About 15 million years ago, a meteor with a diameter of more than 1 kilometre hit southern Germany at a speed of 70 000km/h at an angle of 30° from the west. This created a crater about 24 km in diameter and 500 m deep. The impact released forces that exceeded 100,000 times the energy of the Hiroshima bomb. Temperatures of approximately 30.000 degrees arose where the stone evaporated and filled the crater again. It took 2000 years for the local rock temperature to cool from 600° to 100°. All life was destroyed within a radius of 100 km. Parts of the of the impact have been traced to what is now the Czech Republic.
Because the water could not drain away, an inland salt lake developed over time, whose salt content exceeded that of some seas. It was also the largest inland lake of the time.
The impact caused a tremor that is comparatively equivalent to a magnitude 8 earthquake.
And I, Walter, live here now.
This crater can be clearly seen on geological maps today. It separates the Swabian Alb and the Franconian Alb.
Welcome in Nördlingen. The town has 20k inhabitants. When you visit me, I will show you the following nice places.
When you come from the southwest, from HDH on the A7, we begin on the Offnet Caves. A place where possibly Neanderthals lived, and Roman settlements are still visible today.
At the foot of the caves are the foundation walls of a Roman settlement that may have been a manor. You can view the remains of the foundation walls.
The cave is fully walkable.
Ries origins of the name.
Ries vom römischen, die große Region “Raethia”. (Noch checken)
From here, the Ries continues south in the direction of HDH.
From the west side, from Bopfingen/Ipf, you can see over Pflaumloch into the Ries.
Pflaumloch.
From the east side Wemding, you can see the Ries up to the Ipf.
The Daniel is a late Gothic church 90 m high and was built between 1454 and 1490.
Visit the Daniel and enjoy a panoramic view around the whole Ries from the observation platform.
Ries in the Ries Crater Museum.
Medieval closed and accessible town wall, including defence and fortifications, many of which are still preserved.
Weissbier (Beer Blonde) / beer: own breweries (former and the last present one)
Rieser specialities: Weisswurst (Bavarian). Nördlinger Messwürste / Stabnwürste. (folk festival for smaller children). Potato salad, various dumplings, spaetzle.
The Weisswurst is made from Kalbsbred and is emulsified with ice cubes. The Messwurst is made from pork. Weisswurst are eaten with hot mustard and in a bread roll and with potato salad.
The Messwurst are only available at the local festivals.
Franconia / Bavaria / Swabia
RegBz Bavarian Swabia. I am a “Riaser“
Gastronomy: Kleibl (Bavarian cuisine)
Bavarian Railway Museum
Town Wall Festival. Every three years in September. Medieval festival. Next festival is Sept. 2022
Gerd Müller, place of birth and home.
The Limes / Limesmuseum in Aalen
Monastary in Neresheim.
