The 6 Most Amazing Peaks around Kelsterbach

The history of the Oberwaldberg is (unfortunately) a somewhat disreputable one. Originally, gravel was mined here, from 1972 it was converted into a landfill for the district and grew from around 1985 to the present-day "mountain". The landfill was closed and in 2006 this visitor platform was built, from which you have a wonderful view over the Rhine-Main area. The area is still largely inaccessible today. However, a path leads up to the summit and over the mountain. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberwaldberg

https://historisches-hofheim.de/Michelsberger-Kultur/

Six thousand years ago, Hofheim was a center of the Michelsberg culture. And in a way, Hofheim is still a center today: The most important researchers in this field from all over Europe are currently gathered here. The symposium "The Hofheim Experiment: Lifeworlds and Dynamics of the Michelsberg Culture" addresses various aspects – from climate to archaeogenetics, from settlement structures to economic systems.

The Kapellenberg in Hofheim am Taunus is one of the most important Neolithic archaeological sites in Germany. Here, archaeologists discovered the remains of a roughly 6,000-year-old hilltop settlement of the Michelsberg culture, featuring impressive ramparts, house plans, and a monumental burial mound. Around 900 people once lived on the plateau, protected by palisades and earthworks. Finds such as a jade axe from the Western Alps provide evidence of extensive trade relations and early social organization. Today, a 4.2-kilometer-long archaeological trail leads through the site, offering fascinating insights into Stone Age life with information panels and viewpoints. Those who walk attentively will still recognize remnants of the ramparts in the area. A detour to the Hofheim City Museum, where original finds are on display, is particularly worthwhile. The Kapellenberg impressively combines nature, history, and research – a tranquil place with an ancient past high above the Main-Taunus region.

Michelsberg Culture - Traces of Settlement around 4000 BC on the Kapellenberg The first traces of the Michelsberg Culture in Hofheim can be dated to before 4000 BC. There is evidence of a settlement on the Kapellenberg, although it was not permanently inhabited. Today, the circular wall is the best preserved of its kind because the area remained unused for many thousands of years. It is therefore invaluable for understanding this Neolithic culture. The original boundary consisted of a palisade (between 4200 and 4100 BC), which was used tactically in the surrounding area. After this burned down, a rampart was built (between 3900 and 3800 BC). After another fire, the wall was considerably raised, and another palisade was built on top. The wall (with a circumference of over 3 km) encloses an area of 46 hectares. Since In 2008, the Romano-Germanic Central Museum in Mainz, under the direction of Prof. Gronenborn, in collaboration with the Hesse State Office for Monument Preservation (hessenARCHÄOLOGIE), conducted excavations to learn more about the lives of the original inhabitants on the Kapellenberg. One thing is certain: the settlement dissolved around 3650 BC due to internal disputes. The remaining settlers left. The oldest burial mound in Central Europe, "unique" according to Prof. Gronenborn, and the aforementioned rampart have been preserved. Since 2020, visitors have been able to explore the background of Hofheim's local mountain on a signposted 4-kilometer "Archaeological Trail."

The summit of the Kapellenberg, here is also the excavation site for the old settlement

A nice little extra summit, but without a view and without a summit cross

The summit of the Oberwaldberg offers an impressive panoramic view of the Rhine-Main region: from the Taunus mountains in the north, across the skyline of Frankfurt, to the Odenwald in the south. From the second vantage point, halfway up, there is a good view of the FFH area, the districts of Mörfelden-Walldorf and the airport. The mountain is covered with hawthorn and berry bushes. The prickly thistles and thistles that bloom in summer attract numerous insects. The mountain was created by filling a former gravel pit with material (excavated earth) from the construction of the Frankfurt subway and then using it as a waste disposal site. Mainly household waste, bulky waste, excavated earth and construction rubble were stored there. The landfill was closed in 1991. It was then covered with a surface cover and recultivated. The Oberwaldberg is connected to the regional park route and is partially open to the public for use. The landfill gas is captured and is no longer used to generate electricity (since 2024). The seepage water is also captured and cleaned. If regular monitoring of water and air shows that the biological processes taking place in the landfill have come to a standstill and there is no longer any danger of significant environmental pollution, the mountain can be released from aftercare. The technical facilities will be shut down and dismantled as far as possible. The entire mountain will then be made available to citizens for local recreation.