Discover Kruft

Kruft offers a range of starting points for your trip: a landscape with its own protected status, a long history of tuff stone quarrying, and chapels with clearly dated histories. There is also the Marienbrunnen in front of the historic town hall. When planning your stay, you can first decide whether you would like to get to know Kruft through its landscape, its history as a source of building materials, or its places of remembrance.

Korretsberg and landscape conservation

Korretsberg is preserved as a nature reserve for its distinctive, beautiful character, which shapes the landscape. Scientific reasons and its geological features are also among the reasons for its protection. Thus, alongside the history of building and raw materials, the landscape itself is a focus. Korretsberg offers a specific point of reference if you would like to explore Kruft beyond its buildings and local history.

Tuff stone and trass: Kruft’s history of building materials

The Romans operated underground quarries in the municipality of Kruft to extract tuff stone. The stone was transported as far as Italy, where it was used for public buildings. Its history therefore extends beyond the place where it was extracted: the route taken by the tuff stone and its use are also part of Kruft’s historical background. Trass extracted in Kruft was also used in construction. The two materials offer different ways to explore local history; in the case of tuff stone, its transportation as far as Italy is explicitly part of that story.

Visible landmarks also add to this picture of Kruft. The Marienbrunnen stands in front of the historic town hall. The original chapel of St. Dionysius Church in Kruft dates back to 1722. This date gives the chapel a clear historical point of reference, while the fountain offers another reason to explore the town’s history.

Chapels and the circular route around the Korret

Another story links the Johanneskapelle on the Korret to a specific person and personal occasion. Dr. Jean Schmitz had it built in 1936 in gratitude for returning home safely from the First World War. The circular route around the Korret passes St. Dionysius Church and the Johanneskapelle. Two very different historical points of reference thus meet along the route: the original chapel of St. Dionysius, dating from 1722, and the later-built Johanneskapelle, with its explicitly stated reason for construction. Check local conditions before setting out.

More cultural attractions in the wider Mayen-Koblenz destination

Beyond Kruft, the wider Mayen-Koblenz destination offers further, distinct attractions. Genovevaburg Castle in Mayen was built in 1280 by Heinrich von Finstingen, Archbishop of Trier. The Sayner Hütte offers a different way to explore history: following restoration, this industrial monument invites visitors to discover modern exhibitions and multimedia presentations; guided tours and creative workshops are also available. In Mendig, the Lava-Dome is the German Volcano Museum.

Families will also find a specific point of interest in this wider destination: at the Neues Museum Schloss Sayn, visitors can try on historical costumes in the children’s area. Those wishing to explore Mayen-Koblenz actively can consider the Vulkanpark cycle route. The 33-kilometre route runs from Mayen via Mendig, Kretz and Plaidt to Andernach. The castle, industrial monument, volcano museum and cycle route offer different attractions; they belong to the wider Mayen-Koblenz destination, not to the description of Kruft itself.

Choose a focus for your accommodation search

This lets you decide whether Kruft itself or a broader look at Mayen-Koblenz should frame your trip.

Discover more destinations: Kerben, Ditscheid, Kottenheim, Dieblich, Urmitz, Siebenbach, Langscheid, Kaltenengers.

Back to the wider travel overview: Mayen-Koblenz.