.
== Description ==
The Reinhardswald comprises a very extensive, gently folded, extremely thickly forested and almost uninhabited [Bunter sandstone](/source/Bunter_sandstone) plateau, which rises from about 200 m up to a maximum {{Höhe|472.2|DE-NN}} and which tilts gently towards the west. Its two highest hills, both of which are heavily wooded, are called the [Staufenberg](/source/Staufenberg_(Reinhardswald)) (472.2 m) and [Gahrenberg](/source/Gahrenberg) (472.1 m).
At over 200 km² in area the Reinhardswald is one of the largest forests and most sparsely populated regions in Germany; within Hesse it is the largest contiguous area of forest. [Beech](/source/Beech) and [oak](/source/oak), in particular, thrive here and there are extensive areas of [wood pasture](/source/wood_pasture) (''Hutewald'').
Only a few country roads cross the Reinhardswald. For instance, to cross the hills in a north-south direction from [Helmarshausen](/source/Helmarshausen) via {{Interlanguage link|Gottsbüren|de}} to [Immenhausen](/source/Immenhausen)-Holzhausen by bicycle or car, requires a drive of about 38 km on mostly empty, small and often very narrow roads that, especially in the south of the forest, are often arrow straight. And apart from Gottsbüren there are no settlements until the southern edge of the Reinhardswald near Holzhausen. The road through the north of the forest is a designated tourist route called the "[Weser Renaissance Road](/source/Weser_Renaissance_Road)" and the road through the southern part of the area is part of the designated tourist route ''Deutsche Märchenstrasse'' ("[German Fairy Tale Route](/source/German_Fairy_Tale_Route)") (the "Sleeping Beauty Route").
== History ==
=== General ===
The Reinhardswald was once an imperial forest. The northern end between the Weser and the Diemel was gifted by the Emperor, [Henry II](/source/Henry_II%2C_Holy_Roman_Emperor), to [Helmarshausen Abbey](/source/Helmarshausen_Abbey); the southern portion went to the [Bishopric of Paderborn](/source/Bishopric_of_Paderborn). Landgrave Henry of Hesse purchased the forest back in 1306 and pledged it in 1355 to Hesse, which then retained possession of the forest permanently and whose princes, especially [Philip the Magnanimous](/source/Philip_the_Magnanimous) used it as a favourite stag-hunting ground.
[Mining](/source/Mining) was carried out in and around the Reinhardswald for centuries. Evidence of [brown coal](/source/brown_coal) mining at [Gahrenberg](/source/Gahrenberg) (locally from 1842 to 1970 in the [underground mine](/source/underground_mine)) may be found as early as the time of Landgrave [William IV](/source/William_IV%2C_Landgrave_of_Hesse-Kassel) in 1575. The early mining of [alum](/source/alum) ore and [quartz](/source/quartz) sand, which was subsequently extracted in the [glassworks](/source/glassworks) at Hann. Münden, is recorded. Around 1592 a [trade union](/source/trade_union) was documented in [Immenhausen](/source/Immenhausen)-Holzhausen . From the period between 1611 and 1666 other evidence of mining was recorded.
Extensive [wood pasture](/source/wood_pasture)s and old [farmyard](/source/farmyard)s and [farm](/source/farm)s bear witness to the agricultural tradition of the Reinhardswald.
=== Myths ===
thumb|The Sababurg
There are several [myth](/source/myth)s about the origin of the Reinhardswald, of which the most famous are described here:
Version 1: Count Reinhard was a gambler and drinker. One night he was playing with the Bishop of Paderborn. After he had lost all his money, he wagered all his property on a game. He begged for grace and the bishop promised him a harvest wherever he sowed acorns. This popular version is also performed by a theatre group.
Version 2: Count Reinhard ruled the mighty forest, densely occupied by villages, but was sentenced to death for extortion and robbery. At his urgent entreaty he was allowed once more before his execution to cultivate the pastures and harvest them. But craftily, after destroying the villages, he sowed the farmers' fields with acorns, which ripened long after he was dead. Thus the Reinhardswald was born.
thumb|Wood pasture tree in the ancient forest of Sababurg
== Places of interest ==
The best known visitor destination in the Reinhardswald is the so-called "Sleeping Beauty" castle of [Sababurg](/source/Sababurg) with its wildlife park. In addition the nature reserve of the ancient forest of Sababurg (''Urwald Sababurg''), which is located between Sababurg Castle and Hofgeismar-[Beberbeck](/source/Beberbeck) recalls a long-forgotten time and a landscape of virgin forest.
