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70-638: The name Rhön is often thought to derive from the Celtic word raino (=hilly), but numerous other interpretations are also possible. Records of the monks at Fulda Abbey from the Middle Ages describe the area around Fulda as well as more distant parts of the Rhön as Buchonia , the land of ancient beech woods. In the Middle Ages beech was an important raw material. Large scale wood clearing resulted in

140-474: A discussion in Fulda as to how the monastery was to be properly run, and the nature of the responsibilities of the monks. Until this point, a focus of the monks had been remembering and recording the lives of the deceased, specifically those who were members of the Fulda monastery, in what was known as the "Annales Necrologici". They would sing psalms for their dead to ensure their eternal salvation. Under Ratgar,

210-594: A great cultural center it once held during the early medieval years. The monastery was dissolved in 1802. The spiritual principality was secularized in 1803 after the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss , but the episcopal see continued. The secular territory of Fulda was joined the Principality of Orange-Nassau along with several other mediatized lands to form the Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda . Prince William Frederick refused to join

280-511: A larger church than any other founded by Boniface. In January 744, Saint Sturm selected an unpopulated plot along the Fulda River, and shortly after obtained rights to the land. The foundation of the monastery dates to March 12, 744. Sturm travelled to notable monasteries of Italy, such as that of Monte Cassino , for inspiration in creating a monastery of such grand size and splendor. Boniface was proud of Fulda, and he would obtain autonomy for

350-408: A period of rapid growth. The monks of Fulda practiced many specialized trades, and much production took place in the monastery. Production of manuscripts increased the size of the library of Fulda, while skilled craftsmen produced many goods that would make monastery a financially wealthy establishment. As Fulda grew, members of the monastery would move from the main building and establish villages in

420-459: A rich cultural landscape. Compared with other low mountain regions, the Rhön is particularly rich in plant varieties. Its natural vegetation would probably be dominated by beech woods with scattered groups of other trees, but today beech trees are very much in decline. A few of these ancient woods were identified as core elements of the Rhön biosphere reserve. The higher beech woods are a habitat for rare, sometimes isolated, species of plant such as

490-555: A site of religious significance and pilgrimage through the 8th and 9th centuries. The Annals of Fulda , one of the most important sources for the history of the Carolingian Empire in the 9th century, were written there. In 1221 the abbey was granted an imperial estate to rule and the abbots were thereafter princes of the Holy Roman Empire . In 1356, Emperor Charles IV bestowed the title "Archchancellor of

560-744: Is a low mountain chain in the High Rhön in Germany , which begins on a line from Bischofsheim to Gersfeld and runs in a southwesterly direction to Riedenberg – Werberg – Maria Ehrenberg . The majority of this area today is a military out-of-bounds area , the Wildflecken Training Area . Its highest point is the Dammersfeldkuppe , the second-highest mountain in the Rhön . The Bavarian - Hessian state border runs along

630-548: Is the alpine shrew . Birds occurring here include the black grouse , the capercaillie , the black stork , the eagle owl , the corncrake , the red-backed shrike and the wryneck . There are also two species endemic to the Rhön: the rove beetle and a local snail, the Rhönquellschnecke ( Bythinella compressa ). The Dachmarke Rhön project (Rhön umbrella brand project) is run by the Rhön working group and its aim

700-458: Is to promote a common identity for the Rhön region and to present a unified view of the area to the outside world and to harmonise the marketing measures of the three participating federal states. These mountains are a popular tourist destination. Hikers come for the nearly 6,000 km (3,700 mi) of trails, and gliding enthusiasts have been drawn to the area since the early 20th century. More recently, farm holidays have been flourishing in

770-506: The Alpine blue-sow-thistle , giant bellflower and annual honesty . The vegetation of the lower-lying beech woods has a mix of mountain and other varieties. In addition to common wildflowers like the martagon lily , lily of the valley , wild chervil and wild garlic , various orchids also flourish here including Cephalanthera orchids, the yellow coralroot , bird's-nest orchid , lady's slipper and lady orchid . Only small areas of

