The Heksenberg is the highest point of the Brunssummerheide, on the side of Heerlen and Brunssum. This nature reserve is managed by Natuurmonumenten.
Although the name of this mountain is reminiscent of old women with black cats who made magical mixtures with plants and herbs from nature, the history of this mountain is a bit different.
The Heksenberg and the Landgraaf
With a height of about 145 meters above NAP, the Heksenberg clearly stands out against its surroundings, which are a good 40 meters below. The top is therefore slightly lower than that of the slag heap of the Oranje-Nassau IV (about 152 meters above NAP).
The bottom of the Brunssummerheide at this location consists of meager cover sands and silver sands. An important reason why this area has never been cultivated for agriculture.
The Landgraaf is located on the east side of the Heksenberg. This construction of ramparts and ditches was built in the 15th century as a border fortification of the Land of Valkenburg. In the 15th century, this area was part of the Duchy of Brabant.
On the other side of the border was the County of Heinsberg, which became part of the Duchy of Jülich at the end of the 15th century. At that time, Jülich and Brabant were formidable competitors and always looking for area expansion.
At that time, the Brunssummerheide and Teverenerheide formed a wild and inhospitable forest and heathland, where the wolf must have been present.
Thanks to archaeological research, we know that in its functional years the Landgraaf consisted of a pointed moat, with an average depth of 2.2 meters and a width of 6.4 metres.
With the displaced soil, embankments have been built on both sides of the ditch, so that the total width is about 20 to 22 meters. Impenetrable hedges of thorn-bearing shrubs have been planted and interwoven on top of the ramparts.
The function of the Landgraaf
The Landgraaf had several functions. On the one hand, it formed an obstacle for enemy army troops and robbery gangs, who were forced to use the guarded transit locations on their route. The Heksenberg is located next to the main road from Maastricht over Ten Esschen to Geilenkirchen and mainly served as a vantage point in times of danger. Moreover, there was a gallows on top of the mountain, to make it clear that you could not go about your business with impunity in the Land of Valkenburg.
The Landgraaf protected people, livestock and crops against wild boars and wolves. But above all, it was a clear and practical separation between private property and communal forest and heathland, on which residents of the surrounding villages could graze their cattle. In addition, they were allowed to cut sod, fell trees and collect litter. A comparable situation existed on the Graetheide between Stein and Geleen and the Meinweg near Vlodrop.
Legend of the Hessenberg
According to a well-known folk tale, the Germanic people moved up the Hesse towards Heerlen about 2000 years ago. The Romans who were stationed here went to meet the Hessen over the Schrieversheide towards the Brunssummerheide. Here the Romans were massacred.
After the battle, their corpses were burned. The ashes were collected, placed in urns and then placed in a burial mound. This would have been the Hessenberg. Popularly, this name was changed to Heksenberg, referring to the notorious women who celebrated the Witches' Sabbath
.
Did you know?
De Roode Beek owes its name to the battle against the Romans? The blood of the many dead and wounded of the battle would have flowed into the stream and have colored the water permanently red. Fortunately, we now know better. The water is rust-colored because the soil and in particular the groundwater contains a lot of iron locally. This is harmless by the way.
