Rettbergsaue
Encyclopedia
The Rettbergsaue is a natural island in the Rhine River at Wiesbaden
, Germany
. It is situated between the main channel of the Rhine to the north and a smaller channel, the Wachsbleicharm, in the south. The Wachsbleicharm forms the border between the federal states of Hesse
(of which Wiesbaden is the capital) and Rhineland-Palatinate
.
The island is about 3100 metres (10,170.6 ft) long and up to 400 m (1,312.3 ft) wide. Covering about 68 hectares (168 acre), it is one of the largest islands on the Rhine in which the river flows unhindered on both sides. The island is for the most part covered with trees and has a rich bird and plant life. Approximately 90% of the island is protected, with the remainder used for recreational and agricultural purposes.
Bundesautobahn 643
crosses the Rhine via the Rettbergsaue on the Schierstein Bridge
. On the east side of the bridge there is a pedestrian and bicycle lane with stairs to the island.
The majority of the island, lying opposite Biebrich Castle, is within the borough of Wiesbaden-Biebrich
. The part west of the Schierstein Bridge is part of Wiesbaden-Schierstein
.
The western part, which had been named Karthäuser Island in the Late Middle Ages
, acquired the name of Rettbergsaue in 1832 from the Baron (German Freiherr
) Carl von Rettberg. The lieutenant and adjutant of the Duke of Nassau
purchased the island from the Nassau government for approximately 1,125 guilders and operated a cattle and horse breeding business there. For financial reasons, he returned possession of the island to Nassau only a few years later for 50,000 guilders.
Today, the former Schierstein and Biebrich Beaches serve as recreation areas, with large playgrounds, barbecue area, several table-tennis tables, playing areas for badminton and basketball, soccer fields with goalposts, and other attractions. The Schierstein recreation area has the Island Café (Insel-Café), while Biebrich also offers areas for floor chess and volleyball and an open-air bowling alley. The island is popular with camping enthusiasts and the white-sand beaches are once again occasionally used for swimming. Because the island is free of traffic and dogs are banned, Rettbergsaue is an especially popular recreation area for families with children.
The two recreation grounds are accessible from the staircase of the Schiersteiner Bridge. In the summer, the island is also served by the passenger ferry Tamara, which operates between the beaches and the Schierstein Port and a river landing in Wiesbaden-Biebrich. The rest of the island is inaccessible to visitors.
The island lies within the course of the Rhine and contains a variety of biotopes includiung softwood and hardwood forest; brush border, island meadow, foredune, shore, floodlawn, and accretionary habitats. The native species are threatened by invasive species (like the horse chestnut and tree of heaven
), hybrid poplars, over-grazing, damage from canoeists, the spread of the Alexandrine parakeet
(from Biebrich Castle), and elm disease. Factories outside the island also have an effect on the vegetation.
The goals of the nature reserve are the preservation and development of the existing island forests, replacement of poplar plantations with native species, and promoting the growth of disease-resistant elms.
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is situated between the main channel of the Rhine to the north and a smaller channel, the Wachsbleicharm, in the south. The Wachsbleicharm forms the border between the federal states of Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
(of which Wiesbaden is the capital) and Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
.
The island is about 3100 metres (10,170.6 ft) long and up to 400 m (1,312.3 ft) wide. Covering about 68 hectares (168 acre), it is one of the largest islands on the Rhine in which the river flows unhindered on both sides. The island is for the most part covered with trees and has a rich bird and plant life. Approximately 90% of the island is protected, with the remainder used for recreational and agricultural purposes.
Bundesautobahn 643
Bundesautobahn 643
is a short autobahn in Germany. The long motorway crosses the Rhine River, connecting the cities of Wiesbaden and Mainz, the capital cities of the federal states of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, respectively...
crosses the Rhine via the Rettbergsaue on the Schierstein Bridge
Schierstein Bridge
The Schierstein Bridge is long, four-lane highway bridge in Germany. It carries Bundesautobahn 643 over the Rhine River between Mainz-Mombach, Rhineland-Palatinate and Wiesbaden-Schierstein, Hesse...
. On the east side of the bridge there is a pedestrian and bicycle lane with stairs to the island.
The majority of the island, lying opposite Biebrich Castle, is within the borough of Wiesbaden-Biebrich
Wiesbaden-Biebrich
Biebrich is a borough of the city of Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany. With over 36,000 inhabitants, it is the most-populated of Wiesbaden's boroughs. It is located south of the city center on the Rhine River, opposite the Mainz borough of Mombach...