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840-810: The Brend valley near Bischofsheim forms the boundary with another mountain group of the High Rhön, the Kreuzberg Group, which contains the Arnsberg (843.1 m (2,766 ft)) and the Kreuzberg (927.8 m (3,044 ft)). In between these two mountains lies the source of the Sinn . This river, which forms a wide and deep valley head flanked by the Dammersfeld ridge, flows to the southwest. On

910-526: The Codex Fuldensis which has the reputation of serving as the cradle of Old High German literature. It was probably here that an Italian book-hunter in 1417 discovered the last surviving manuscript of Lucretius's De Rerum Natura , which then became enormously influential in humanist circles. Its abundant records are conserved in the state archives at Marburg . As of 2013 the Fulda manuscripts have become widely dispersed; some have found their way to

980-998: The Confederation of the Rhine and, following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in August 1806, fled to Berlin. Fulda was taken over by the French . In 1810 it was given to the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt , but was occupied by Austria from 1813 and by Prussia from 1815. the Congress of Vienna resurrected it as the Grand Duchy of Fulda and gave it to the Electorate of Hesse in 1815. The library held approximately 2000 manuscripts. It preserved works such as Tacitus ' Annales , Ammianus Marcellinus ' Res gestae , and

1050-524: The Dammersfeldkuppe (927.9 m (3,044 ft)), the ridge being clearly narrower than the Long Rhön and its basalt layer being interrupted several times. The Großer (808.6 m (2,653 ft)) and Kleiner Auersberg (about 808 m (2,651 ft)), separated by the valley of the Schmale Sinn , are also part of this natural region. South of Heidelstein and Hoher Hölle the narrow head of

1120-624: The Gangolfsberg (735.8 m (2,414 ft)) and the Rother Kuppe (710.6 m (2,331 ft)). This landscape bears a clear resemblance to the Kuppen Rhön. The Wildflecken Training Area , which covers an area of 74 km (28.6 sq mi), equivalent to almost a quarter of the High Rhön, is not accessible to the public. The 1,200 square kilometres (460 sq mi) of the "Kuppen Rhön in its narrow sense", to which

1190-867: The Handbook of the Natural Region Divisions of Germany into the following natural regions : The High Rhön ( German : Hohe Rhön or Hochrhön ) is that part of the central Rhön that lies in Hesse , Bavaria , and to a lesser extent in Thuringia ; it covers an area of 344 km (132.8 sq mi) Landscape fact files by the BfN (c.f. section on Natural region division ) and is up to 950.0 m (3,117 ft) and whose highland plateaux with elevations starting at 600 to 700 m (1,969 to 2,297 ft) are covered by solid basalt . Its core area in

1260-743: The Hessian Skittles , a striking regular array of high, gently rounded, basalt cones up to 552.9 m (1,814 ft). North and south of the skittles most of the kuppen in this natural region are also arranged in a row along the watershed between the Werra and the Fulda and between the Ulster and the Haune respectively. To the west they do not quite reach the Haune at the Haune Plateaux ; to

1330-690: The Hochrhön for the protection of its farmers. The Rhön was also home to the Christian Community known as the Bruderhof from 1926 to 1937 when it was dissolved by Nazi persecution . In 1991 UNESCO declared parts of the Rhön a Biosphere Reserve on account of its unique high-altitude ecosystem. As a result of its geography and geology the Rhön is an area with higher-than-average number of different habitats and species . But man, too, has generated valuable secondary habitats by creating

1400-624: The Princely Abbey of Fulda ( Fürstabtei Fulda ) and from 1752 the Prince-Bishopric of Fulda ( Fürstbistum Fulda ), was a Benedictine abbey and ecclesiastical principality centered on Fulda , in the present-day German state of Hesse . The monastery was founded in 744 by Saint Sturm , a disciple of Saint Boniface . After Boniface was buried at Fulda, it became a prominent center of learning and culture in Germany, and

