European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 25, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Above the Sophie Hohle penetrates Over a Quarter mile into the Limestone strata. Right window boxes with geraniums spilling out of them can be seen on the streets of every Village. Bamberg ,.,m Bayreuth Franzische Sis mop continued from Page /1 pestilence have left few disfiguring scars on the romantic landscape. The Central geological feature of the Franzische Schweiz is the underlying strata of the franconian Jura the massive Limestone formation that underlies the whole Region. Formed Over 150 million years ago it colors the Cliffs provides a porous substratum for the countless Springs that feed the Rivers and is the substance out of which the sheer walled valleys and the numerous caves have been scoured. The most spectacular feature of the Region is the narrow winding valleys some 20 of them carved out of the Limestone by streams like the Wisent the Pii Tulach the Wilsbach the aufses the Lei Leiter and the Trubach. Old half timbered Mills set in Stream Side Meadows Here and there enhance the idyllic landscape. Above the valleys Chalk Cliffs Rise to High rolling Hills and Lush Green forests. The streams support thriving populations of fish and Many of them offer wonderful Angling mainly Lor Brown Trout and Grayling. In some areas the sons of natural weathering processes have carved out fantastic Rock scapes. Giant Dolomite formations jut above the Valley Walls and in a few places have been incorporated into Man made landscapes. The Fellendorf Rock Village in Tuch Ersfeld with its houses clinging to the Cliffs and squeezed Between Rock towers is one of the most popular tourist stops. Adding mystery and legend to the landscape olt i Region Are the numerous castles and fortresses towering High above the valleys. Some of them arc nothing More than ancient ruins others Are splendid restored and still occupied by descendants of once powerful Feudal lords. Coming into the Franzische Schweiz from the Southwest up the Wisent Valley the shattered Tow i of the 14th Century Neideck Castle looms Over the River and bordering Meadows dominating the Skyline outside Streinberg. Shining with the Patina of old Ivory amid the surrounding Hardwood Forest Greifenstein Castle dominates the Valley of the Lei Leiter from the height1-. Above Heiligenstad. The meticulously maintained Structure still in use As a residence by the von Stauffenberg family is reachable by an Access Road lined with three Century old Lindens. Rabenstein Castle near Neu Mishle is considered by some to be the most splendid Castle in the Franzische Schweiz. Thrust High above the Valley of the Wilsbach atop a massive Stone formation its size alone is impressive. Its history can be traced Back to the late 12th Century. Over the centuries it has been destroyed twice once in 1460 and the last time during the 30-years War when the local population burned it because the then owner Hans Christof von Rabenstein had sided with the swedes. The Structure was rebuilt in its present form in 1637. The castles fortresses and ruins in the Franzische Schweiz Are far too numerous to list in anything smaller than a Book but a few other notable landmarks Are Streinberg Castle Wiesen Fels Castle the Wildenfels ruin and the gos Weinstein Castle. The area has More than 370 caves. Two of the More famous ones Are the Teufel Hohle near Rottenstein the largest and most spectacular and the Sophie Hohle near the Rabenstein Castle. Discovered in 1833 the Entrance had been closed off by a Roc slide the Quarter mile Long Sophie Hohle was an archaeological and geological sensation. In the Depths of its massive Chambers were found the skeletons of 30 Cave bears that died some 30,000 years ago. Twenty nine of them have been removed to museums but one remains wired together in a standing position. The Cave also contains the oldest stalagmite in the Region a 7-foot-High Snow White Mound More than 10 feet in diameter at the base. It was formed drop by drop Over More than 2 million years. Visitors can tour the Sophie Hohle which is lighted for a Small fee. Throughout the Franzische Schweiz myriads of hiking trails wind up the valleys past the castles along the rims of the Chalk Cliffs and through the forests offering vacationers the Chance to experience the area s natural splendours close up. For those nostalgic for the old Days of rail travel it is possible on a few special Days to ride a steam locomotive along the romantic Wisent Valley Between Ebermann Stadt and Behringer Muhle. A private group the Franzische Schweiz steam train society purchased the nearly 10 Miles of right of Way and devoted More than 13,000 Man hours to restoring a 60-year-old locomotive. Other activities available in the Region include kayaking gliding horseback Riding pottery making and courses in portrait painting. A half timbered Bam is stacked High with firewood. The shattered ruin of the 14th-Century Neideck Castle looms Over the Wisent Valley outside Streinberg. Information activities tourism Szentpale Fri Kische Schweiz Obi res Tor 1,8553 Ebermann Stadt. Phone 09194-8101. Tourist information and help in booking. Many brochures available. Some of the information is available in English. The Franzische Schweiz museum in Tik Hersheld. Exhibits on archaeology history Folk costumes and handicrafts. Open april october tuesday through sunday 10 . To 5 . November april sundays 1 30 . To 5 ., tuesday and thursday 1 w . To 3 30 . Wander Ohne repack hiking without Luggage. Vacationers can Book 5 or 7-Day hiking vacations with overnights in local guest houses hotels or private Homes. Luggage is transferred to the next hotel by the local tourist Agency or the hotel. It is recommended that interested parties Book at least 4 weeks in Advance through the tourism Szentpale Franzische Schweiz address above. Wild Geoege wild animal Park funds Lupten in Eglofstein. Red Stags Mouflon foxes potbellied pigs owls Stone Martins and Many other animals on display. Children under 5 tree. Damp Bahn Franzische Schweiz . I Rantisi lie Schweiz steam locomotive society. Steam train Ridi a along the Wisent a Tew clays each year. It is also possible to hire the train on other dates Lor exc visions by private groups. Postrach 1,8553 . Phone 09 131 -65873. Thurnau pottery museum. Pottery display. Fly fishing packages Are available through Inion other places Ferrien Entrum gos Weinstein Behringer Smithle Bur Strasse 67, 85.56 gosh Einstein. Phone 09242-456 or 840. Prices Start at 125 Marks per person for 7 Days. Angling trips can also be directly booked through hotels in the area. Many of them own fishing rights in nearby Waters. A minimum stay of three Days is usually required. No 12 stripes Magazine August 25, 1988 \ 25, 1988 stripes Magazine 13