On the old volcanic mountain Bramburg there is a large basalt quarry. In the middle of the forest stands the Friwohler church ruins, the stony remains of a medieval village. An impressive castle complex can then be seen in Adelebsen.
From Adelebsen station you hike up to the basalt quarry at Bramburg, passing the quarry there. You cross the Lödingsen forest and go down into the Schwül valley near Hettensen. In the middle of the forest, you reach the Friwohler church ruins, the deserted remains of a medieval village with 15 homesteads. This place has a very special atmosphere, which should be enjoyed calmly during a rest. A path on the northwest edge of Bramburg leads you to Adelebsen Castle. From there you return to the starting point. Tips: Adelebsen: The place mentioned in documents as early as around 990 is dominated by a castle complex built on a long stretched sandstone rock. Adelebsen lay on a "King's Way" back then: the rulers did not govern their land from one location but moved from one royal seat, a "Pfalz," to the next. This was also the case from the Pfalz Grona in Göttingen to the Weser. They used paths secured by settlements and castles, such as the one over Adelebsen. The castle was built in the 13th century. Its main tower – five-sided at the bottom, hexagonal on top – is about 39 meters tall and one of the mightiest castle towers in the Göttingen region. The town and castle of Adelebsen were destroyed in the Thirty Years' War. The reconstruction and later expansions during the Renaissance and Baroque periods transformed the castle into a palace-like noble residence that is still inhabited today. Friwohler church ruins: Where today only the tower remains of an old fortified church stand in the forest, once 100 to 150 people lived in a small village on poor soil. Probably founded in the 12th century, it had to be abandoned around 1360. Climatic changes with wet and cold summers led to famines, and the raging plague wiped out large parts of the population. Those who survived hunger and diseases moved to more favorable locations or to cities. There are only a few places in our region where one can imaginatively envision the former settlement like here. Stone Workers Museum: The museum in Adelebsen shows details of the daily work and the hard life of basalt workers and their families. The museum is open from April to October on Sundays from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, otherwise also by appointment for groups.
