Ettringen: Volcanic Landscape and Basalt History

Ettringen combines a striking volcanic landscape with traces of basalt quarrying. At Bellerberg, geological features and far-reaching views open out across the East Eifel; at Ettringer Lay, cranes, tracks and building remains tell the story of the industrial extraction of the rock. There are also climbing destinations and stops along the Volcano Trail. A trip to Ettringen therefore brings nature, industrial history and outdoor activity together.

Volcanic Landscape at Bellerberg

A climb from Ettringen leads to the western flank of the Bellerberg volcano. From there, the view stretches across the volcanoes of the East Eifel towards the Rhine and Moselle valleys. Bellerberg contains a crater around 200,000 years old—a striking geological feature of the landscape. For visitors interested in volcanism, the site offers both a tangible impression of the landscape and a view of the wider surroundings.

The formation of the landscape is also linked to the town: the lava flows from Ettringer Bellerberg ran towards Ettringen and Mayen. The Hochsimmerturm, in turn, is Ettringen’s landmark. Together, these places and features give the destination a distinct volcanic character, without making the view the sole focus.

Basalt History at Ettringer Lay

At Ettringer Lay, the history of basalt quarrying can be read in the surviving evidence: this includes quarry cranes and their foundations, building remains, and old tracks from the basalt industry of the 19th and 20th centuries. The site thus preserves various traces of work in the quarry. Those interested in industrial history will find tangible structural and technical remains here, rather than just an abstract description of quarrying in the past.

The volcanic rock also shapes Ettringen’s townscape. Landscape and industrial history are therefore closely tied to the character of the town: the rock is not only a geological backdrop, but also the material quarried during industrialisation, leaving traces of its extraction at Ettringer Lay.

Climbing and the Volcano Trail

Ettringen’s climbing area lies in basalt quarries between Mayen, Ettringen and Kottenheim, at the foot of Hochsimmer. The grippy volcanic rock offers crack, corner and edge climbing. The Große Wand at Ettringer Lay is another destination for sport climbers. For trip planning, the distinction is clear: Bellerberg offers volcanic scenery and views, while Ettringer Lay combines basalt history with climbing.

The Volcano Trail passes through the Kottenheimer Winfeld rock labyrinth and continues to the Junker Schilling rock monument. Its stops have explanatory information panels and can be explored independently. The trail can also be experienced through its individual themes: striking rock formations, the route through the labyrinth and the rock monument each offer a different focus, while the panels explain the stops.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Trip

When looking for accommodation for a trip, start by asking which of Ettringen’s attractions you want to shape your stay: the climb at Bellerberg, the traces of basalt quarrying at Ettringer Lay, or the climbing destinations and Volcano Trail. If these experiences are your priority, Ettringen is a suitable search term for accommodation. If you also want to include cultural attractions in the wider Mayen-Koblenz destination, you can consider them as a separate part of choosing where to stay.

Culture in the Wider Mayen-Koblenz Destination

The wider Mayen-Koblenz destination also has notable historical attractions. Genovevaburg was built in 1280 by Heinrich von Finstingen, Archbishop of Trier. Sayner Hütte is an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage and the only monument in Rhineland-Palatinate to receive this distinction. In Mendig, Lava-Dome is the German Volcano Museum. These examples add distinct cultural and volcanological attractions in the wider destination to the picture of Ettringen.

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Back to the overview of the wider destination: Mayen-Koblenz.