Bernstein

The Bernstein is a mountain, in the Northern Black Forest within the borough of Gaggenau (estate of Rotenfels), and the borough of Bad Herrenalb, (estate of Bernbach). It is part of the ridge that borders the lower Murg valley on its eastern side. The summit of this mountain is formed by a six-metre-high crag made of bunter sandstone with a flat top, 25 m² in area, from where there are good views.NameThe origin of the first part of the name, Bern, is the Old High German word, bero, which meant "bear". Bears lived in the Northern Black Forest until the Late Middle Ages. Stein ("rock") refers to block of rock that forms the summit.Natural monumentThe Bernsteinfels crag and its surrounding area were declared a natural monument on 5 Nov 2007 by the towns of Gaggenau and Bad Herrenalb due the its rock formations, which are unique in the region, and its geological-tectonic and natural importance, and were given protected area number 82160150001 by the Regierungspräsidium Freiburg.GeologyGeologically the origins of the Bernstein go back to the Lower Triassic, 240 million years ago. The summit block of this mountain consists of fissured Middle Bunter Sandstone. These mighty sandstone blocks are a consequence of the formation of the Upper Rhine Graben, whose sinking began about 50 million years ago. About 5 million years ago there was a marked uplifting and tilting of the edges of the graben. At that time the Bernstein crag was actually formed. Its present shape is the result of cold periods over the millennia of i.e. ice ages, that were interrupted by warm periods.