If you’re keen to visit St. Moritz, you don’t have far to go in Franconia: the Moritzbach stream rises right next to the St. Moritz Chapel. Over time, this limestone tufa stream has transformed a small waterfall into magnificent travertine terraces. These are easily accessible from the nearby car park.
🪨 How the terraces are formed
The spring water emerges from the rock saturated with calcium carbonate. As soon as it trickles over moss and twigs, losing carbon dioxide in the process, the dissolved calcium carbonate precipitates again and forms a thin layer over everything in its path. Gradually, the moss cushions become petrified, and over decades, each small step grows into a terrace edge. The formation is therefore actually growing, albeit at a rate of just a few millimetres, and is correspondingly fragile. Stepping on the terraces destroys in seconds what has taken decades to form.
💡 Tip
A hill opposite the car park offers a wonderful view of the countryside and Walberla and is ideal for a picnic. There is also a Way of the Cross there.
🚗 How to get there
St Moritz Chapel is situated near Leutenbach, not far from the Walberla. There is a car park right next to it; from there, it’s just a few steps to the stream. The site is freely accessible.