Kellergasse

The Franconian line is a globally significant geological formation and runs right through the village.
In many cellars of the town extraordinary rock formations can be seen; the tectonic movements have shaped the landscape around Goldkronach for millions of years.

The Franconian Line

The collision of the African plate with that of Europe took place between 135 and 20 million years ago. Movements of the earth’s crust caused volcanoes to form, the earth to shake, and immense masses of rock to push up against each other.
In southern Europe, huge mountains –the Alps – arose. In our region, a steep drop came about. An old fracture edge dating from millions of years before was activated again. This and the structure and strength of the existing rocks stopped the area from being folded by the action of the southwest rock pressure. Instead there was a deferment and breakage into individual floes, which in turn shifted against each other and were raised and lowered.

The Franconian Line is therefore the fault line between the old mountains and the southwest lying (younger) land from Trias times.
This line is one of the major fracture zones in Central Europe and can be seen above ground as a distinctive step in the landscape of the Bavarian Forest to the northern tip of the Thuringian Forest.
Today this up to 200m high escarpment can be seen from Goldkronach in the direction of Wirsberg. It testifies to the power of the continental collision.

Throughout Goldkronach you can find in-depth knowledge about this geological feature: at the museum, at the Info House and on detailed information panels along a geological nature trail.
In the Felsengasse of Goldkronach you can embark on a unique journey through millions of years. In other locations, you’d have to travel down far in order to experience different geological eras. Here, in the Felsengasse, you have access at ground level. From one cellar to the next, you will find yourself in a different geological time.

Goldkronach offers guided tours through the earth’s history upon request: Annette Taubenreuther is a Geopark Ranger from the Geopark Bavaria-Bohemia and leads various visitor tours in and around Goldkronach to culturally and geologically interesting sites.
How request?? 09273-9840

Sources: Dieter Herrmann, Dr. Joachim Nedvidek, Annette Taubenreuther

The rock cellars of Goldkronach

The Goldkronach rock cellars are also worth seeing for another reason:
Previously they were used as natural refrigerators for storing beer and food. Consistently low temperatures of 8 ° – 12 ° C were ensured throughout the year. Ice was knocked out of frozen ponds in winter and created even lower temperatures until the next autumn. The cellars were carved from the stone using local mining knowledge. There are skillful design solutions, such canals to drain the melting ice water.

Changes in the beer production process occasioned the construction of the cellars. A 1549 beer recipe from Schwandorf proves that the local brewers adapted this innovation. Gradually there was a change from a warm to a cooler fermentation process, which created a more pleasant taste and a beer which could be stored for much longer.
The temperature in this new fermentation process must not exceed 10 degrees Celsius. In the rock cellars, those conditions were met.
In Franconia, cellars always have been a high priority due to the large density of breweries. Many new rock cellars were carved in the 1850s.

Where the rock layers allowed it, individuals or so-called “Cellar Cooperatives” built cellars outside the villages. Small forests were a preferred location, where in the summer the shade of trees could also help to reduce the soil temperature. For this reason, restaurants or beer gardens were often created in close proximity to rock cellars, which enjoyed great popularity. In Franconia, in the summer you can still go “onto the cellar”, sitting above the beer cellar under shady trees and enjoying a beer with a snack.

Today, many abandoned cellars serve as nature conservation habitats, as they provide winter accommodation and cover for protected species such as bats.