Gering: Slate Mining, Local History and Hiking
Accommodation in Small
Gering combines a long local history with traces of slate mining and two hiking trails that differ in length and character. There is also a public playground and regional cultural attractions in the wider Mayen-Koblenz destination. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose how to balance local history, outdoor activities and other cultural attractions.
Local History and Slate Mining
Gering was first mentioned in 1257 under the name Girreke. Later historical forms of the name include Girniche, Gyrneke and Jerrich. In the Old Empire, Gering belonged to the Electorate of Trier and, within it, to the district of Münster. An old St. Nicholas Chapel in Gering is mentioned in records from the 12th century. These early traces sit alongside a more recent industry that shaped everyday life in the village for many years: slate mining. The slate hammer on the municipal coat of arms refers to this long mining history. Together, the forms of the village’s name, the chapel reference and the coat-of-arms symbol tell different sides of Gering’s history.
Hiking: Two Distances, Two Trail Profiles
The Gering–Elzbach–Kollig–Gering hiking route is 13.8 kilometres long and rated moderate. The Ölmühle Circular Trail is an 8.5-kilometre loop, also rated moderate, along field, forest and meadow paths. It passes the Geringer Mühle, Kolliger Mühle and Ölmühle mills. The shorter hike combines a circular route with three named mills; the longer one differs mainly in its greater distance. Both routes have the same difficulty rating. Distance and route type therefore offer a practical basis for comparison, without either hike being rated as easier. Before setting out, check the route, conditions and availability.
Playground on GartenstraĂźe
Gering’s public children’s playground is on Gartenstraße. It includes a grass sports field measuring 20.00 by 12.50 metres, with two goals. The specified playing area offers a concrete point of reference for a break with ball games. Before visiting, check locally that the playground is open and find out about the condition of the field.
When looking for accommodation in Gering, you can decide in advance what matters most: local history and slate heritage, or hikes of 8.5 or 13.8 kilometres.
Cultural Contrasts in the Mayen-Koblenz Destination
The wider Mayen-Koblenz destination offers other distinct cultural attractions. In Mayen, Genovevaburg Castle was built in 1280 by Heinrich von Finstingen, Archbishop of Trier; it is one of the city’s landmarks. In Mendig, the Lava-Dome is the German Volcano Museum. Also in the wider Mayen-Koblenz destination, the Geysir Museum explains how the world’s highest cold-water geyser works across five exhibition areas. Medieval architectural history in Mayen and volcanism at the museum in Mendig offer contrasting highlights within the destination.
Sayner HĂĽtte is another defining industrial heritage site in Mayen-Koblenz. It is an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage and the only monument in Rhineland-Palatinate to receive this distinction. Following restoration, modern exhibitions and multimedia displays invite visitors to explore; the site also offers guided tours and creative workshops.
Schlosspark Sayn offers another perspective: from 1840 to 1850, it was laid out as an English landscape garden by architect Carl Friedrich Thelemann on behalf of Prince Ludwig Adolf Friedrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn. The park features a castle pond with a water fountain, winding paths, numerous benches and quiet, tucked-away spots. Regional examples like these complement Gering’s own local history with other historical and landscape themes.
Discover more destinations: Nitztal, Bendorf, Ettringen, Mendig, MĂĽnstermaifeld, Gappenach, Weitersburg, Kell.
Back to the wider travel overview: Mayen-Koblenz.
