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The Steigerwald is a hill region up to in the Bavarian- Franconian part of the
South German Scarplands The South German Scarplands is a geological and geomorphological natural region or landscape in Switzerland and the south German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The landscape is characterised by escarpments. It is variously referred to ...
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 The Franconian HeightsBavarian State Chancellery, ''Information about Bavaria'', 1981, p. 11. (german: Frankenhöhe) are a hill ridge, up to , in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in South Germany. Location and boundaries The Franconian Heights l ...
. Part of the region is a designated as the
Steigerwald Nature Park On 8 March 1988 the Bavarian State Ministry for State Development and the Environment designated an area of in the Steigerwald in North Bavaria, Germany, as the Steigerwald Nature Park (german: Naturpark Steigerwald). About half the area consist ...
.


Geography


Location

The Steigerwald lies at the junction of the Bavarian provinces of Lower,
Middle Middle or The Middle may refer to: * Centre (geometry), the point equally distant from the outer limits. Places * Middle (sheading), a subdivision of the Isle of Man * Middle Bay (disambiguation) * Middle Brook (disambiguation) * Middle Creek (d ...
, and Upper Franconia, the tripoint being marked by the
Dreifrankenstein The Dreifrankenstein ( German for ''Three Franconias Stone'') is a boundary stone that marks the tripoint where the three Franconian provinces of Upper, Middle and Lower Franconia meet in southern Germany. As part of the regional reforms in 197 ...
. It is located between the cities of
Bamberg Bamberg (, , ; East Franconian: ''Bambärch'') is a town in Upper Franconia, Germany, on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main. The town dates back to the 9th century, when its name was derived from the nearby ' castle. C ...
, 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 Marktbreit am Main () is a town in the district of Kitzingen in the Regierungsbezirk Unterfranken in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated at the most southern point of the Main river. Marktbreit is the birthplace of Alois Alzheimer who first identi ...
via
Uffenheim Uffenheim () is a city in the Middle Franconian district of Neustadt (Aisch)-Bad Windsheim, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 14 km west of Bad Windsheim, and 36 km southeast of Würzburg. Town structure Uffenheim consists of ...
to Bad Windsheim. The Steigerwald covers the territories of six counties:
Bamberg Bamberg (, , ; East Franconian: ''Bambärch'') is a town in Upper Franconia, Germany, on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main. The town dates back to the 9th century, when its name was derived from the nearby ' castle. C ...
, Erlangen-Höchstadt, Haßberge, Kitzingen, Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad Windsheim, and Schweinfurt.


Natural regions

The Steigerwald is divided into these natural regions:Emil Meynen, Josef Schmithüsen: ''
Handbook of the Natural Region Divisions of Germany The ''Handbook of Natural Region Divisions of Germany'' (german: Handbuch der naturräumlichen Gliederung Deutschlands) was a book series resulting from a project by the former German Federal Institute for Regional Studies ('' Bundesanstalt für La ...
.'' Bundesanstalt für Landeskunde, Remagen/Bad Godesberg, 1953–1962 (9 issues in 8 books, updated 1:1,000,000 map with major units, 1960).
Various authors: ''Geographische Landesaufnahme: Die naturräumlichen Einheiten in Einzelblättern 1:200.000.'' Bundesanstalt für Landeskunde, Bad Godesberg, 1952–1991. �
Online maps