. The part west of the Schierstein Bridge is part of Wiesbaden-Schierstein
Wiesbaden-Schierstein
Schierstein is a southwestern borough of Wiesbaden, capital of state of Hesse, Germany. First mentioned in historical records in 860, Schierstein was incorporated into Wiesbaden in 1926. Today the borough has about 10,000 residents...
.
History
The Rettbergsaue was originally two islands, created through deposition of coarse sediments and flood silts. The eastern island was the Biebricher Wörth and the western island the Schiersteiner Wörth. The two islands grew together after port construction along this section of the Rhine in the mid-19th century. Evidence of human settlement dates to the Middle Ages, and probably to Roman times, based on structural remants found at two sites at the highest elevations of the island.The western part, which had been named Karthäuser Island in the Late Middle Ages
Late Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages was the period of European history generally comprising the 14th to the 16th century . The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern era ....
, acquired the name of Rettbergsaue in 1832 from the Baron (German Freiherr
Freiherr
The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname...
) Carl von Rettberg. The lieutenant and adjutant of the Duke of Nassau
Nassau (state)
Nassau was a German state within the Holy Roman Empire and later in the German Confederation. Its ruling dynasty, now extinct in male line, was the House of Nassau.-Origins:...
purchased the island from the Nassau government for approximately 1,125 guilders and operated a cattle and horse breeding business there. For financial reasons, he returned possession of the island to Nassau only a few years later for 50,000 guilders.
Recreational areas
In 1914, Schierstein Beach was established on the western end, close to two old channels of the Rhine. Biebrich Beach was established on the northern shore in 1921. Because of heavy pollution of the Rhine, both beaches were closed in 1962.Today, the former Schierstein and Biebrich Beaches serve as recreation areas, with large playgrounds, barbecue area, several table-tennis tables, playing areas for badminton and basketball, soccer fields with goalposts, and other attractions. The Schierstein recreation area has the Island Café (Insel-Café), while Biebrich also offers areas for floor chess and volleyball and an open-air bowling alley. The island is popular with camping enthusiasts and the white-sand beaches are once again occasionally used for swimming. Because the island is free of traffic and dogs are banned, Rettbergsaue is an especially popular recreation area for families with children.
The two recreation grounds are accessible from the staircase of the Schiersteiner Bridge. In the summer, the island is also served by the passenger ferry Tamara, which operates between the beaches and the Schierstein Port and a river landing in Wiesbaden-Biebrich. The rest of the island is inaccessible to visitors.
Rettbergsaue Nature Reserve
The Rettbergsaue Nature Reserve covers about 90 percent of the island. It has high importance as a wooded barrier between the two cities, acting as a climatic compensation area and emission filter in the metropolitan area.The island lies within the course of the Rhine and contains a variety of biotopes includiung softwood and hardwood forest; brush border, island meadow, foredune, shore, floodlawn, and accretionary habitats. The native species are threatened by invasive species (like the horse chestnut and tree of heaven
Tree of heaven
Ailanthus altissima , commonly known as tree of heaven, ailanthus, or in Standard Chinese as chouchun , is a deciduous tree in the Simaroubaceae family. It is native to both northeast and central China and Taiwan. Unlike other members of the genus Ailanthus, it is found in temperate climates rather...
), hybrid poplars, over-grazing, damage from canoeists, the spread of the Alexandrine parakeet
Alexandrine Parakeet
The Alexandrine Parakeet or Alexandrian Parrot is a member of the psittaciformes order and of the psittacines family...
(from Biebrich Castle), and elm disease. Factories outside the island also have an effect on the vegetation.
The goals of the nature reserve are the preservation and development of the existing island forests, replacement of poplar plantations with native species, and promoting the growth of disease-resistant elms.
Biotope complexes (habitat classes)
- Wet grassland complexes on mineral soils — 43%
- Deciduous forest complexes (up to 30% share of conifers) — 47%
- Hardwood Forest cultures (foreign to the site or exotic trees) — "Artistic Forestry" — 10%
Habitat types according to the European Union Habitats Directive
- 6430 — Hydrophilous riparian tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels, hydrophilous perennial borders of plains up to submountain level, 1 ha.