1470-539: The Vatican Library . A notable work that the monks of Fulda produced was the "Annales necrologici", a list of all the deceased members of the abbey following the death of Saint Sturm in 744. The monks would offer prayer for the dead listed in the Annales to ensure their eternal salvation. While at first this record only contained the names of those at Fulda, as the power and prominence of Fulda grew, so too did

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1540-465: The "Anterior Rhön", as viewed from Thuringia, forms the foothills (or anterior part) of the mountain region. In this gently rolling landscape numerous individual dome-shaped mountains rise on both sides of the border of Hesse and Thuringia and also, in some places, in Bavaria. These Kuppen are the remnants of ancient volcanos or volcanic activity. The Rhön and its immediate declivities are divided by

1610-687: The "land of open spaces" ( Land der offenen Fernen ), 30% of which, today, is forested. Lying within the states of Hesse, Bavaria and Thuringia, the Rhön is bounded by the Knüll to the northwest, the Thuringian Forest to the northeast, the Grabfeld to the southeast, Lower Franconia to the south, the Spessart forest to the southwest and the Vogelsberg mountains to the west. Based on

1680-519: The Anterior Rhön also belongs, is the wide outer fringe of markedly different relief, that circles around the High Rhön from the northeast (in Thuringia ) through the northwest (in Hesse ) to the southwest (with small parts in Bavaria ). Numerous dome-shaped isolated mountains and hills rise above the valleys to 500–800 metres (1,640–2,625 ft), whose basalt covering is concentrated around

1750-468: The Empress" ( Erzkanzler der Kaiserin ) on the prince-abbot. The growth in population around Fulda would result in its elevation to a prince-bishopric in the second half of the 18th century. Although the abbey was dissolved in 1802 and its principality was secularized in 1803, the diocese of Fulda continues to exist. In the mid-8th century, Saint Boniface commissioned Saint Sturm to establish

1820-793: The Feuerberg, Kreuzberg ( monastery ), Oberweißenbrunn, through the Red and Black Moors , over the Ellenbogen and the Emberg via Oberalba, past Baier to Stadtlengsfeld and on to its destination at Bad Salzungen on the Werra River. Other hiking trails are: In addition the following pass through the Rhön: Fulda Abbey The Abbey of Fulda ( German : Kloster Fulda ; Latin : Abbatia Fuldensis ), from 1221

1890-738: The Fulda, is not reached in other parts of the region. To the southwest the area is bounded by the rocky sandstone of the Hoher Kammer (700.0 m (2,297 ft)), as it descends from the heights of the Dammersfeld ridge (up to 927.9 m (3,044 ft)). Separated from the Kammer by the upper reaches of the Döllbach , the Döllau , the Große Haube (658.1 m (2,159 ft)) on

1960-506: The Pious sympathized with them. Agreeing that Ratgar's plans were too ambitions for Fulda, and his punishments too extensive, he exiled Ratgar from Fulda in 817, and Eigil became the fourth Abbot of Fulda. Under Abbot Eigil's leadership, construction of the new church continued at a more moderate pace. He sought to stylize the church after St. Peter's in Rome, adding a notable western transept in

2030-720: The Rhine-Weser watershed opens the Brückenau Kuppenrhön, whose western half is in Hesse and whose eastern half is in Bavaria. The valleys of the Schmaler and Breiter Sinn running southwestwards, divide the natural region, which is clearly more heterogenous than the other ranges of the Kuppen Rhön, into three segments. In the west, the rugged plateaux of dolerite and basalt transition into the Landrücken , whilst

2100-668: The Rhön Mountains or flow by or through them (length given in brackets) : The name Rhön is believed to be of Celtic origin. A regional Celtic presence is well established, with an important Celtic town at Milseburg . Furthermore, there are circular embankments that could be both of Celtic and of Germanic origin in the Kuppenrhön on the Stallberg and the Kleinberg mountains. Many names of places, mountains and meadows in

