Sunshine at the Start of the 14th Geopark Festival at Katzenstein Castle
The weather could hardly have been more contrasting: While exhibitors were setting up their booths on Sunday morning amid cool temperatures and rain, the sun came out just in time for the opening of the 14th Geopark Festival of the UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb. At 11 a.m., Managing Director Iris Bohnacker opened the event at Katzenstein Castle.
“The Geopark Festival showcases what the UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb stands for: the preservation of our geological heritage, education, and the people who bring this unique landscape to life. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the partners, volunteers, and exhibitors who did not let the morning rain discourage them and who, with great dedication, made this day possible,” said Iris Bohnacker.
Under the theme “Rocks Tell Stories,” the 14th Geopark Festival impressively linked Earth’s history with the Middle Ages. The oldest surviving Staufer castle in southern Germany provided the perfect setting: Geopark information centers and Geopark partners invited visitors to discover the region’s geological and cultural-historical features through hands-on activities, experiments, guided tours, and information booths. Whether it was identifying fossils, learning about rocks, or discovering interesting facts about karst and water—visitors of all ages could get hands-on at the numerous stations. Despite the changeable weather, families, geology enthusiasts, and day-trippers took advantage of the dry spells to explore the diverse offerings, chat with exhibitors, and take part in a guided tour of the castle.
Greetings with a Regional Focus
At the start of his speech, Dischingen’s mayor, Dirk Schabel, took the guests on a lighthearted journey through the history of the Härtsfeld. He began by quoting from a 1872 district description that mentions the region’s harsh climate, and then recalled a saying that was once widely used: “Whoever does not honor their mother and father is sent to the Härtsfeld.” With a smile, he added: “I hope, of course, that you’ve all come here of your own free will today and that no one had to follow that saying.” Schabel then turned his attention to the region’s geological features. He noted that the Härtsfeld is closely linked to the karst landscape and the flow of water. Just a few kilometers south of the castle lies the Egau Water Treatment Plant in Dischingen, home to the Buchbrunnen spring, which supplies drinking water to around 400,000 people in Baden-Württemberg every day. At the Egau Water Treatment Plant near Dischingen, spring water from the Buchbrunnen spring is treated into high-quality drinking water—a fact the guests were able to see for themselves at the booth.
In his speech, District Administrator Peter Polta drew a connection between the 2024 Baden-Württemberg Homecoming Days in the Heidenheim District and the Geopark Festival. Just as the Homecoming Days offer an opportunity to raise the profile of a region, so too does the Geopark Festival. It allows both locals and visitors alike to experience the scenic, geological, and cultural highlights of the Heidenheim district and the UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb. Polta described Katzenstein Castle as the “heart of the Härtsfeld” and as a “cultural and historical beacon that shines even beyond the district’s borders.”
In his welcoming remarks, Ulrich Ruckh, chairman of the UNESCO Global Geopark Swabian Alb, acknowledged that the geopark faces many challenges. “But let’s put that aside for today—we’re here to celebrate.” Instead, he focused on what unites us and tied his remarks to the festival’s theme: “This is exactly what we find here: rocks and cultural history. These are just some of the many themes that define the UNESCO Global Geopark.” He expressed his gratitude to Mayor Dirk Schabel, the host family, the Walters, and the numerous partners and volunteers whose dedication makes the Geopark Festival possible year after year. He wished the visitors a “wonderful, enlightening day” and many new experiences from the Geopark.
Since 2011, the Geopark Festival has been held annually at various Geopark information centers, bringing the geological history of the Swabian Alb to life in a vivid and entertaining way.
Special thanks went to the Walter family, the hosts, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary at Katzenstein Castle this year. With great dedication, they have transformed the oldest surviving Staufer castle in southern Germany into a popular tourist destination and an important Geopark information center over the past two decades. As a result, Katzenstein Castle provided a setting that was as steeped in history as it was atmospheric for the 14th Geopark Festival of the UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb.
