Steigerwald
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| Steigerwald | |
|---|---|
 View from the Zabelstein looking north over the Schweinfurt Basin | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Scheinberg |
| Elevation | 498.5 m above NHN |
| Dimensions | |
| Area | 1,115.2 km2 (430.6 sq mi) |
| Geography | |
  Steigerwald | |
| State | Bavaria |
| Range coordinates | 49°36′51″N 10°17′14″E / 49.61417°N 10.28722°E |
| Parent range | Franconian Keuper-Lias Land |
The Steigerwald (German pronunciation: [ˈʃtaɪɡɐvalt]) is a hill region up to 498.5 m above sea level (NHN)[1] in the Bavarian-Franconian part of the South German Scarplands between Würzburg and Nuremberg. It is part of the Keuper Uplands, and within it, it is continued to the north-northeast and right of the river Main, by the Haßberge, and to the south-southwest by the Franconian Heights. Part of the region is a designated as the Steigerwald Nature Park.
Location
The Steigerwald lies at the junction of the Bavarian provinces of Lower, Middle, and Upper Franconia, the tripoint being marked by the Dreifrankenstein. It is located between the cities of Bamberg, Schweinfurt, Würzburg, and Nuremberg. In the north, it is bounded by the course of the river Main, and in the east by the river Regnitz. Its southern boundary is formed by the river Aisch, and in the west by the Main again and a line from Marktbreit via Uffenheim to Bad Windsheim.
The Steigerwald covers the territories of six counties: Bamberg, Erlangen-Höchstadt, Haßberge, Kitzingen, Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad Windsheim, and Schweinfurt.
Natural regions
The Steigerwald is divided into these natural regions:[2][3]
- part of the South German Scarplands (Südwestdeutsches Stufenland)
- part of the 11 Franconian Keuper-Lias Land (Fränkisches Keuper-Lias-Land)
- 115 Steigerwald (1115.2 km2)[2]
- 115.0 Southern (Anterior) Steigerwald (Südlicher (Vorderer) Steigerwald)
- 115.1 Middle Steigerwald (Mittlerer Steigerwald)
- 115.0 Northern Steigerwald (Nördlicher Steigerwald)
Hills
Among the hills and high points of the Steigerwald are, sorted by height in metres above sea level (NHN) (unless otherwise stated these are based on [1]):
- Scheinberg (498.5 m),
near Reusch (Weigenheim) - Hoher Landsberg (498 m);
with Hohenlandsberg Castle ruins - Zabelstein (489 m);[4]
with viewing tower (475.0 m) - Großer Knetzberg (487.5 m),
near Eschenau (Knetzgau) - Stollberg (475,6 m),
near Handthal (Oberschwarzach); with the nearby Stollburg Castle ruins - Schwanberg (473,7 m);
with Schloss Schwanberg (456 m) - Friedrichsberg (473.1 m),
near Abtswind; with transmission tower - Herrschaftsberg (463 m);[4]
with Schloss Frankenberg - Bergholz (442.8 m),
near Ulsenheim (Markt Nordheim) - Schlossberg, Markt Einersheim (420 m);[4]
with Speckfeld Castle ruins - Schlossberg Roman camp (396.6 m);
with site of Oberschloss - Wildberg (393.1 m),
near Wildberghof (Markt Nordheim); with site of Wildberg Castle
Rivers
Due to the steep slopes on its western side, most of the larger rivers rising in the Steigerwald flow in an easterly or southeasterly direction. They do not usually flow directly into the River Main in the northeast, but empty either into the Regnitz in the east or its tributary, the Aisch, which flanks the Steigerwald in the southeast and forms a natural dividing line with the heights of the Franconian Heights.
These rivers and streams rise in the Steigerwald and flow in an easterly direction (arranged north to south):[1]
- Aurach (into the Regnitz)
- Rauhe Ebrach (into the Regnitz)
- Mittelebrach (into the Rauhen Ebrach)
- Reiche Ebrach (into the Regnitz)
- Kleine Weisach (into the Aisch)
- Weisach (into the Aisch)
- Steinach (into the Aisch)
- Laimbach (into the Ehebach)
- Scheine (left-hand headstream)
- Bibart (right-hand headstream)
- Ehebach (into the Aisch)
Transport
The main transport arteries passing by the Steigerwald are the A 70 in the north, the A 7 in the west, and the A 73 in the east. Crossing the hills and nature park is the A 3, the main road link between Frankfurt, Wurzburg, and Nuremberg, and the federal roads of the B 22, B 286, and B 8.
A tourist route, the Steigerwald High Road (Steigerwald-Höhenstraße), crosses the Steigerwald in a north–south direction.
Viticulture
Wine connoisseurs know the Steigerwald from its Franconian wines, which are grown in the west of the region. Well-known names include Abtswinder Altenberg, Casteller Bausch, Handthaler Stollberg, Ippesheimer Herrschaftsberg, Bullenheimer Paradies, Wiesenbronner Wachhügel, and Ziegelangerer Ölschnabel.
