{"id":22225,"date":"2022-10-23T12:34:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-23T10:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/?p=22225"},"modified":"2022-10-14T15:47:33","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T13:47:33","slug":"edersee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/germany\/hesse\/waldecker-land\/edersee\/","title":{"rendered":"Excursion to the Edersee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the largest reservoirs in Europe is located in northern Hesse in the middle of the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park. Nestled between rolling hills, the vacationer can discover a unique landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Lake Edersee attracts numerous visitors to the region every year. Whether it’s water sports or hiking in the national park, a visit to Waldeck Castle or a ride on the quaint Waldeck mountain railroad, it certainly won’t be boring here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a half-day excursion to the Edersee, I was able to gain a little insight into the beautiful area and I’m sure it won’t be the last time I’ve been there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Blick<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Arrival in Hemfurth-Edersee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After a good 10 kilometer hike<\/a> through the national park we reached the climatic health resort Hemfurth-Edersee, which is located directly at the Eder reservoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Edersee district was created in the course of the construction of the dam. Here, houses were built for the employees of the dam administration, which were constructed in graywacke stone to match the dam wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right at the entrance to the village there is a large parking lot for which a fee is charged. From there it is about 300 meters to the most famous structure of the village, the dam wall. The area directly at the dam wall is closed for car traffic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the way to the dam wall you pass numerous restaurants and souvenir stores. We stopped at the restaurant “Zur Kaiserbuche” and fortified ourselves after the hike. This building is also made of Grauwacke stones, which were used in the construction of the dam wall. I enjoyed the food and we were assured by the elderly couple at the next table that the cake was excellent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A gigantic dam on the Edersee lake<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the largest reservoirs in Germany is located below the Waldeck Castle directly in Hemfurth-Edersee. The Eder River is dammed up in this very place by a dam wall to form the reservoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Staumauer<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Waterways Act of 1.4.1905 was the reason for the construction of the dam. The law was intended, for example, to secure shipping operations on the Weser and the Mittelland Canal by building dams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction of the Eder dam began in 1908 and cost 25 million marks. However, before the water could be dammed, about 900 people had to leave their houses, which were located in the valley of the Eder. The villages of Asel and Bringhausen were partly torn down or demolished and rebuilt on higher ground. Old graves in the cemeteries were not moved. They were provided with concrete borders and covers. At certain times, when there is little water in the reservoir, these emerge from the water. There were also villages and farms that were simply washed over after the inhabitants had been relocated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even before the gigantic dam was inaugurated, Kaiser Wilhelm II came to the construction site in 1911 to see the progress in person. The actual inauguration was to take place in 1914, but the outbreak of World War I prevented a celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bruchsteinhaus<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The dam is a truly gigantic structure. It is slightly curved and you can walk along the 6 meter wide and 400 meter long crown. A good 300,000 m\u00b3 of quarry stone masonry has been processed. I find this number unimaginably large and even the idea that this is the content of 300,000 large garbage cans does not really make it easier to imagine the quantity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A great tragedy occurred at the Edersee dam on May 17, 1943, during the Second World War. Shortly before 2 a.m., the Royal Air Force dropped a bomb specially constructed for this purpose just before the dam wall. This bounced over the surface of the water, sank into the water just short of the wall, and detonated at a predetermined height. A hole about 22 meters high and a good 70 meters long was created in the wall. Instantly, 8,000 m3 of water per second flowed through the hole until about 80% of the basin was emptied. A 6-8 meter high flood wave shot through the lower Eder valley, the Fulda valley to the upper Weser valley and surprised people during the night. Hundreds of houses, roads, bridges and factories were destroyed within a very short time, the exact number of fatalities is still unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the same year, forced laborers rebuilt the dam, and auxiliary workers from the Hitler Youth and the Reich Labor Service helped rebuild the houses and infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the dam wall to the other side of Lake Edersee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As I walk over the dam wall, it is quite noticeable how little water there is in the reservoir. The Edersee is fed by the natural water inflow of the Eder in addition to the rainwater. During drought it can so happen that only 1 m\u00b3 per second flows into the lake, while for example to the snowmelt up to 740 m\u00b3 per second flow in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Staumauer<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In April 2021, the strong inflow of water caused the highest water level in 14 years to be reached at 245.08 meters . This was a good 11 centimeters above the spillways that exist in the dam. At times, up to 80,000 liters of water per second were released from all 39 spillways at the top of the dam