Fuhse valley: druids, marsh and an invisible water castle
A hike in the snow is on our wish list. However the weather god has other plans for us and sends us into the „Barumer Moor“. The marshland is located in the middle of the beautiful Fuhsetal. It is limited by the Fuhs, the Eixer border ditch and the marshland ditch and has a size of around 120 acre. In the past the area belonged to a community of interest. Since the seventies the marshland is a protected area which dams and ditches belongs to the city of Peine. Underway we realized quickly that the weather god does us a favor. Next to a druid’s grove and the water tower on the Herzberg we come across an invisible moated castle. We finalize our tour at the Eixer See that rests quietly after the storm of the past days.
The druid’s grove
We start our tour at Stederdorf. We enter some kind of a city forest and reach the street „Am Herzberg“ where a druid’s grove is located. It is not clear to us what it is all about. We cannot image that Miraculix was here. Actually the grove consisting of seven oaks bearing druidistic symbols is supposed tob e a place of calmness and consciousness.
There is more to the Herzberg. We come across a brick-built rest area not far from the water tower. It was buit in 1908. Two columns decorate the entrance which is unfortunately closed. The well which is integrated into the tower’s wall is eye-catching.
At the Barumer Moor
Close to the water tower we reach the highlight of the hiking tour: the Barumer Moor. The more we enter the swampy area the more we like the sourroundings. I can image that the druid’s grove would have been a better fit in this mystical surrounding with its mossy trees and water lilies, The Barumer Moor i spart of the protected area Fuhsetal. Kingfishers are supposed to be domestic here. However we did not see one.
In the past the marshland belonged to a kind of self-supporter society. The railway line Plockhorst-Peine used to be part of the swamp. It was inaugurated in the year 1922. The passenger traffic was stopped in 1958. The section between Peine and Stederdorf was still in use for freight service; it was stopped in the year 2003. The old railroad bridge is a contemporary witness oft he former railway-line.
An invisible moated castle
We continue towards Vöhrum. Seeing the street sign of „An der Wasserburg“ I looked at Burkhard wondering if there is one. Well have to wait and see. We turn right into the street. We walk on a dam. On the left side we see a residential area. On the right side a sign catches our eyes. It is about the moated castle of Vöhrum. We read: „An invisible medieval-aged castle at the Fuhsetal.“ An invisible castle? What is that supposed to be? Isolated findings may lead some archeologists to the assumption that a one a castle was here. Maybe.
Sun and moon at the Eixer See
The final highlight is the Eixer See. It is a quarry pond. The lake lies qualm and quiet in front of us. Just a couple of ducks make some waves on the smooth surface. There is not much going on on this rather cold winter’s day. The hike takes us around the lake. At an idyllic spot the sunset starts. That makes a nice picturel.
Just a couple of footsteps later we see the rise of the moon. It is a full moon. It hardly stands out against the blue sky. Internalising this beautiful motif we finish our hike.
