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| Great Bear Mountain | ||
| federal state | Hesse | |
|---|---|---|
| height | 600.7 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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The Great Bear Mountain - usually just called Bärenberg - is an attractive destination in North Hesse. The 600.7 m high elevation is included Zierenberg about 15 km northwest of Kassel. From the transmission tower with its freely accessible viewing platform, one has one of the most beautiful panoramic views in the Habichtswald Nature Park. The top of the mountain is only accessible on foot or by bike.
background
The distinctive summit of the Bärenberg is, like the surrounding elevations of the Habichtswald, of volcanic origin. The basalt dome, still visible today, is the solidified crater content of a former volcano. The softer rock of the volcano was eroded by the weather, exposing the crater content.
In the 1970s, the city of Zierenberg built the first 30 m high observation tower in the summit area. The tower was also used as a radio tower. A picture of this structure can be found on the website of the Packet Radio Interest Group DBØEAM e.V. to find.
Here you can also learn that today's significant taller tower was built by a cell phone company that was interested in this broadcasting location. The structure with viewing platform was inaugurated in 1999.
At the beginning of 2007, hurricane "Kyrill" felled large areas of forest in the summit area. The tower is now free.
getting there
By train
- Supraregional - Arrival by long-distance transport to the Wilhelmshöhe long-distance train station in Kassel. From here then with the regional express (which goes to Korbach) to Zierenberg train station. If there is currently no connection with the regional express, you can take local transport to Kassel Central Station drive and then change to the Regiotram to Zierenberg (the Regiotram line 4 goes to Wolfhagen).
- From Kassel - The Regiotram line 4 in the direction of Wolfhagen goes directly from the city center via Kassel's main train station to Zierenberg. Do not get off at the train station, but at the next stop "Zierenberg-Rosental". This is closer to the mountain.
- Those who travel with the regional express Kassel-Korbach, however, have to start the hike at the Zierenberg train station. The regional express stops Not at the Zierenberg-Rosental stop, but only at the Zierenberg train station.
In the street
Leave the A 44 motorway (Dortmund - Kassel) at the Zierenberg junction and follow the signs to Zierenberg.
In Zierenberg at the exit of the village, turn towards Oberlesungen to the nature park area (signposted with a blue parking lot sign).
The residential street "Stiegweg" turns into an asphalt dirt road that leads uphill to the motorway. After crossing under the autobahn you will find a gravel road just above the A44 1 Bärenberg nature park.
By bicycle
The Hessian long-distance cycle route R 4 leads through nearby Zierenberg. The ascent to the mountain is via the driveway to the nature park.
For the ascent to the Bärenberg tower itself, you need at least one touring bike with profile tires, gearshifts suitable for the mountains and good brakes. However, a mountain bike is better. Above the motorway it gets really steep on the asphalt road (about 15%). The asphalt path leads up to a height of around 420 m. From here it goes on a coarser gravel path in another steep ramp up to the tower.
Please be considerate of hikers when descending.
On foot
- Shortest climb - The "normal route" up the mountain starts from the Bärenberg nature park near Zierenberg. From the car park on the A 44 motorway at an altitude of 380 m, you walk 2.1 km to the tower at a height of 600 m. About halfway down the steep asphalt path, a wooden bench at an altitude of 470 m invites you to take a break. After taking a breather, you can tackle the second steep ramp on a gravel path from here. Over this one reaches the tower through bare areas without forest.
Tourist Attractions
Bärenberg tower with a panoramic view
Today's Bärenberg tower was inaugurated in 1999. It is about a 45 - 50 m high steel lattice tower with various transmission systems. Below the transmitter, the tower has an unglazed but roofed viewing platform at a height of around 30 m.
You have to be a bit free from giddiness for the ascent to the platform, as the steel stairs are completely free.
From the tower you have a free 360 degree view. Distance boards explain the view. Here is a selection of destinations that can be seen when visibility is good. The approximate distance determined with Google Earth and the compass direction are given in brackets:
- Rothaar Mountains With Ettelsberg and Bare branches (about 50 km to the west)
- Egge Mountains (about 35 km to the northwest)
- Reinhardswald (about 25 km to the northeast)
- With very good visibility on the horizon: resin With Chunks (100 km to the northeast)
- city Zierenberg With Dörnberg in the Middle East (5.5 km to the Hohe Dörnberg)
- Habichtswald with the distinctive Transmission tower on the Essigberg (about 7 km in the southeast)
- with good visibility: Crumple (about 50 km to the south)
- Kellerwald (about 30 km to the south)
- Table Mountain from Burghasungen (3 km in the near south)
- Weidelsburg (13 km to the southwest)
- city Wolfhagen (7 km in the near southwest)
kitchen
- There are no places to stop for refreshments on the mountain. The next opportunities to strengthen yourself can be found in the near Zierenberg.
accommodation
- There are no overnight accommodations on the mountain. The next guest beds can be found nearby Zierenberg.
security
If there is a risk of thunderstorms, you should avoid the open areas, especially in the summit area of the Bärenberg, or not even climb to the tower.
By the way, there is one at the observation tower closed wooden refuge, in which you can possibly wait for a thunderstorm. As of 02-2014, however, it is not known whether this refuge has lightning protection. Of course, you shouldn't climb the tower if there is a risk of thunderstorms.
Practical advice
- see tourist information Zierenberg or information point of the Habichtswald Nature Park on the Dörnberg.
literature
- Cycling and hiking map "Habichtswald Nature Park" Scale 1: 33000; ISBN 978-3-937929-52-1 (March 2007 edition); Price: € 4.50; appeared at the Municipal publishing company Nordhausen
- "Habichtswald" cycling and hiking map - The exact map on a scale of 1: 33.333 shows the entire Habichtswald nature park over a large area including the relatively small low mountain range "Habichtswald". The card does not have an ISBN number. However, it is available at the local tourist information offices and in local bookshops (also in Kassel). The publisher is Geo publishing house by Frank-Harald Stahl from Kaufungen.