in order not to endanger the safety of the structure. During my visit, water had also been released from the reservoir to regulate the flow of the Weser River and the Mittelland Canal and to ensure navigation. In addition, there was a lack of water inflow due to the drought of the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you look down from the dam on the side facing away from the water, you can see the building of the storage hydropower plant. This is where the electricity for the region is generated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Staumauer<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Boat trip on the Edersee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once on the other side of the dam, you will discover numerous boat docks with smaller boats that you can rent for a short tour on the lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bootsverleih\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you want to be driven, it is best to get on one of the excursion boats of the Personenschifffahrt Edersee. If there is enough water in the lake, the ships offer the possibility to sail the entire lake. There are a total of 8 piers for boarding and disembarking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Schifffahrt<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As already noted, there was very little water in the lake during my visit to the Edersee. The route could not be driven completely and the way to the ship was already something special. A specially created path led from the road in quite steep switchbacks down to the water. Pushing a stroller or a wheelchair down there is more than sporty, if not unfeasible. The entrance to the ship – it docks with the bow on the shore – is wonderfully simple and without thresholds by a ramp, so with more water and easier access to the ship barrier-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Schifffahrt<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The ship took us to the only other mooring in the lake at that time. To do this, we circled a large rock in the middle of the lake, which is almost completely submerged at normal water level and is only visible by buoys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Inseln<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Steep slopes rose up on the shore and the Edersee thus offered a completely different look than at times when the water level was high. I enjoyed the short trip very much. The exact departure times and prices should be checked daily on the website of the Personenschifffahrt Edersee.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ship docked below Waldeck Castle and a very steep path took us up to the actual street level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ride on the small cabin train to Waldeck<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not far from the jetty is the valley station of the Waldeck mountain railroad. From the western foot of the Schlossberg at the Landesstra\u00dfe 3256 at the junction of the Abelauf\/Seestra\u00dfe road designation, the small cable car built in 1961 travels up the Schlossberg between the village of Waldeck and Waldeck Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Talstation<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I have to admit, I was really looking forward to this ride. These little egg-shaped two-person gondolas remind me of many wonderful ski trips to Switzerland, where we were taken up the mountain in similar gondolas for the first few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is not much room in the small cabin. The door is still closed by hand and then you wait for an employee to trigger the train ride on a handle. The gondola then slides onto the 24-millimeter-thick steel monocoque and clings to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gondeln<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The distance covered by the cable car is 120 meters in altitude over a length of 650 meters. There are 28 cabins in total, which can transport a good 720 passengers per hour. For those who like to take their bike up (or down) the mountain, there are special bike gondolas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bergbahn<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the ride is over much too quickly. Arrived at the top station, the door is unlocked again and you leave the gondola.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exact operating times and travel costs can be found on the website of the Waldecker Bergbahn.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waldeck and the story of Erck<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The top station of the cable car is located exactly between the village of Waldeck and Waldeck Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Burg<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A footpath leads up to the castle complex. But before you set off, you should make a short stop at Erck the ruler of the Hollen. There is a legend about this rather strange figure, which is still told today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The builder of Waldeck Castle concluded a contract with the dwarf people of the Hollen over 1,000 years ago. He promised Erck, the ruler of the dwarf people of the Ederberge, the mountain boots under the castle for all times as a possession. In return, Erck pledged to build the castle rock solid so that it would never fall. Furthermore, Erck promised to guard the law in his realm and to punish injustice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Erck<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The loyalty stone where the dam stands is said to be the place where the last lord of the castle is buried. Even today the dwarves come here for meetings. When a Waldeck count or prince dies, Erck strikes the rock three times with his golden hammer. Sparks shoot out, which is called the glow of the Hollen and is a sign for all Hollen to come to the meeting place to pay their last respects to the dead. They then swear allegiance to the new ruler. Three more hammer blows follow and the Hollen disappear again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A really nice story\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Above the statue is a viewing platform, from which you have a great view of the castle and the reservoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n