2170-613: The Rhön landscape are essentially open: the raised bogs ( Hochmoore ), the rock outcrops and the stone runs . These habitats are home to highly specialised species. The raised bogs of the Long Rhön - the Red Moor ( Rotes Moor ) and the Black Moor ( Schwarzes Moor ) are floristically important links between the northern and Alpine raised bogs. Here, for example, can be found sundews , crowberry and cottongrass . Growing amongst

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2240-523: The Rhön likely have their origins in Celtic root words. Up to the 10th century parts of the Rhön belonged to Altgau Buchonia . This term was coined by the Romans in Late Antiquity and described an ancient beech forest in the Rhön and the neighbouring low mountain ranges of the Spessart and Vogelsberg . Expansive stands of beech still exist today in the area. Due to the far reaching view from

2310-583: The Rhön mountains, they became sites for hilltop castles in the Middle Ages . One example is Hauneck Castle ( Burg Hauneck ) on the Stoppelsberg , the ruins of which can still be seen. It served to oversee and protect traffic on the ancient road, the Antsanvia , as well as protecting the villages in the Haune valley. In the Middle Ages the Würzburg Defences ( landwehr ) were erected on

2380-533: The Rhön's highest summit, the Wasserkuppe (950.0 m (3,117 ft)), whose basalt likewise covers a wide area, but is broken in places by bunter sandstone and muschelkalk – in particular the basalt kuppen of the Weiherberg (785.7 m (2,578 ft), northwest) and Ehrenberg (816.5 m (2,679 ft) northeast) are slightly separated from the rest. Between the northeastern end of

2450-491: The Wasserkuppen Rhön at the Ehrenberg and the plateau of the Long Rhön from the Heidelstein to just beyond the Stirnberg is the Upper Ulster valley , which cuts into the bunter sandstone by up to about 300 m (984 ft) and divides the Plattenrhön in two. The Long Rhön runs southwest along the main watershed to the Dammersfeld ridge which continues along the watershed via the Hohe Hölle (893.8 m (2,932 ft)) and Eierhauckberg (909.9 m (2,985 ft)) to

2520-451: The aforementioned ridges is the eastern slope of the Long Rhön , which forms the transition zone from the High Rhön to the muschelkalk region of the Mellrichstadt Gäu ( Mellrichstädter Gäu ), the eastern part of the Werra Gäu Plateaux . Individual domes rise from the descending Triassic beds east of the solid basalt covering of the Long Rhön in the interfluvials of the tributaries of the Franconian Saale between Brend and Streu , notably

2590-402: The basalt and phonolite cones sit directly on the sandstones of the Middle Bunter. Cutting deeply into the sandstone, the rivers of the Haune and the Fulda flow westwards. The phonolitic cone of the Milseburg (835.2 m (2,740 ft)) is the only mountain in the Kuppen Rhön that exceeds the 800-metre-mark. Even the height of the Großer Nallenberg (768.3 m (2,521 ft)) south of

2660-446: The centuries also has a great variety of habitats and plants however, today, the extensive grassland areas are amongst the most threatened and heavily cultivated habitats. It is on the semi-arid grasslands and juniper heaths that the silver thistle , symbol of the Rhön region, grows, alongside gentians , pasque flowers and wood anemones , as well as orchids like the early purple , fragrant and fly orchids . Rarer flowers include

2730-464: The effects of ancient volcanic activity, the Rhön can be divided into the "Anterior Rhön" ( Vorderrhön ), the "Kuppen Rhön" (geographical region 353, Kuppenrhön ) and the "High Rhön" (354, Hohe Rhön ). The terms "Anterior Rhön" ( Vorderrhön ) and "Kuppen Rhön" ( Kuppenrhön or Kuppige Rhön ) are somewhat misleading, since the "Anterior Rhön" also consists mainly of Kuppen or low mountains with dome-shaped summits. The name has genuine historic origins:

