Vogelsberg volcanic massif - 6 - Herbstein.

Par Bernard Duyck

Exploring the northern part of the massif starts at Herbstein, built on an old volcanic vent (map). This small town has a medieval center gathered in a circle around the church of 14 century.

Vogelsberg - Herbstein / Gallberg - photo © Bernard Duyck 05.2014

The Gallberg, south of Herbstein, is pierced by some quarries.

Part of the site, which is no longer used, include a small lake.

In the quarry in operation, a high basalt cliff about 8 meters high, topped by a thin layer of loess, has a tormented ... and probably ephemeral face.

Vogelsberg - Herbstein / Gallberg - photo © Bernard Duyck 05.2014

A thermal spring was drilled in 1976; water at 32.6 ° C was found to a depth of approximately 1000 meters. Its natrium and calcium fluoride content led to the development in 1980 of volcanic thermal baths (Vulkantherme) recognized in orthopedics.

To Altenschlirf, the Wilde stein is reached by a paved road. A cliff of 30-m long and 5 meters high of tholeiitic basalt can be discovered, hosted in the hill.

GPS: 50 ° 32'5 .52 "- 9 ° 23'37 .14"

Vogelsberg - Herbstein / Wilde Stein - photo © Bernard Duyck 05.2014

Sources :

- Petrogenesis of basanitic to tholeiitic volcanic rocks from the Miocene Vogelsberg, Central Germany - by P.J.F. Bogaard & G. Wörner / Journal of Petrology.

- Der Vogelsberg - Geotope im grössten vulkangebiet mitteleuropas - Th. Reischmann & Ad. Schraft.

Vogelsberg - Herbstein / Wilde Stein - piece of basalt organ with 5-6 faces -. Photo © Bernard Duyck 05.2014

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