Altastenberg
Encyclopedia
Altastenberg is a village in the borough of Winterberg
in North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
. It is a state-recognised spa
, is classed as one of the mountain villages in the borough and, at just under 800 m. above NN, is also the highest village in the Sauerland
.
(841,9 m) and only a little west of the Bremberg (809 m), about 5 km (as the crow flies
) west of Winterberg and between the sources and upper reaches of the river Lenne to the south and the Neger
to the northwest. It is located near the crest of the Rothaargebirge
mountain range, along which part of the Rhine-Weser watershed runs.
, when he settled charcoal burners and herdsmen there. This resulted in conflict with the townsfolk of Winterberg who had a claim to the land.
Right up to the end of the Electorate of Cologne, which ruled the region, the Count of Waldeck claimed the right at least to levy taxes in the Lichtenscheid area, if not to rule it directly, because he had rented the land to Hanxleden. Around 1600 the village fell within the jurisdiction of the court at Oberkirchen, whose presiding judge was Kaspar von Fürstenberg at that time. Around 1563 the village probably had three farms. This number steadily increased to six in 1600, ten in 1630 and fourteen in 1720. In 1630 four witches were prosecuted and executed by burning.
Up to 1785 the village was within the parish of Winterberg St James (St. Jakobus). Their dead were buried in the churchyard of the Winterberg parish church. In 1729 it is noted in the parish records of Winterberg St James that every farmer had to provide a sled load of wood to the vicar annually. On delivery they would receive a mug of beer, a little bread and butter and hay for the horses. Since the 18th century there had only been a chapel at Altastenberg until a new church was built in 1971/72.
From the 18th century the village was called Altastenberg ("Old Astenberg") to distinguish it from a newly established village south of the Kahler Asten which was named Neuastenberg ("New Astenberg").
The early inhabitants of the Altastenberg were herdsmen, charcoal burners and cart drivers. The manufacture and sale of wooden articles for itinerant tradesmen and work in the slate mines in the neighbouring village of Nordenau offered modest secondary income for the poor farmers.
facilities. It is only a few hundred metres to the nearby skiing complex known as the Skiliftkarussell Winterberg
. Immediately at the entrance to the village there are ski lift
s, a langlauf trail (Loipe) and a ski jump (the Westfalenschanze). The so-called Sahnehang slopes are used in winter by skiers, snowboarders and tobogganists. In summer, too, the village is popular because it offers other sport and leisure facilities. The surrounding area is ideal for walking and hiking. Altastenberg lies on the Rothaarsteig long-distance hiking trail which runs over the Kahler Asten. There is also a one kilometre-long mountain bike arena for cyclists which has routes with various degrees of difficulty.
Local history curator: Hermann Pfennig (CDU)
Winterberg
Winterberg is a town in the Hochsauerland district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and a major winter sport resort of the Wintersport Arena Sauerland.-Geography:...
in North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is a state-recognised spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
, is classed as one of the mountain villages in the borough and, at just under 800 m. above NN, is also the highest village in the Sauerland
Sauerland
The Sauerland is a rural, hilly area spreading across most of the south-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, in parts heavily forested and, apart from the major valleys, sparsely inhabited...
.
Geography
Altastenberg lies in the Hochsauerland district about 2 km northwest of the Kahler AstenKahler Asten
The Kahler Asten is an 841.9-meter-high mountain in the Rothaargebirge range in the district of Hochsauerland, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia...
(841,9 m) and only a little west of the Bremberg (809 m), about 5 km (as the crow flies
As the crow flies
"As the crow flies" or beelining is an idiom for the shortest route between two points; the geodesic distance.An example is the great-circle distance between Key West and Pensacola, at either end of the U.S...
) west of Winterberg and between the sources and upper reaches of the river Lenne to the south and the Neger
Neger (Ruhr)
Neger is a river of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany....
to the northwest. It is located near the crest of the Rothaargebirge
Rothaargebirge
The Rothaargebirge is a low mountain range reaching heights of up to 843.1 m in North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse, Germany....
mountain range, along which part of the Rhine-Weser watershed runs.
