The Kreuzberg is one of the
Rhön Mountains
The Rhön Mountains () are a group of low mountains (or ''Mittelgebirge'') in central Germany, located around the border area where the states of Hesse, Bavaria and Thuringia come together. These mountains, which are at the extreme southeast end o ...
in southern
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
. With about high it is the highest elevation of the
Bavaria
Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...
n part of the Rhön, in the province of
Lower Franconia
Lower Franconia (, ) is one of seven districts of Bavaria, Germany. The districts of Lower, Middle and Upper Franconia make up the region of Franconia. It consists of nine districts and 308 municipalities (including three cities).
History
After ...
. The Kreuzberg — also referred to as the "sacred mountain of the
Franconians
Franconia ( ; ; ) is a geographical region of Germany, characterised by its culture and East Franconian dialect (). Franconia is made up of the three (governmental districts) of Lower Franconia, Lower, Middle Franconia, Middle and Upper Franco ...
" — is near the town of
Bischofsheim in der Rhön in the district
Rhön-Grabfeld
Rhön-Grabfeld is a ''Landkreis'' (district) in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by (from the southeast and clockwise) the districts of Hassberge, Schweinfurt and Bad Kissingen, and the states of Hesse (district Fulda) and Thuringia (distri ...
.
History
The Kreuzberg in the Rhön has always attracted people as a place of power. In pre-Christian times there was a sacred ash tree there, which is remembered by the old name Aschberg. Since
St. Kilian and his companions missionized the
Franconians
Franconia ( ; ; ) is a geographical region of Germany, characterised by its culture and East Franconian dialect (). Franconia is made up of the three (governmental districts) of Lower Franconia, Lower, Middle Franconia, Middle and Upper Franco ...
in 686, Kreuzberg has been considered the "Sacred Mountain of the
Franconians
Franconia ( ; ; ) is a geographical region of Germany, characterised by its culture and East Franconian dialect (). Franconia is made up of the three (governmental districts) of Lower Franconia, Lower, Middle Franconia, Middle and Upper Franco ...
". The monastery, located just below the summit, was founded in 1644 by
Franciscan
The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...
s monks. The pilgrimages are popular with the population both in the surrounding area and traditionally from the Lower Franconian district town of
Würzburg
Würzburg (; Main-Franconian: ) is, after Nuremberg and Fürth, the Franconia#Towns and cities, third-largest city in Franconia located in the north of Bavaria. Würzburg is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. It sp ...
, who make the long pilgrimage on foot to the pilgrimage church every year.
Tourism
The Kreuzberg draws a large number of tourists. People visit the Kreuzberg particularly for hiking and or to go skiing in the winter. To that end there are three ski lifts on the northern side of the mountain. In addition, there is also a luge track on the Kreuzberg.
Kreuzberg
Monastery
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...
(''Kloster Kreuzberg''), which is situated just below the summit of the mountain, is one of the main attractions as well. There are frequent
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a travel, journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) w ...
s to the monastery church. The monastery is also famous for its beer, which was brewed on site by the monks until about 1992. Today the beer is brewed by laypersons under the supervision of the monks. Three different beers (Dunkel, Pilsner and Hefe-Weizen) are produced year-round and a fourth (Weihnachts-Bock) is available during the Christmas season. Approximately 8,500 hectoliters of beer are brewed each year at the monastery.
Broadcasting
There is a facility for
FM radio
FM broadcasting is a method of radio broadcasting that uses frequency modulation (FM) of the radio broadcast carrier wave. Invented in 1933 by American engineer Edwin Armstrong, wide-band FM is used worldwide to transmit high fidelity, high-f ...
and
TV broadcasting
Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...
(the Kreuzberg transmitter) situated at 928 m AMSL on the Kreuzberg. A high
guyed mast
A guyed mast is a tall thin vertical structure that depends on guy lines (diagonal tensioned cables attached to the ground or a base) for stability. The mast itself has the compressive strength to support its own weight, but does not have the ...
transmission tower was established in 1951 and used until 1985. It has since been replaced by a high guyed mast.
See also
*
Kreuzberg ski area
External links
Monastery and brewery website
Kreuzberg Transmitter
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kreuzberg (Rhon)
Mountains of Bavaria
Rhön-Grabfeld
Mountains and hills of the Rhön