Zähbasaltweg (Tough basalt trail)

Medium
7,1 km
2:00 h
208 m
208 m
589 m
447 m

Regional hiking trail

Best Season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Startpoint

Community centre Hohenfels-Essingen, corner Schulstraße/ Auf Erd, 54570 Hohenfels-Essingen

Destinationpoint

Community centre Hohenfels-Essingen, corner Schulstraße/ Auf Erd, 54570 Hohenfels-Essingen

Parking lot & start at the town hall in Hohenfels-Essingen, length: 7. 1 km, duration: 2 hours 25 minutes

Experience the almost 7 km long route around the Mühlenberg. The millstone caves are a highlight of the tour.

The 583 m high Mühlenberg and the caves are found by large and small cave explorers near the village of Hohenfels near Gerolstein. It is a basalt mountain. In the quarries around the Mühlenberg, tough Eifel basalt has been and is broken for centuries and is sent out into the near and far world as millstone, paving stone or ornamental stone. Whether as a millstone to India, as a paving stone on the streets or as a monument in El Alamein, the quality of the viscous basalt from Mühlenberg near Hohenfels-Essingen is legendary. Workers beat the millstones upside down from the rock and finally released them from the ceiling without explosives using a special technique. After the closure of the quarries, the millstone caves with the sonorous names "Schwedenfeste", "Borussiahöhle" and "St. -Martin Cave" at your own risk. For families with children, the area with its playground and the many tables and benches offers space to laze, play and picnic .

The circular path over the height of Gonnenstall also offers magnificent views over the Eifel landscape. Also striking are the many reclining benches, which invite you to linger again and again.

The starting point of the circular hike is the town hall in Hohenfels-Essingen. We follow the markings and the signs to the grotto, where the path leads us further and further uphill, past old crosses and finally to the grill hut. From here, explore the caves and turn left after the Grotto of Mary, following a small path downhill. Along the way you can still find old millstones lying in the forest. Arriving on the broad forest path, we continue to the right, past the quarry Schlick. until we finally leave the forest. Now turn right uphill to the Gonnenstal. From the height we have wonderful views of the beautiful landscape of the Eifel . Here we keep to the left and after some time turn left onto a dirt road, which turns right before the small forest and then turns left. We follow the serpetines downhill and leave the forest. We keep to the left, go past the cemetery and ponds and follow the tar path
then down into the valley. This road leads us to the town hall.

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Map

Zähbasaltweg (Tough basalt trail)

Zähbasaltweg
Schulstraße 31, 54570 Hohenfels-Essingen
icon-info Details

At the community centre, keep right and follow Schulstraße uphill. Then follow the signs to the grotto on the left. The path continues uphill past old crosses until you finally arrive at the barbecue hut. From here, explore the caves and turn left after the Mariengrotte, following a small path downhill. On the way, you will find old millstones lying in the forest. Once you reach the wide forest path, continue to the right, past the Schlick quarry, until you finally leave the forest. Now turn right uphill to the Gonnenstal. From the top, we have wonderful views of the beautiful Eifel landscape. Here we keep left and after a while turn left onto a dirt track, which turns right before the small wood and then turns left. We follow the serpetines downhill and leave the forest. We keep left, walk past the cemetery and ponds and then follow the tarmac road downhill into the valley. This road leads us to the village hall. Most of the way is well signposted as ‘Zähbasaltweg’.

Hiking in the Eifel is great fun if you are well prepared.
Wear appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes.
Take a rucksack with drinks, provisions and a mobile phone.
For your own safety, please always stay on the marked paths and do not leave them.

Sturdy shoes and appropriate clothing for the season.

 

Bring a flashlight and helmet when visiting the caves!

The caves serve as winter habitats for bats and are only open to the public from April to October.

Please use the navigation-friendly starting address in the Parking section to enter it into your navigation device.

 

Free parking is available at the community center in 54570 Hohenfels-Essingen, at the corner of Schulstraße/Auf Erd, and at the forest parking lot on Mühlenberg.

Bus lines 700, 777, and 515 run from Gerolstein Train Station/Bus Station to Hohenfels, Gerolsteiner Straße.

www.vrt-info.de

www.bahn.de

Karte: Wanderwegenetz im Gerolsteiner Land

Wanderkarte Nr. 19 vom Eifelverein, Vulkaneifel um Gerolstein

The hiking trail logo shows a red sword, a blue vessel and a green wheel. Below this is the lettering ‘Zähbasaltweg’.

Community centre Hohenfels-Essingen, corner Schulstraße/ Auf Erd, 54570 Hohenfels-Essingen

Community centre Hohenfels-Essingen, corner Schulstraße/ Auf Erd, 54570 Hohenfels-Essingen

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Author

Touristik GmbH Gerolsteiner Land

License
Touristik GmbH Gerolsteiner Land