Wichsenstein is a village in the municipality of
Gößweinstein
Gößweinstein is a municipality in the district of Forchheim in Bavaria in Germany. It lies within the region known as Franconian Switzerland.
Districts
History
The first record of ''Goswinesteyn'' Castle is from 1076. Prior to 1102 the Hoch ...
in the
Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia (, ) is a (administrative 'Regierungs''region 'bezirk'' of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia, the others being Middle Franconia and Lower Franconia, wh ...
n county of
Forchheim
Forchheim () is a Town#Germany, town in Upper Franconia () in northern Bavaria, and also the seat of the administrative Forchheim (district), district of Forchheim. Forchheim is a former royal city, and is sometimes called the Gateway to the Fr ...
in
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 ...
.
Geography
Wichsenstein lies high up in the hills of
Franconian Switzerland
Franconian Switzerland (, ) is an upland in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany and a popular tourist retreat. Located between the River Pegnitz in the east and the south, the River Regnitz in the west and the River Main in the north, its relief ...
between the city of
Nuremberg
Nuremberg (, ; ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the Franconia#Towns and cities, largest city in Franconia, the List of cities in Bavaria by population, second-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Bav ...
and the towns of
Forchheim
Forchheim () is a Town#Germany, town in Upper Franconia () in northern Bavaria, and also the seat of the administrative Forchheim (district), district of Forchheim. Forchheim is a former royal city, and is sometimes called the Gateway to the Fr ...
and
Bayreuth
Bayreuth ( or ; High Franconian German, Upper Franconian: Bareid, ) is a Town#Germany, town in northern Bavaria, Germany, on the Red Main river in a valley between the Franconian Jura and the Fichtel Mountains. The town's roots date back to 11 ...
about six kilometres southwest of Gößweinstein and fourteen kilometres east of Forchheim. The Wichsenstein Rock (''Wichsensteiner Fels'') towers over the centre of the village. It may be climbed using steps and, at a height of , offers panoramic views over Franconian Switzerland.
History
The independent parish of Wichsenstein was disbanded on 1 May 1978. The majority of its more than 500 inhabitants with the villages of Wichsenstein, Altenthal, Hardt, Sattelmannsburg and Ühleinshof were incorporated into the
market town
A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or city. In Britain, small rura ...
(''Markt'') of Gößweinstein. The villages of Eberhardstein, Pfaffenloh and Urspring with around 50 inhabitants joined Markt
Pretzfeld.
Transport
Wichsenstein is accessible on
county roads
A county highway (also county road or county route; usually abbreviated CH or CR) is a road in the United States and in the Canadian province of Ontario that is designated and/or maintained by the County (United States), county highway departm ...
.
The no. 222 bus links the village to the large county town of Forchheim and the municipal centre of Gößweinstein. On schooldays, there is an extra bus service, no. 226.
In the evenings and at weekends there is a shuttle taxi service (''Anrufsammeltaxi'').
See also
*
Wichsenstein Castle
References
External links
{{Authority control
Forchheim (district)
Franconian Switzerland
Gößweinstein