2800-458: The empire and corruption of traditional monastic ideals, so highly valued by Boniface and the early abbots, placed great strain on the monastery and its school. In the later Middle Ages, a dean of the monastic school would functionally replace the abbot concerning scholastic management, once more granting it relative independence concerning ecclesiastical functions of Fulda. However, the monastery and surrounding city would never regain its status as

2870-400: The fifth abbot of Fulda. He was previously educated at the monastery, and was very academically inclined, becoming both a teacher and head-master at the school before becoming abbot. Understanding the importance of education, the school became the main focus of Fulda under his leadership, and he would lead Fulda to the height of its importance and success. He established separate departments for

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2940-422: The focus of the monastery had shifted to that of construction and arbitrary regulation; monks were being exiled for questionable reasons, or punished in seemingly unjust ways. Another matter of concern included who was permitted into the inner monastery; Ratgar was at the time hosting a criminal in the living quarters. The concept of private and public property was also in contention. With the land of Fulda expanding,

3010-415: The higher slopes. Characteristic plants here include the monkshood , northern wolfsbane , common moonwort , martagon lily , greater butterfly orchid , perennial cornflower and wig knapweed . Bog-bean , grass of Parnassus ' western marsh orchid and lousewort are found in the wet meadows and low marshes; and the extremely rare large brown clover , hairy stonecrop and Pyrenean scurvygrass in

3080-540: The increased holiness of the lands would also serve to bring his monks and pilgrims closer to God. The collection accumulated under Rabanus would largely be lost during the looting of Fulda by the Hessians during the Thirty Years' War . Succeeding abbots would carry the monastery down the same path, with Fulda retaining a place of prominence in the German territories. With the decline of the Carolingian rule, Fulda lost its security and would rely increasingly on patronage from independent sources. The abbot of Fulda would hold

3150-403: The last two rocks only surviving where they have been protected by an overlying sheet of basalt . Woods cover less than a third of the area and are largely restricted to the summit regions. Five natural regions may be distinguished: The eastern part of the Kuppen Rhön is the Thuringian Anterior Rhön , which reaches a height of 750.7 m (2,463 ft) at the huge plateau of the Gebaberg in

3220-430: The main high point on the plateau of the Long Rhön, which runs northeast over the Stirnberg (901.9 m (2,959 ft)) as far as the Ellenbogen (Schnitzersberg) (815.5 m (2,676 ft)) without crossing any significant lower ground. Within the Long Rhön the basalt layer is almost unbroken. At the Heidelstein, another natural region, the Wasserkuppen Rhön , branches off in a north to northwesterly direction to

3290-425: The majority of the abbey's population. The wealthy monks used their positions for their own means, going as far as to attempt to turn monastic lands into their own private property. This caused great unrest by the 14th century, and Count Johann con Ziegenhain would lead an insurrection, alongside other citizens of Fulda, against Prince-Abbot Heinrich VI, 55th abbot of the monastery. The combination of responsibilities to

3360-416: The monastery from the bishops of the area by appealing to Pope Zachary for placement directly under the Holy See in 751. Boniface would be entombed at Fulda following his martyrdom in 754 in Frisia, as per his request, creating a destination for pilgrimage in Germany and increasing its holy significance. Saint Sturm would be named the first abbot of the newly established monastery, and would lead Fulda through

3430-471: The monastery. During Boniface's lifetime he had sent the teachers of Fulda to apprentice under notable scholars in Franconia, Bavaria, and Thuringia, who would return with knowledge and texts of the sciences, literature, and theology. In 787 Charlemagne praised Fulda as a model school for others, leading by example in educating the public in secular and ecclesiastical matters. Around the year 807, an epidemic claimed much of Fulda's population. During this time,

3500-498: The monks desired all property to be public rather than create a contention for private land, while Ratgar opposed this perspective. The "Supplex Libellus" also attempted to address the issue of the growing secular responsibilities of the monastery. As the school grew and the communities around Fulda expanded, the monastery was feeling the strain of balancing ecclesiastical obligations with its newfound secular prominence. The monks were successful in their grievances against Ratgar, and Louis

