Heavy metal fans get low-down on Germany's lowest point of elevation

By Kathrin Dorscheid Sep 20, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Neuendorf, Germany - Once a year in August a lay-by off the L135 highway in this quiet corner of northern Germany is invaded by men with long hair, black T-shirts and beery breath.

They scribble brief messages in a book for guests before bidding farewell to the tiny community of Neuendorf-Sachsenbande, 70 kilometres north of Hamburg. They leave behind various messages such as: 'Wacken is tops and here is the bottom' or 'Bottoms up to Germany's lowest-lying place.'

At 3.54 metres below sea-level the rather nondescript stopover point in the marshy landscape is officially the lowest point of elevation in Germany. A wooden post denotes actual sea level. In elaborate writing on another dark brown wooden sign nearby are the words: 'The lowest point of elevation in the Federal Republic of Germany.'

The backdrop to what amounts to the opposite of the mountainous Zugspitze, Germany's most lofty place, is one of cows grazing nonchalantly on lush meadows. Sheep doze in the grass while maize as tall as a man ripples in the breeze. Swallows fly past and in the distance the blades of wind turbines revolve languorously.

A fen called Freepsumer Meer in East Fresia north-west of Husum used to bear the title of the lowest place in Germany but this dried-out lake is only 2.30 metres below sea level and since 1988 Neuendorf-Sachsenbande has officially prevailed.

The landscape hereabouts is unspectacular but it does exude an atmosphere of tranquility. The view stretches for miles across the flatlands, whose soothing monotony is only interrupted by the odd thatched farmhouse and remote little villages of red-brick houses.

Only once a year is the silence here shattered by an invasion of heavy metal fans. They flock to the legendary music festival held in some muddy fields just outside the otherwise ordinary village of Wacken.

Stars like Ozzy Osbourne or Motorhead perform here live and this year around 75,000 people turned up to watch and listen. Many of them take a trip to the low-lying patch of land just ten kilometres away in Neuendorf-Sachsenbande and quite a few of them share their thoughts with others by entering their comments in the guestbook.

Frank Pruess benefits from the long-haired heavy metal pilgrims. Together with his wife Inga he runs the country hotel 'Zum Dueckerstieg' which is also known as Germany's lowest-lying hostelry. The family-run business is located just two kilometres from the lay-by. The entire road crew of the festival recently stayed in his hotel for a three-week stretch and they have already booked rooms for next year, said Pruess.

Hardly anyone comes to these parts just to see the lowest point in Germany. 'Naturally it doesn't have the same pull as the Zugspitze even though it is the counterpart to it,' admits Pruess. 'It is idyllic and beautiful here but there is not a lot to see - just a column and some signs showing various flood peaks.'

The Wilster marshes are so low-down because the peaty soil sank when drained. Natural banks act as separators to prevent floating matter from being deposited when the land floods. The area offers a modest range of attractions for holidaymakers who like to get away from it all.