Ground sun-dial

Man himself as “pointer“. On the higher resort park plateau, above the mere, there are circular discs sunk into the ground, which form an elliptical curve.

On the north-south axis there is a small axis with an aluminium bar. The middle bar on the aluminium bar displays a calendar dial. Where the name of a month is written on the bar the first day of the respective month is referred to. How do you read the time? You stand straight with your back to the sun on the middle bar so that your feet are on the stone which denotes the current date. The direction of your own shadow, lengthened to the figure of eight now shows Central European Time. If the shadow indicates towards the “M” mark, then it is midday in Bernau im Schwarzwald, i.e. the sun is at its highest point. Where does the sun rise and set? In order to find this out using the ground sun-dial you have to know the times of sunrise and sunset (see daily newspapers / Internet). For example, on 28th July the sun rises at 05:00. Stand on the current date, as described above, and stretch out both arms horizontally from your sides. In this position you should twist so far that one arm points in the direction of the 05:00 marker. The other arm shows us the position on the horizon where the sun rose this morning. The silhouette of the Steppberg causes the sun to appear a little later in Bernau im Schwarzwald. At sunset you follow the same procedure once you know the sunset time.