Greetings from Arenkur

The History of Arenkur

The Arenkur, near the Russian border, is the second highest mountain of the Rigmalin mountain range. It was first ascended by Hermstein / Lutschenko in 1863.

Many prehistoric cult sites have been discovered on the mountain. The oldest finds date back to the Neolithic period. The Barventum Monastery was built near one of these pre-Christian cult places and was a center of faith and knowledge for many centuries until it was destroyed in the 18th century.

The Arenkur features rich deposits of rock crystals and minerals on its northern side. Due to its cultural and historical significance, mining is strictly regulated and only permitted under supervision. The crystals of the Arenkur are highly sought after by collectors.

At the foot of the mountain, the headquarters of the Mountain Defense Force has been established on the grounds of the former Barventum Monastery. The training center is designated as a restricted military area.

The mountain’s rich history has given rise to many myths and legends. A collection of these tales was published in 1971 in the book “The Magical Mountain” by Ames Publishing.

Man of Crystal

The “Man of Crystal” is the creation of two artists, Sebastian Gellert and Adrian Corbon. The sculpture is composed of 482 highly polished metal plates. Crystals embedded in the head and chest reflect the light of the sun.

Depending on the season, the artwork changes its appearance. In winter, the Crystal Man is often completely covered in snow. With the warming rays of the spring sun, the figure is awakened into the new year.

The Crystal Man was installed on the Arenkur in 1996. It is considered the perfect symbol for the “Sun Mountain” Arenkur.

The Visions of a Monk

The foundation of the Barventum Monastery was an important step in the Christianization of the region. The dramatic events surrounding the monastery, until its destruction in the 18th century, have left a variety of historical traces. Today the Barventum Monastery is best known for the writings of one of its monks.

Damian of Seda was a scribe at the monastery in the 12th century. Deeply moved by a nocturnal vision of a golden sphere, he wrote his masterpiece “De natura sphaerae aureae”. In this work, he describes the painful, war-torn future of humanity in a series of apocalyptic visions. In one of his visions, he describes the fall and destruction of the monastery itself. Artists of the following centuries have often used these haunting visions in their work.