- 6510 — Extensively-managed lowland hay meadows with Meadow FoxtailMeadow FoxtailAlopecurus pratensis, known as the Meadow Foxtail or the Field Meadow Foxtail, is a perennial grass, belonging to the grass family . It is native to Europe and Asia....
(Alopecurus pratensis) and Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis), species-rich, fresh grasslands of the plains up to submountain level, 5 ha. - 91E0 — Alluvial forests with Black AlderBlack AlderAlnus glutinosa is an alder native to most of Europe, including all of the British Isles and Fennoscandia and locally in southwest Asia....
(Alnus glutinosa) and Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), softwood (White Willow, Salix alba) riparian alluvial forests with largely undisturbed flooding dynamics (regularly inundated, often for relatively long periods), 30 ha. - 91F0 — Riparian mixed forests of Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur), European White Elm (Ulmus laevis) and Field Elm (Ulmus minor), Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) or Narrow-leafed Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia), along the great rivers - hardwood forest on the banks of large rivers, with largely undisturbed flooding dynamics; forests in nitrogen-rich locations usually with well-developed undergrowth, rich in trailing plants, 15 ha.
Species of Birds observed
- Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), foraging guest, very rare (<5 individuals)
- White StorkWhite StorkThe White Stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on its wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average from beak tip to end of tail, with a wingspan...
(Ciconia ciconia), foraging guest, very rare (<5) - Middle Spotted WoodpeckerMiddle Spotted WoodpeckerThe Middle Spotted Woodpecker is a European woodpecker belonging to the genus Dendrocopos.The Middle Spotted Woodpecker is 20–22 cm long and has plumage similar to the Great Spotted Woodpecker. As with that species the upperparts are predominantly black with white oval wing patches and white...
(Dendrocopos medius), foraging guest, very rare - Peregrine FalconPeregrine FalconThe Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
(Falco peregrinus), foraging guest, present (<5) - Red-backed ShrikeRed-backed ShrikeThe Red-backed Shrike is a carnivorous passerine bird and member of the shrike family Laniidae.English common names include 'Wariangle' and 'worrier'.-Description:...
(Lanius collurio), breeding attested (3) - Black KiteBlack KiteThe Black Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. Unlike others of the group, they are opportunistic hunters and are more likely to scavenge. They spend a lot of time soaring and gliding in thermals in search of food. Their...
(Milvus migrans), breeding attested (16) - Red KiteRed KiteThe Red Kite is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. The species is currently endemic to the Western Palearctic region in Europe and northwest Africa, though formerly also occurred just...
(Milvus milvus), migratory/resting (<100) - Honey BuzzardHoney BuzzardThe European Honey Buzzard , is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers....
(Pernis apivorus, breeding attested (1) - Grey-headed WoodpeckerGrey-headed WoodpeckerThe Grey-headed Woodpecker , also known as the Grey-faced Woodpecker, is a Eurasian member of the woodpecker family Piciformes....
(Picus canus), breeding attested (1) - Grey HeronGrey HeronThe Grey Heron , is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions...
(Ardea cinerea), breeding attested (42) - Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerLesser Spotted WoodpeckerThe Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is assigned to the genus Dendrocopos ....
(Dendrocopus minor), breeding attested (1) - NightingaleNightingaleThe Nightingale , also known as Rufous and Common Nightingale, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...
(Luscinia megarhynchos), breeding attested (<30) - Common RedstartCommon RedstartThe Common Redstart , or often simply Redstart, is a small passerine bird in the redstart genus Phoenicurus...
(Phoenicurus phoenicurus), breeding attested (2).
Source
This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article as of 2009-01-08.External links
- Recreation on Rettbergsaue, City of Wiesbaden official website.
- Rettbergsaue, Sightseeing in Biebrich website.
- Photo of Karthäuser Island (present Rettbergsaue), J.F. Dielmann, A. Fay, J. Becker (Zeichner): F.C. Vogels Panorama des Rheins, Bilder des rechten und linken Rheinufers (Panorama of the Rhine, images of the right and the left bank of the Rhine), Lithographische Anstalt F.C. Vogel, Frankfurt 1833
- Photo 2 of Karthäuser Island (present Rettbergsaue), ibid.* Hofgut Rettbergsaue
- Photos of the Domäne Rettbergsaue estate
- Webcam of the Rettbergsaue from Biebrich
- Photos of Rettbergsaue in Winter