They tower imposingly, the rocks that were formed in the time of the dinosaurs. A half-timbered house towers high above all the other houses nestled against the stone walls. The impressive backdrop is not only a popular motif for amateur photographers, but also a beautiful destination for a day trip, with or without a hike.
Rocks with history
During the Jurassic period, there was a tropical sea where Franconian Switzerland is today. A reef of diatom sponges and blue-green algae grew underwater. After the sea disappeared, the reef remained. Today’s Umlaufberg was created by the Püttlach river, which cut into the rock. The Felsburg is not only characteristic of the village that surrounds it, but also of Franconian Switzerland in general.
The village that grew up around the former reef is the oldest in the municipality of Pottenstein and was first mentioned in documents as early as 1243. The two hilltop castles were presumably also built at this time. There was an upper and a lower castle, which were built on the castle rock. The upper castle was located on the Fahnenstein, but it was probably destroyed during the Hussite War in 1430. There are hardly any remains of it today.
The Lower Castle was also destroyed in the same war, but was subsequently rebuilt. The same happened after the second destruction in 1525. After the third destruction during the Thirty Years’ War, it was not rebuilt. However, a few outbuildings remained from the Lower Castle. The Judenhof was built on the site, where Jewish families lived until the 19th century. The synagogue, which is now a listed building, was also built during this period.
Tüchersfeld today
Where Obertüchersfeld Castle once stood, there is now forest. However, the top of the rock is free and can be reached via a small staircase that leads through a cave. From the top, you have a wonderful panoramic view over Tüchersfeld and the Püttlachtal valley. A few remnants of the former castle still exist and are now considered a monument. Only a few remains of the walls of Niedertüchersfeld Castle are left, but the former Judenhof still exists. The Franconian-Switzerland Museum has been located here since 1985, providing insights into the geology and archaeology of the region.
Today, around 214 people live in Tüchersfeld. The village was incorporated into the larger municipality of Pottenstein in 1971 and is the oldest part of the municipality. The surrounding area is particularly attractive for hiking, as in addition to the two rock towers, it also has other highlights such as the Kühlochhöhle cave and the geotope trail.
The backdrop of the rock village of Tüchersfeld is so characteristic of Franconian Switzerland that it is even depicted on Deutsche Post stamps. The Bavarian State Office for the Environment has named the Felsburg as one of the 100 most beautiful geotopes in Bavaria. It takes about two hours and twenty minutes by car to reach Tüchersfeld from Munich.