Nature in the Kurpark
Bad Berneck and its micro-climate offers a unique natural environment, with a diversity of species worth seeing.
The QR-tour offers a selection of plant displays at different seasons – some unusual and some simply beautiful.
The pearls in the formerly so-called ‘Pearl Stream’ are represented by two films in the QR-tour: One tells the legend of how the pearls have come into the river, and a documentary with the biologist Gabi Wenz explains the history and current status of the pearls.
Those with plenty of patience can observe some of these small creatures in the vegetation around Bad Berneck. For the less patient, the botanist and photographer Florian Fraaß has photographed and described a selection of native species such as butterflies, beetles, worms and spiders.
Fairy Story
A short film tells the local legend of how the Ölschnitz got its pearl mussels.
Film by Dominic Day, English voiceover by Catriona Gallo.
Pearls in the River
Gabi Wenz gives insights about the pearls of the Ölschnitz.
Forest Butterflies in the Ölschnitz Valley
The Ölschnitztal is a wet valley, consequently it provides ideal living conditions for numerous species of butterfly.
Some forest butterflies, such as the Great Purple Emperor, the little purple emperor, the Great Fox or the Little Kingfisher, live mostly in the treetops.
Since these species are in themselves quite rare and the fact that their habitat is the treetops, they are rarely seen. They only come down to the ground – usually at lunchtime – when they collect nutrients and minerals in damp areas.
For this purpose, they might use small source spills or puddles.
With a little luck, in summer you can still discover numerous forest butterfly species in the Ölschnitz valley.
by Florian Fraaß
Butterbur and Perennial Honesty (Silver leaf) – Two special features of the Ölschnitztal
Who is not familiar with the gleaming silver pods of the tenacious Honesty plant, which is very often used in dried bouquets?
This rare plant has settled in the Ölschnitz valley in large clusters.
During its blossoming period in May, a subtle scent of lilac hangs above the Ölschnitztal, which enables the plant to attract, predominantly moths for its pollination.
After flowering, silver pods are formed to spread the seeds, whose luminescence can still be observed in winter.
In addition to Honesty, another dominant species on the banks of the Ölschnitz are huge, rhubarb like leaves.
These are red and white butterbur. The butterbur is already in bloom in March. Only after flowering, does this plant grow its huge leaves – which were already used by Bronze Age man, as toilet paper.
by Florian Fraaß
Spring Flowering Bulbs in the Ölschnitztal
Due to its partly shaded position, spring often takes a little bit longer to arrive in the Ölschnitz valley.
But then all is revealed in paint-like splendour, along the picturesque river.
Numerous spring flowers have accumulated such abundant nourishment reserves in their roots that they are able to sprout particularly early.
Whilst the trees still bear no leaf canopy, the plants profit from the sunlight which reaches the ground. This also contributes to the fact that the soil warms more quickly. Thus, many early blooms provide colorful splashes of color on the forest floor.
Once the canopy closes in, it gets dark under the layers of foliage and the early blooms disappear almost unnoticed to once again begin collecting power reserves for the next year.
Especially curious in the Ölschnitz valley, is the moderately rare Toothwort, which in early spring is parasitic on tree roots in order to find nutrients. Consequently, the plant requires no chlorophyll to produce energy. With some imagination it looks like a toothbrush coming out of the ground.
by Florian Fraaß
The Ölschnitz Valley as the Seasons Change
The Ölschnitz valley proves every year that all four seasons have their own charms.
How romantically it blooms in spring, when the trees show their first green shoots, the spring flowering bulbs paint a colorful splash and the lapping of the Ölschnitz and its tributary rivers all combine to touch the soul of the wanderer.
Summer brings colourful, dancing butterflies and a pleasant soft, cool, microclimate breeze that lures the salamanders out of their hiding places.
Autumn enchants the Ölschnitz valley with its 1000 miriad colors, humidity allowing mushrooms to sprout, and all before winter gently covers everything with a white blanket of snow. Out of the water above and below, artistic icicle shapes and ice sculptures are formed. And although nature then seems to be asleep, she is already gathering forces for the next spring.
by Florian Fraaß
Diary 2014
My name is Florian Fraaß, I have been living in Bad Berneck all my life, and already from Kindergarten age I was inspired by the nature on our doorstep.
I am especially fond of our Ölschnitz valley. The romantic rippling of the stream provides a feeling of relaxation throughout the year. It is especially lovely in spring when the tender green runs like a gentle veil over the trees.
The air gets warmer and the well-structured hiking trails invite one to really enjoy nature. In order to capture these beautiful moments and also to make it available to others, I am passionate about nature photography. The camera is my constant companion.
The Ölschnitz valley has at the moment, many varied species. The forest butterflies are particularly at home here. However, they are also a real test for my patience .
There is a huge difference between observing a butterfly and managing to photograph it in a viable way. To do this, you often, need a bit of luck and also to be in the right place at the right time. Often I wander for hours and days just to find this one right moment.
Doing this, I experience the strangest things.
For days I see a butterfly flying around, but it makes no attempt to settle within reach of me, the photographer. Until one day it changes its mind and chooses a place to land. But where?
On the license plate of my parked car! The photo is not computer manipulated!
And once it happened to me that a walker feared that I had fallen or had fainted – so she called an ambulance. Instead of a patient, they found a photographer who was down in the dirt photographing flowers…
But of course, it’s not only the final image that is critical , more important to me is the actual photographic experience – or in other words : the experience of nature . And the Fichtelgebirge is a wonderful place for experiencing these beautiful moments.
One doesn’t always have to travel far, in order to have fascinating experiences with nature. Even near home, there are many opportunities and possibilities to find wonderful places.
