The Jungfernsprung, is a precipitous rock formation in the small German town of Dahn in the county of Südwestpfalz. The rocks tower above the town by around 70 metres and are crowned by a type of summit cross at a height of. The rocks is the symbol of the town and the subject of an ancientlegend from which it derives its name: Jungfernsprung means "maiden's leap".
Location and structure
The Jungfernsprung lies in the eastern part of the borough. Its west and north faces rise, steep and ruggedly, from the slopes on the left-hand side of the Wieslautervalley, whilst the residential area of Dahn spreads out southwest of the rocks on both sides of its base. The rocks belong to the many bunter sandstone formations, typical of the Wasgau region, the southern part of the Palatine Forest in Germany and the northern part of the Vosges in France. Because the area around Dahn is especially rich in such rock features it is also called the Dahner Felsenland. The Jungfernsprung – like other rock formations in the region – is a harder rock that has withstood erosion better than the surrounding softer material.
Legend of the Jungfernsprung
The legend, whose most common version comes from local author, August Becker, goes like this: More about the fate of the maiden and villain is not recorded, however this story was sufficient for the time to explain the steepness of the rock and the existence of the spring. Artists have occasionally been inspired to portray the dramatic "maiden's leap". In doing so they clearly always used the idea of someone parachuting as a model, the outspread skirts of the maiden enabling a visual interpretation of the miracle and at the same time representing an attractive artistic subject.
Hiking destination and climbing rocks
The Jungfernsprung is accessible to hikers from the rear; the access footpath being part of the premier hiking trail, the Felsenland Legend Trail. In summer the rocks are part of the South Palatinate Climbing Area and thus a popular destination for sport climbers. The spectacular Franz Seiler Memorial Route rates as climbing grade VII+. it runs up the vertical face of the rock and is visible from the town.