asterisked (*) sheets have not yet been published. *Sheet 152: Würzburg (Horst Mensching, Günter Wagner 1963; 45 pp.)* *Sheet 153: Bamberg (Karl Albert Habbe 2004, in ''Mitteilungen der Fränkischen Geographischen Gesellschaft 2003/2004'', pp. 55-102; 48 pp.)
*part of the
South German Scarplands The South German Scarplands is a geological and geomorphological natural region or landscape in Switzerland and the south German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The landscape is characterised by escarpments. It is variously referred to ...
(''Südwestdeutsches Stufenland'') *part of the 11
Franconian Keuper-Lias Land The Franconian Keuper-Lias Plains or Franconian Keuper-Lias LandsDickinson, Robert E (1964). ''Germany: A regional and economic geography'' (2nd ed.). London: Methuen, p. 83. . (german: Fränkische Keuper-Lias-Land) are a major natural region in t ...
(''Fränkisches Keuper-Lias-Land'') *115 Steigerwald (1115.2 km2) **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 ): * Scheinberg (498.5 m),
near Reusch ( Weigenheim) * Hoher Landsberg (498 m);
with Hohenlandsberg Castle ruins *
Zabelstein Zabelstein is a mountain of Bavaria, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state o ...
(489 m);
with viewing tower (475.0 m) * Großer Knetzberg (487.5 m),
near Eschenau (
Knetzgau Knetzgau is a municipality in the district of Haßberge in Bavaria in Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and ...
) * Stollberg (475,6 m),
near Handthal (
Oberschwarzach Oberschwarzach is a Municipalities of Germany, municipality in the district of Schweinfurt (district), Schweinfurt in Bavaria, Germany. References

Schweinfurt (district) {{Schweinfurtdistrict-geo-stub ...
); with the nearby Stollburg Castle ruins *
Schwanberg Schwanberg is a mountain, or hill of higher elevation (474 m), in the rural district of Kitzingen, Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany. It is part of the Steigerwald. In ancient times the mountain was used by the Celts as a refug ...
(473,7 m);
with
Schloss Schwanberg ''Schloss'' (; pl. ''Schlösser''), formerly written ''Schloß'', is the German language, German term for a building similar to a château, palace, or manor house. Related terms appear in several Germanic languages. In the Scandinavian langu ...
(456 m) * Friedrichsberg (473.1 m),
near
Abtswind Abtswind is a municipality in the district of Kitzingen in Bavaria in Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and ...
; with transmission tower * Herrschaftsberg (463 m);
with Schloss Frankenberg * Bergholz (442.8 m),
near Ulsenheim (
Markt Nordheim Markt Nordheim is a municipality in the district of Neustadt (Aisch)-Bad Windsheim in Franconia in Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country ...
) * Schlossberg, Markt Einersheim (420 m);
with Speckfeld Castle ruins * Schlossberg Roman camp (396.6 m);
with site of Oberschloss * Wildberg (393.1 m),
near Wildberghof (
Markt Nordheim Markt Nordheim is a municipality in the district of Neustadt (Aisch)-Bad Windsheim in Franconia in Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country ...
); with site of
Wildberg Castle Wildberg may refer to: *Wildberg, Baden-Württemberg, a town in the district of Calw, Baden-Württemberg, Germany * Wildberg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a municipality in the district of Demmin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany *Wildberg, Switzerland, ...


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): * Aurach (into the Regnitz) *
Rauhe Ebrach Rauhe Ebrach is a river of Bavaria, Germany. It flows into the Regnitz near Pettstadt. See also *List of rivers of Bavaria A list of rivers of Bavaria, Germany: A * Aalbach * Abens * Ach * Afferbach *Affinger Bach *Ailsbach * Aisch * Aiterach ...
(into the Regnitz) * Mittelebrach (into the Rauhen Ebrach) *
Reiche Ebrach Reiche Ebrach is a river of Bavaria, Germany. It flows into the Regnitz near Hirschaid. See also *List of rivers of Bavaria A list of rivers of Bavaria, Germany: A * Aalbach * Abens * Ach * Afferbach *Affinger Bach *Ailsbach * Aisch * Aiterac ...
(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 wine Franconia (German: ''Franken'') is a region for quality wine in Germany situated in the north west of Bavaria in the district of Franconia, and is the only wine region in the federal state of Bavaria. In 2014, vines were grown on of land in ...
s, which are grown in the west of the region. Well-known names include
Abtswind Abtswind is a municipality in the district of Kitzingen in Bavaria in Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and ...
er Altenberg, Casteller Bausch, Handthaler Stollberg,
Ippesheim Ippesheim is a municipality in the district of Neustadt (Aisch)-Bad Windsheim in Bavaria in Germany. Personalities * Vitus Müller (1561-1626), Protestant theologian and philologist, professor at the University of Tübingen The University o ...
er Herrschaftsberg, Bullenheimer Paradies, Wiesenbronner Wachhügel, and Ziegelangerer Ölschnabel.


