Ettringen: Volcanic Landscape, Basalt History and Climbing

Ettringen offers a trip through volcanic landscapes, traces of basalt quarrying and climbing crags. A climb from Ettringen leads to the western flank of Bellerberg. From there, the view stretches across the volcanoes of the Eastern Eifel towards the Rhine and Moselle valleys. Landscape and industrial history thus come together in one destination.

Volcanic landscape at Bellerberg

Ettringer Bellerberg contains a crater around 200,000 years old. The lava flows are also part of the local landscape history: they flowed towards Ettringen and Mayen. The view across the Eastern Eifel and the volcano’s history offer different perspectives on the climb—one focuses on the landscape, the other on how it was formed. The Hochsimmerturm is Ettringen’s landmark and adds a distinctive name to the area’s points of reference.

Volcanic rock also shapes the townscape; it was quarried during industrialisation. Cranes, crane foundations, building remains and old railway tracks from 19th- and 20th-century basalt quarrying have been preserved in Ettringer Lay. These relics provide a tangible complement to the view of the volcano: alongside the rock itself, structural traces of its extraction are part of the town’s history. In Ettringen, natural and industrial history come together, while each tells its own story.

Climbs, the Volcano Trail and climbing

The climb to Bellerberg and the Volcano Trail offer different ways to experience the volcanic landscape. The Volcano Trail passes through the Kottenheimer Winfeld rock maze and continues to the Junker Schilling rock monument. Its stops have explanatory panels and can be explored independently. Visitors who linger at the stops encounter the landscape in separate stages; the Bellerberg climb, by contrast, is defined by the view from its western flank.

The area around Ettringer Bellerberg is another focal point for climbers. The climbing area is in basalt quarries between Mayen, Ettringen and Kottenheim, at the foot of Hochsimmer. The grippy volcanic rock is suitable for crack, corner and arete climbing; the Große Wand at Ettringer Lay is a destination for sport climbers. These activities are all connected to the volcanic rock: the climb is about the landscape and views, while climbing is about the rock formations and the particular styles of climbing.

Cultural history in the wider Mayen-Koblenz destination

The wider Mayen-Koblenz destination is home to other distinctive examples of architectural and industrial history. 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. Following restoration, modern exhibitions and multimedia presentations invite visitors to explore the site; guided tours and creative workshops are also offered.

The wider destination thus brings together different historical themes: in Ettringen, the focus is on the volcanic landscape and basalt quarrying, while Genovevaburg and Sayner Hütte illustrate other architectural and industrial histories. When choosing a hotel in Ettringen, this distinction can help you decide which themes matter most to your trip.

Discover more destinations: Weitersburg, Weißenthurm, Gappenach, Ochtendung, Vallendar, Kerben, Lind, Gering

View the wider travel overview: Mayen-Koblenz.