Pottenstein, Bavaria

Pottenstein
Pottenstein Castle Pottenstein Castle
Coat of arms of Pottenstein Coat of arms
Pottenstein
Location of Pottenstein within Bayreuth district 250px
Coordinates:
Country	Germany
State	Bavaria
Admin. region	Oberfranken
District	Bayreuth
Government
• Mayor	Stefan Frühbeißer
Area
• Total	73.24 km2 (28.28 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)
• Total	5,363
• Density	73/km2 (190/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	91278
Dialling codes	09243
Vehicle registration	BT
Website	www.pottenstein.de

Pottenstein is a town in the district of Bayreuth, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 23 km southwest of Bayreuth, and 26 km east of Forchheim.

History

During World War II, a subcamp of Flossenbürg concentration camp was located here.

Geography

The city of Pottenstein, altitude 350–614 m AMSL, with its nearly 1,500 inhabitants, is a health-resort in Franconian Switzerland. It nestles at the convergence of the Püttlach, Weihersbach and Haselbrunn valleys surrounded by high cliffs and at the foot of the 1000-year-old castle, which has played an important role throughout the city's history.

Tourist attractions

Saint Elisabeth, widow of Ludwig IV, Landgrave of Thuringia, was held hostage within its walls from 1228 to 1229. Many buildings bear her name even today. According to legend, while she was being threatened, the eggs and lard in her basket were transformed into beautiful roses — a local adaptation of the famous Miracle of the roses. Since 2004 there has been a marked walking route through the town, known as the "Elisabeth Route".

The market square, with its statue of Saint Elisabeth, the Catholic Church, shops, restaurants and hotels form the central area of the city. The guestrooms are mostly in the residential areas, in the valleys leading out of the centre of town and in and above the cliffs overlooking the town. Easily reached from all the residential areas is the health centre with its massage department/medical swim therapy department, station for respiratory illnesses in Devil's Cave, the Kneipp facility, the tourist information centre, the park, putting green, tennis courts, Schöngrund Lake with its rowing boats and pedalos, the "summer bobsleigh route". the "Felsenbad" (between the rocks), and golfcourse. There are 450 kilometres of marked paths for walking.

Gallery

• Pottenstein Bayern Rathaus.jpg

  City Hall in Pottenstein

• Pottenstein Strasse.jpg

  Main Street in Pottenstein

• Pottenstein-gg-03.jpg

  Pottenstein Castle

• Pottenstein-gg-02.jpg

  Yearly resolution of the Eternal Adoration (The Festival of Lights)

External links

• Municipality website