Frisia Coast Trail.com
The 1,000 mile coastal hike for people with fear of heights
and interest in 2,500 years of living on the sharp edge of land and sea
stage 7: German Bight
River Jade (DE) to River Eider (DE)
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Length: 255 km (160 miles) in 14 sections
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Terrain: flat
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Regions: Saxony and Dithmarshen
From the River Jade to the River Eider, marking the beginning of North Frisia or Kreis Nordfriesland. This stage covers the German Bight, including the mythical rock island Heligoland (also Helgoland) where the Germanic goddess Fosete (also spelled Forseti) was worshiped by the Frisians. This Frisian god even found its way into Norway.
Trail Sections
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section 7.1: Wilhelmshaven/Eckwarderhörne – Burhave
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section 7.2: Burhave – Blexen/Bremerhaven
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section 7.3: Blexen/Bremerhaven – Wremen
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section 7.4: Wremen – Midlum
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section 7.5: Midlum – Berensch
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section 7.6: Berensch – Cuxhaven
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section 7.7: Cuxhaven – Neuhaus
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section 7.8: Neuhaus – Freiburg
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section 7.9: Freiburg – Glückstadt
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section 7.10: Glückstadt – Sankt Margarethen
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section 7.11: Sankt Margarethen – Burg
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section 7.12: Burg – Meldorf
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section 7.13: Meldorf – Büsum
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section 7.14: Büsum – Tönning
Description
During the Roman Period it was the territory of the Maiores Chauci ‘greater Chauci’, with the Minores Chauci ‘lesser Chauci’ living to the west, present-day region Ostfriesland (East Frisia). To the north, this region borders to Kreis Nordfriesland (North Frisia). After the fall of the Roman Empire and the Migration Period, the mouth of the River Elbe became territory of the Old Saxons.
This region, except the rock island Heligoland where a dialect of the North-Frisian language is spoken, historically has never been part of Frisia. As soon as you cross the river Jade, you leave Frisia only to enter it again when crossing the River Eider.
Although this stage has never been part of Frisia, the area between the rivers Weser and Elbe (Schleswig-Holstein) can compete for the title ‘cradle of the Frisians’. During the Migration Period, it were the Angles and Saxons migrating from this region, not only to what is now east and southern England, but they also settled in the almost deserted areas of Mid Frisia and the coastal parts of West Frisia. An energetic bunch, those Saxons must have been.
When crossing the River Elbe you enter what was named during the Early Middle Ages Nordalbingia. This land stretched all the way to the Danevirke in the north. As said, this was and is Saxon territory, meaning with Nordalbingia meaning ‘north of Elbe’. In Latin language the River Elbe is called Alba. Interestingly, in Scottish Gaelic Scotland is named Alba. Etymological Alba is derived from the Greek word albion and traced back to the meaning ‘white’. Maybe because of the white-haired people?
Kreis or region Dithmarschen, geographically part of Nordalbingia, is sometimes associated (in Old-Frisian law codices) with Frisia, but it is not. And, we do not want to insult anyone. Dithmarschen was an isolated area because it was ‘sealed-off’ from the mainland by extensive and impenetrable peat lands. Both the Ditmarsians (the Thiadmaresgaho) and the Frisians have a similar history of living on tidal marshlands, together with a similar history concerning the disappearance or absence of feudal structures during most of the Middle Ages. A lord-free, peasant republic as well, therefore. So, the Frisians are not unique when it comes to dwelling mounds and a very old republican history. Therefore, nor are the Ditmarsians. And, we must not forget the Saxons of Land Wursten who lived too on tidal marshes on dwelling mounds.
Recommended posts for this stage
Photo’s
For a first, visual impression of this stage, click here.
Trail Map