Gees: Mineral Spring, Village History and Traditions

Gees offers several very different points of interest for a stay: the iron-rich Geeser Drees, St. Nicholas Church with its architectural history, the Scheiwe Sonndesch tradition and the protected trilobite field. Each offers a different perspective on the village—from mineral springs and village history to traditions and fossil finds. For planning your trip, it helps to ask a specific question: Would you most like to experience the spring and geology, historic architectural styles or an event in the annual calendar?

Mineral Spring and Directions

The Geeser Drees is an iron-rich artesian mineral spring enclosed in sandstone. Visitors can taste its water, and the spring is freely accessible year-round. For anyone interested in mineral springs, the combination of water to taste and a sandstone enclosure makes the spring a particular highlight in Gees.

From Gerolstein, follow the B410 towards Pelm, then take the K33 to Gees. For parking, look for the fire station and the “Zum Drees” sign; a footpath leads from there to the spring. Check local conditions before your visit, especially road and parking conditions.

Church and Tradition

St. Nicholas Church is the historic center of Gees. Its history is documented from 1580; the former eastern tower was preserved, and a new building was added to it in 1904. This architectural history makes the village’s past tangible through a specific building: the preserved tower and the later addition provide two distinct historical points of reference.

You can encounter another aspect of the village’s history in the Scheiwe Sonndesch tradition, Gees’s winter send-off. On the first weekend after Carnival, after dark, a burning wheel wrapped in straw is rolled down the Baarlay. Since the date follows the Carnival calendar, the exact date varies each year.

Fossils with a Global Reach

The Gees trilobite field is a protected natural area associated with systematic fossil excavations. Exceptionally well-preserved specimens from the site have made their way to museums and collections around the world. The area thus adds a geological perspective to the village’s architectural history and traditions: the story of the finds extends from the excavations to collections around the globe.

The two geological points of interest appeal to different interests: at the Drees, you can taste the water; at the trilobite field, the focus is on the history of the finds and their distribution among museums and collections. The perspective thus shifts from an immediate spring experience to a fossil story with an international reach.

Plan Your Stay Around the Calendar

The time of year you travel can also help you choose accommodation in Gees. The Drees is freely accessible year-round, while Scheiwe Sonndesch takes place on the first weekend after Carnival. You can plan a visit to the spring independently of this tradition’s date.

Discover More Destinations

Kopp, Rockeskyll, Pelm, Berlingen, Salm, Müllenborn, Kalenborn-Scheuern, Duppach

For the overarching travel guide: Gerolstein.