Wildenberger Buchenweg KC 55

Old and young have always met on the outskirts of Wildenberg under the broad spreading crown of the beech tree, which is estimated to be 800 years old. It is said to be the oldest beech tree in Bavaria, the last witness to the primeval forest that covered the land a millennium ago. At 40 centimetres above the ground, the trunk still had a circumference of 8.5 meters; at a height of three meters, the trunk split into two mighty arms that reached 25 meters into the sky. It is said to have yielded up to 30 hundredweight of beechnuts! In 1923, it had to be felled completely due to inexorable decay. 50 loads of wood were removed at a cost of many millions, perhaps even billions of marks. But the basket full of paper money melted into worthlessness overnight in the inflation. Today, the new beech tree stands there. From here and the avenue (50 ash trees and a few other trees) there is a magnificent view as far as the Veste Coburg and Banz Castle. The path with its wonderful views is also suitable for a bike ride.

From the parking lot at the football pitch in the Grün district of Weißenbrunn, we walk about 500 m along the road towards Weißenbrunn along the charming valley of the Schlottermühlbach stream. We then turn left onto a farm track which takes us steadily up the Schneckaberg to the heights of Wildenberg. The higher we get, the more impressive the view becomes. At first, only the beautifully structured fields present themselves, then we are delighted by the magnificent view of the beautiful landscape with the Spitzberg and (to the right) the Reinberg: the village of Wildenberg and the Wildenberger Allee, visible from afar, greet us from the clearing island on the plateau (490 m above sea level).

In the Weißenbrunner Heimatbüchlein (1959) we read: According to Loshorn, Iring von Cunstadt built a castle in Wildenberg on Langheim monastery grounds in 1248. In 1331, the castle passed into episcopal ownership. Bishop Heinrich of Bamberg appointed the von Marschalk family as administrators. The castle was completely destroyed in 1525. Today, an old lime tree stands on the spot that was once so important to the von Redwitz family.

Before the first estate, we turn right and walk along the edge of the village to the successor to the Wildenberg giant beech tree and the nearby avenue. We take the local road to the left through the village and past the small fire station only briefly in the direction of Hain. But then we turn left again onto a land consolidation path and follow it until it ends before the forest. On the way, right at the beginning, we are rewarded with a fantastically beautiful view of the Küpser Land and over the valley landscapes of Rodach and Main to the mountain ranges, and in the background to the Thuringian Forest.

There we take a grassy path to the right and soon in the forest on a beautiful path to the height of the Rainberg (533 m). We soon turn left and continue on level ground and soon descend again on a beautiful path to a forest path. From here, we recommend a detour straight ahead (a good 1 km easy) to the idyllically situated parish village of Kirchlein (district of Lichtenfels) with the Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, built from sandstone ashlars in neo-Gothic style. The rectory was built in 1851. To the right, we descend to Weides and Hain. The castle in Hain was built in 1774 over an older core. It is now private property. A sandstone bridge leads over the former moat, which is still preserved on the north side.

But we turn left and enjoy the impressive view of (from left) Gärtenroth, Wildenroth, Hainzendorf and Kirchlein, nestled in a beautiful landscape. Then the forest welcomes us. We walk along a pleasant forest path through a spruce forest interspersed with pines and deciduous trees, fairly level, until we reach the 7 Fuhren, a spider trail from which seven forest paths start. We turn right before the wind turbine and walk through the forest until we come to a crossroads on a small open space. This is where the districts of Kronach, Kulmbach and Lichtenfels meet.

Here we turn left and continue walking slightly downhill on a natural forest path. It leads us into a sparse, pure pine forest. When the forest opens up, there is a beautiful view of the idyllic village of Grün, which was first mentioned in 1348 and is surrounded by forest. From the inn, we still have to walk a little while to get to our starting point.

This circular trail can also be easily reached and hiked from Weißenbrunn or from Hain (Obermain-Ostweg, yellow rhombus) without markers.