Lautern: History of the Blue Dye Factory

For a stay in Lautern, the local history of the blue dye factory and the hiking trails in the wider Lautertal (Odenwald) destination offer different points of interest. The industrial history leads to a specific manufacturing process and a named factory founder; regional hiking descriptions provide guidance on circular routes, viewpoints, and notable trail sections.

The Blue Dye Factory and Industrial History in Lautern

The exceptionally soft spring water made Lautern an attractive factory location for founder August von Ploennies. Ultramarine was first produced at the blue dye factory in Lautern by firing a mixture of kaolin, sulfur, Glauber’s salt, and coal. Both the choice of location and a specific product, along with its named ingredients, are part of the area’s industrial history.

The blue dye factory (Ciba Geigy Marienberg) was one of the most important employers in what is now Lautertal between 1852 and 1996. This puts its significance in the wider Lautertal in context, while the production of ultramarine is explicitly linked to the blue dye factory in Lautern. This makes it possible to distinguish the local production history from the factory’s role in the region, without reducing them to the same geographical scope.

Lautern’s architectural heritage includes the transformer tower of the Blue Dye Factory. For historical reasons, it is a cultural monument under Section 2(1) of the Hessian Monument Protection Act. Its inclusion in the monument register of the State of Hesse is planned; the local monument inventory is still being compiled. The tower’s current designation and the planned next step for the register are therefore two different status statements.

Hiking in the Wider Lautertal (Odenwald)

The digital 12-village circular hiking trail in the wider Lautertal (Odenwald) destination is 41.32 kilometers long and passes through all twelve districts of the municipality. It is not marked as a dedicated trail in the landscape; instead, it follows existing, well-marked hiking trails, which can be found with digital assistance. This digital guidance is therefore important for navigation, and its details may change. Information about the route thus includes both a specific total length and the fact that it covers all the districts.

Other hiking descriptions in the wider Lautertal focus on different things. Krehberg, located between Seidenbuch and Schannenbach, has several viewpoints as well as numerous shorter and longer hiking trails. The “Red Stripe” hiking trail passes through Elmshausen by the Striethteich pond and climbs to the ridge between Felsberg and Amalienhöhe. The 12-village circular hiking trail description focuses on its length and route through the districts; the other trail descriptions name viewpoints or specific sections.

The information about the Felsenmeer circular trail L1 also describes a specific section: the steepest climb is between Kuralpe and the summit of Felsberg, where the Ohlyturm tower stands. The Felsenmeer Information Center offers guided tours about the geological formation of the Felsenmeer. The information about the climb and the guided tours offers two different ways to explore the Felsenmeer: the trail route and its geological formation.

Viewpoints and Other Regional Topics

The Kaiserturm stands on Neunkirchener Höhe, the highest point in the wider Lautertal. It commemorates Kaiser Wilhelm I and was built of stone in 1906/07; it had previously been preceded by a wooden tower. It is 34 meters high. From Seidenbacher Eck, views extend across the Odenwald from northeast to southwest. The information distinguishes the tower’s location and construction history from the described view at Seidenbacher Eck.

The Striethteich pond, between Elmshausen and the “Selterswasserhäuschen,” is home to numerous water birds, which have an island of their own. A water-powered model of the Deichertsmühle stands on the bank. The pond festival is held there every year on Father’s Day; if you would like to include it in your travel plans, check the specific date for the year in question in advance.

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