Wherever mystical rock formations stand in Franconian Switzerland, legends are never far away. This is also the case here near Wohlmannsgesees: mighty, moss-covered boulders stand in long rows in the forest, as if someone had arranged them there. This enchanted rocky landscape has inspired many people over the years, and it has repeatedly been suggested that it was a Celtic place of worship for the Druids. To this day, there is no way to prove or disprove this. The only thing that is certain is that this place has an atmosphere all of its own.
🪨 Geology
What looks here as though it were piled up by human hands is purely the work of nature. The Franconian dolomite has fractured into individual blocks along two systems of fissures; these blocks, two to five metres high, are arranged in long rows and have become covered in moss over the centuries. Some of the stones feature bowl-shaped indentations, often interpreted as the druids’ ‘sacrificial bowls’, but which were in fact formed by weathering.
🔮 Name and Legend
The site was not given the name ‘Druidenhain’ until 1912, by a hiking guide written by Karl Brückner. Even back then, the unusual rocky landscape captured the imagination, and the notion that Celtic priests had once had their place of worship here quickly took hold. Some also speak of an ancient gathering place for witches. There is no evidence to support any of this; other explanations range from a collapsed cave to a medieval quarry.
🕒 Visiting
The Druid Grove is freely accessible and can be visited at any time. It is at its most impressive when low-angled light filters through the trees – that is, in the early morning or late afternoon – and in autumn when there is mist. A narrow path winds its way between the boulders; the stones themselves are moss-covered and slippery – climbing is neither necessary nor advisable.
🚗 Getting there
There is a car park very nearby; from there, the rest of the route is easily covered on foot. Hiking trails lead there from Wohlmannsgesee or Kanndorf; by bike, you can take the FO 11 cycle path. By car, you can reach the car park via the B470, coming from Pottenstein or Forchheim.