== Controversy over wind power development ==
In early 2022, the [Kassel](/source/Kassel_(district)) regional council approved a plan to build 18 wind turbines, each 241 meters high, in the Reinhardswald, creating the largest wind farm in Hesse. Promoters claim to be placing the turbines in spots where the forest is already cleared due to damage by storms, summer droughts, and the [bark beetle](/source/bark_beetle). The plan is opposed by citizen's groups, partly on grounds that the turbines would endanger birds and bats and would harm tourism.[{{cite web|url=https://www.hessenschau.de/politik/bis-zu-240-meter-hoch---18-windraeder-im-reinhardswald-genehmigt,windraeder-reinhardswald-100.html|title=Bis zu 240 Meter hoch - 18 Windräder im Reinhardswald genehmigt|date=February 2, 2022}}]
== Hills ==
The hills and elevations within the Reinhardswald and its foothills include (heights in metres above [Normalnull](/source/Normalnull)):
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
* [Staufenberg](/source/Staufenberg_(Reinhardswald)) (472.2 m)
* [Gahrenberg](/source/Gahrenberg) (472.1 m)
* [Hahneberg](/source/Hahneberg_(Reinhardswald)) (460.8 m)
* [Junkernkopf](/source/Junkernkopf) (451.5 m)
* Mühlenberg (439.0 m)
* [Langenberg](/source/Langenberg_(Reinhardswald)) (423.6 m)
* Kleiner Staufenberg (421.0 m)[The Kleiner Staufenberg is the south peak of the Staufenberg]
* Großer Pinnacker (400.0 m)[The Großer Pinnacker is an eastern spur of the Hahneberg]
* [Ahlberg](/source/Ahlberg) (394.6 m)
* Steinhäufe (391.1 m)
* Knotberg (388.0 m)
* Olbenberg (371.1 m)
* Papenköpfe (367.8 m
* Steinkopf (353.2 m)[The Steinkopf ({{Formatnum:353.2}} m) is located west of [Hilwartshausen](/source/Hilwartshausen)]
* Sandkopf (340.1 m)
* Staufenküppel (333.8 m)
* Kuhberg (326.0 m)
* Grunewaldskopf (324.9 m)
* Kuhläger Kopf (290.5 m)
* Heegeberg (280.2 m)
* Sieburg (274 m)
* Ischenberg (271.8 m)
* [Steinkopf](/source/Steinkopf_(Reinhardswald)) (271 m)[The Steinkopf (271 m) is east of [Wülmersen](/source/W%C3%BClmersen)]
* Klipsberg (242 m)
* Kleiner Pinnacker (197.6 m)[The Kleiner Pinnacker is a southeastern spur of the Hahneberg]
* Moosberg (185 m)
{{colend}}
== Rivers and streams ==
The [Weser](/source/Weser) flows past just to the east of the Reinhardswald in a deeply incised valley. To the southeast is the equally deep valley of the [Fulda](/source/Fulda_(river)); to the west the little [Esse](/source/Esse_(Diemel)) and, to the northeast, the [Diemel](/source/Diemel). The [Holz'''a'''pe](/source/Holzape) is the longest [stream](/source/stream) within the uplands themselves, and is fed by numerous other brooks including the [Holz'''ka'''pe](/source/Holzkape) and [Lempe](/source/Lempe). There are also many [pond](/source/pond)s and [pools](/source/Stream_pool).
== Towns and villages ==
These places are located within the Reinhardswald:
* [Gottsbüren](/source/Gottsb%C3%BCren)
* Hofgeismar-[Beberbeck](/source/Beberbeck) (Gehöft-Ansiedelung)
The following towns and villages lie on the edge of the Reinhardswald:
* in the north: [Bad Karlshafen](/source/Bad_Karlshafen)
* in the east [Oberweser](/source/Oberweser) and [Reinhardshagen](/source/Reinhardshagen)
* in the southeast [Hann. Münden](/source/Hann._M%C3%BCnden)
* in the west [Hombressen](/source/Hombressen)
* in the southwest [Immenhausen](/source/Immenhausen)
Somewhat further away from the Reinhardswald are:
* in the west [Grebenstein](/source/Grebenstein), [Hofgeismar](/source/Hofgeismar) and [Trendelburg](/source/Trendelburg)
* in the south [Kassel](/source/Kassel)
== Literature ==
* Augustins Reisehandbücher (Nr. 4) ''Der Reinhardswald und Bramwald nebst angrenzenden Gebieten''. Kassel (o.J., c. 1920)
* Alfred Bonnemann: ''Der Reinhardswald''. Verlag der Weserbuchhandlung. Hann. Münden 1984
* Hermann-Josef Rapp (Hrsg.): ''Reinhardswald. Eine Kulturgeschichte''. Euregio, Kassel 2002, {{ISBN|3-933617-12-X}}
== Film documentaries ==
* ''Der Baum der Bäume. Geheimnisvolle Reise in die Welt der Eichen'', TV documentary by Herbert Ostwald, Germany 2004 – which focuses on the old oak wood pastures of the Reinhardswald.
* ''Der Reinhardswald'', TV documentary by Simone Jung, Germany 2005 - The film by Simone Jung gives an insight into the life of several people who live in the forest. The [Sababurg](/source/Sababurg) and its restoration is also covered.
== See also ==
* [The German Wikipedia entry on Reinhardswald](/source/%3Ade%3AReinhardswald)
== Footnotes and references ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* https://web.archive.org/web/20050209082531/http://www.hessennet.de/reinhardswald/
* https://web.archive.org/web/20090901121134/http://www.landkreiskassel.de/freizeit/sehensw/reinhard.htm
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101211004129/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,601404,00.html Forest folk from the Reinhardswald - unique voters in the land] at ''Spiegel-Online''
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{{Coord|51|31|N|9|31|E|type:mountain_elevation:472.2_region:DE-HE|display=title}}
Category:Reinhardswald
Category:Central Uplands
Category:Hills of Hesse
Category:Forests and woodlands of Hesse
Category:Natural regions of the Weser-Leine Uplands
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Reinhardswald](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhardswald) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhardswald?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.