3570-448: The northeast of the Kleiner Auersberg (c. 808 m (2,651 ft)) leads up to the Dammersfeld ridge. Between the more rugged plateaux and ridges there are gently domed basalt intrusions that rise up, especially in the southeast, left of the Sinn near Bad Brückenau . The Dreistelzberg in the extreme south reaches 660.4 m (2,167 ft). The most well-known peaks in the Rhön Mountains include: The following rivers rise in

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3640-417: The northeast used to be called the Plattenrhön . The High Rhön is a natural regional major unit in the East Hesse Highlands; see Natural regions . The High Rhön has five main mountainous regions: At the heart of the Rhön, albeit only the fourth highest summit of these mountains, is the Heidelstein (925.7 m (3,037 ft)) on the border between Bavaria and Hesse on the Rhine-Weser watershed. It forms

3710-399: The other side of the Sinn valley, and southwest of the Kreuzberg Group, are the Black Mountains ( German : Schwarze Berge ), which include the Schwarzenberg (Feuerberg, 832.0 m (2,730 ft)) and Totnansberg (839.4 m (2,754 ft)). They are separated from the Kreuzberg Group by the narrow valley of the Premich 's upper reaches, the Kellersbach . Clearly different from

3780-409: The outlying territories to connect with non-monastery members. They would establish themselves based on trade and agriculture, while still remaining connected to the monastery. Together, the monks of Fulda would create a substantial library, financially stable production, and an effective centre for education. In 774, Carloman placed Fulda under his direct control to ensure its continued success. Fulda

3850-435: The position of primate over all Benedictine monasteries in Germany for several centuries. From 1221 and onwards, the abbots would also serve as Princes of the Holy Roman Empire, given this rank by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, and resulted in increased secular as well as monastic obligations. The increased importance of Fulda resulted in much patronage and wealth; as a result, the wealthy and noble would eventually make up

3920-415: The region, the prominent kuppe of the Baier reaches a height of 713.9 m (2,342 ft), but its northernmost summit is the popular viewing mountain of Oechsen . The western boundary is the Middle Ulster Valley between Hilders in the south and below Buttlar in the north. West of the Ulster valley is the Soisberg Kuppenrhön ( Soisberger Kuppenrhön ), which lies mainly in Hesse, with elements in

3990-428: The region. Towns and larger villages close to the Rhön are: There are well-marked walks and hiking trails in the Rhön which are looked after by the Rhön Club . The Rhön-Höhen-Weg ("Rhön Heights Walk" or RHW) is marked with a horizontal, red teardrop. It is 137 km (85 mi) long and runs from Burgsinn in Main-Spessart district through Roßbach, Dreistelz, Würzburger Haus on the Farnsberg, Kissinger Hütte on

4060-415: The rocks of the volcanic mountains are rare species such as Cheddar pink , sweet william catchfly , oblong woodsia and fir clubmoss . There are no naturally occurring coniferous forests in the Rhön, but notable species of wild flower such as the lady's slipper orchid , creeping lady's tresses and burning-bush are found in the forests of mixed pine. The cultural landscape formed by humankind over

4130-445: The same fashion. The transept was a new architectural style, and in mimicking it, Fulda demonstrated their support to the papacy through tribute. This unique architectural tie, as well as the growing intellectual importance of Fulda, would create strong ties with the Roman papacy. Coupled with the tomb of Saint Boniface, Fulda would attract much religious pilgrimage and worship, a site of great significance. In 822, Rabanus Maurus became

4200-428: The school, including those for sciences, theological studies, and the arts. Rabanus made an effort to collect various additional holy relics and manuscripts of historical significance to Fulda and the surrounding the areas to fortify their prominence in the Frankish Empire. With each relic, the significance of Fulda grew, and more gifts and power were bestowed upon the abbey. Power was, however, not Rabanus's only intent;