Nature conservation


Nature park and nature reserves

Large parts of the Steigerwald have been designated since 1988 as the
Steigerwald Nature Park On 8 March 1988 the Bavarian State Ministry for State Development and the Environment designated an area of in the Steigerwald in North Bavaria, Germany, as the Steigerwald Nature Park (german: Naturpark Steigerwald). About half the area consist ...
. Around half the nature park area is covered by protected landscapes. On a smaller scale, several nature reserves are designated. In addition are the protected habitats of 6029-371 ''Buchenwälder und Wiesentäler des Nordsteigerwalds'' und 6327-371 ''Vorderer Steigerwald mit Schwanberg'' as well as the European Special Protection Areas 6029-471 ''Oberer Steigerwald'' und 6327-471 ''Südlicher Steigerwald''.


National park and world heritage discussions

Within the various counties whose territories include the Steigerwald, discussions have taken place about taking parts of the forest out of use and classifying them as protected areas. Since 2008, controversy has existed over whether certain areas should become a
national park A national park is a nature park, natural park in use for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes, created and protected by national governments. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state dec ...
or not. Proponents see this contributing to conservation and increasing tourism. Opponents fear that the designated areas would no longer be used for forestry. Since 15 January 2015, the Steigerwald clearly can no longer be a UNESCO World Heritage Site because the UNESCO nomination process has finished. At a meeting in the Bavarian Parliament with Prime Minister Horst Seehofer, the Bavarian Environment Minister Ulrike Scharf, Forestry Minister Helmut Brunner, and the three county councillors of the Schweinfurt (Florian Töpper), Haßberge (Wilhelm Schneider), and Bamberg (Johann Kalb), this was not yet known. The result then was that a working group of representatives of the two ministries and the three county councils would establish the foundations for an application for World Heritage status by the end of January 2015. According to Töpper, a prerequisite was unity between the parties that no national park should be in the Steigerwald. Seehofer was to ensure that, by the end of January 2014, a measure adopted by the Bamberg council for a controversial, 775-hectare forest reserve in the
Ebrach Forest Ebrach is a municipality with market rights in the Upper Franconian district of Bamberg and the seat of the ''Verwaltungsgemeinschaft'' (municipal association) of Ebrach. Geography Ebrach lies between Bamberg in the east and Würzburg in the west ...
was withdrawn. Authority for the disputed protected area was withdrawn in September 2015 because it was determined to be illegal. This 'illegality' was confirmed by the government of Upper Franconia. As a result, on 1 September 2015, the regulation was lifted. According to the legal view of the Government of Upper Franconia, the "regulation by the Bamberg Council for the protected landscape of 'the high beech woods in the Ebrach Forest' dated 16 April 2014 was illegal because the regulation was not covered by the enabling provision of § 29 BNatSchG." The Upper Franconian government also recorded, " the High Beech Wood is not a suitable object of protection for a protected landscape area". It is, according to the government "not an object that stands out from the landscape, as the law requires it to be. Therefore, the regulation is to be rescinded for legal reasons and also in the interests of legal clarity and legal certainly."


References

Height based on unknown or unverified source


External links


Tourist-Information Steigerwald
{{Authority control Regions of Bavaria Forests and woodlands of Bavaria Bamberg (district) Neustadt (Aisch)-Bad Windsheim Erlangen-Höchstadt Haßberge (district) Kitzingen (district) Schweinfurt (district) Natural regions of the South German Scarplands Franconia