History
The village, originally called Lichtenscheid according to early descriptions of land ownership, was established around 1540 by Johann von HanxledenHanxleden
The House of Hanxleden is a Westphalian noble family whose seat is the village of Hanxleden, today part of Schmallenberg in the district of Hochsauerland in Germany...
, when he settled charcoal burners and herdsmen there. This resulted in conflict with the townsfolk of Winterberg who had a claim to the land.
Right up to the end of the Electorate of Cologne, which ruled the region, the Count of Waldeck claimed the right at least to levy taxes in the Lichtenscheid area, if not to rule it directly, because he had rented the land to Hanxleden. Around 1600 the village fell within the jurisdiction of the court at Oberkirchen, whose presiding judge was Kaspar von Fürstenberg at that time. Around 1563 the village probably had three farms. This number steadily increased to six in 1600, ten in 1630 and fourteen in 1720. In 1630 four witches were prosecuted and executed by burning.
Up to 1785 the village was within the parish of Winterberg St James (St. Jakobus). Their dead were buried in the churchyard of the Winterberg parish church. In 1729 it is noted in the parish records of Winterberg St James that every farmer had to provide a sled load of wood to the vicar annually. On delivery they would receive a mug of beer, a little bread and butter and hay for the horses. Since the 18th century there had only been a chapel at Altastenberg until a new church was built in 1971/72.
From the 18th century the village was called Altastenberg ("Old Astenberg") to distinguish it from a newly established village south of the Kahler Asten which was named Neuastenberg ("New Astenberg").
The early inhabitants of the Altastenberg were herdsmen, charcoal burners and cart drivers. The manufacture and sale of wooden articles for itinerant tradesmen and work in the slate mines in the neighbouring village of Nordenau offered modest secondary income for the poor farmers.
Tourism
Today tourism is the main source of income in Altastenberg. The village is well known for its winter sportWinter sport
A winter sport is a sport which is played on snow or ice. Most such sports are variations of skiing, ice skating and sledding. Traditionally such sports were only played in cold areas during winter, but artificial snow and ice allow more flexibility...
facilities. It is only a few hundred metres to the nearby skiing complex known as the Skiliftkarussell Winterberg
Skiliftkarussell Winterberg
Skiliftkarussell Winterberg is one of the major ski resorts in Central Germany. It is located near the town of Winterberg in the Hochsauerland region in North Rhine-Westphalia. As an international destination, popular especially with skiers from the Netherlands, it attracts nearly 900.000 visitors...
. Immediately at the entrance to the village there are ski lift
Ski lift
The term ski lift generally refers to any transport device that carries skiers up a hill. A ski lift may fall into one of the following three main classes:-Lift systems and networks:...
s, a langlauf trail (Loipe) and a ski jump (the Westfalenschanze). The so-called Sahnehang slopes are used in winter by skiers, snowboarders and tobogganists. In summer, too, the village is popular because it offers other sport and leisure facilities. The surrounding area is ideal for walking and hiking. Altastenberg lies on the Rothaarsteig long-distance hiking trail which runs over the Kahler Asten. There is also a one kilometre-long mountain bike arena for cyclists which has routes with various degrees of difficulty.
Politics
Parish council chairman since 2007: Jörg Burmann (SPD),Local history curator: Hermann Pfennig (CDU)
Sources
- Klaus Hamper: Winterberg Hochsauerland. Landschaft Geschichte Brauchtum, Winterberg (ca. 1967).
- Elisabeth Hanschmidt/Paul Aust: Winterberg mit den Dörfern am Kahlen Asten, Münster 1992.
- Alfred Bruns: Die Oberkirchener Hexenprotokolle, in: Hexen – Gerichtsbarkeit im kurkönischen Sauerland, Schmallenberg-Holthausen 1984.