4270-524: The scope of who was to be included in the Annales. Patrons, citizens, and nobles of the area would all come to be recorded in this piece of Fulda and its concept of community. The documenting of dates of passing, beginning with Sturm, created a sense of continuity and a reference for the passage of time for the monks of Fulda. 50°33′14″N 9°40′18″E  /  50.554°N 9.67175°E  / 50.554; 9.67175 Dammersfeld ridge The Dammersfeld Ridge ( German : Dammersfeldrücken )

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4340-409: The south and below Dermbach in the north. West of the Felda valley is the Auersberg Kuppenrhön ( Auersberger Kuppenrhön ), which lies mainly in Thuringia, but extends into Hesse in the southwest. This natural region runs from the town of Auersberg in the south, which gives the region its name, to the boundary with the Long Rhön at the Ellenbogen , 756.8 m (2,483 ft). In the northeast of

4410-421: The south the Nüst valley below Obernüst forms a natural boundary. The almost entirely Hessian range of the Milseburg Kuppenrhön ( Milseburger Kuppenrhön ), which bounds the Wasserkuppen Rhön , up to 950.0 m (3,117 ft), south of the Nüst valley and west of the Ulster valley. Again the keuper escarpment is missing and even the muschelkalk only appears in islands around individual domes. The majority of

4480-414: The southeast also extending into Thuringia. This region reaches a height of 629.9 m (2,067 ft) at the Soisberg in the north where the countryside is enclosed by the Seulingswald forest. It reaches even greater elevations in the extreme southeast, where the Habelberg (718.5 m (2,357 ft)) west of Tann stands opposite to and north of the Auersberg. This natural region is well known for

4550-420: The southeast. There is hardly any keuper escarpment there at all. The kuppen and plateaux rest directly on a bedrock of muschelkalk. This natural region runs northeast from the wide, pyramidal Pleß , 645.4 m (2,117 ft), far into the Bunter sandstone of the Stadlengsfeld Hills that descend to the River Werra . In the west the Middle Felda Valley forms a natural boundary between Kaltensundheim in

4620-403: The springwater marshes of the Hohe Rhön . The wildlife in the Rhön mountains is similar to that of other low mountain ranges, but there are also some unusual species. In addition to the more common mammals such as roe deer , fox , badger , hare and wild boar , there are also smaller mammals such as the dormouse , common water shrew and Miller's water shrew . One unusual regional species

4690-423: The summit regions and does not blanket the entire landscape, as it does in the High Rhön. The domes or kuppen are the stumps of heavily weathered former volcanoes or volcanic pipes . Between pointed cones and broad domes lie many small plateaux, especially common in the Anterior Rhön. Over a foundation of Middle Bunter sandstone lie stratigraphic sequences of Upper Bunter ( Röt ), muschelkalk and keuper ,

4760-404: The third abbot of Fulda, Ratgar, was carrying out construction on a new church started by Baugulf . According to the "Supplex Libellus", an account of Fulda's history written by the monks, Ratgar was overzealous, exiling monks opposed to the excessive attention being given to the new church, and punishing those attempting to flee the epidemic that was spreading amongst the population. This prompted

4830-444: The various bee orchids and the military , lady , burnt , green-winged , man , pyramidal , frog and lizard orchids . Along the southern fringes of the Rhön, on the so-called slopes of steppe heathland ( Steppenheidenhängen ) grow warmth-loving plants such as white rock-rose , erect clematis and honewort . Amongst the most valuable habitats in the Rhön are the mountain meadows and fields of mat grass ( Nardetum strictae ) on

4900-467: Was becoming an important cultural center to the Carolingian Empire, and Carloman hoped to ensure the continued salvation of his population through the religious activity of Fulda. The school at the Fulda monastery would become a major focus of the monks under Sturm's successor, Abbot Baugulf , at the turn of the century. It contained an inner school for Christian studies, and an outer school for secular, including pupils who were not necessarily members of

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