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Natural Monuments

View of the Rhine Valley and the Praying Nun statue (Ziehlay)

Natural Monuments

View of the Rhine Valley and the Praying Nun statue (Ziehlay)

Highlight • Viewpoint

View of the Rhine Valley and the Praying Nun statue (Ziehlay)

Recommended by 631 hikers out of 638

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: UNESCO Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes Mittelrheintal

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Location: Boppard, Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

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Best Hikes to View of the Rhine Valley and the Praying Nun statue (Ziehlay)

4.6

(17)

hikers

1. Teufelslay Viewpoint loop from Boppard-Bad Salzig

12.4km

03:44

380m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

4.8

(284)

1,301

hikers

2. Edgar Reitz Viewpoint (Middle Rhine Valley Overlook) – Kalkofen Viewpoint with Resting Bench loop from Boppard-Bad Salzig

16.0km

04:58

580m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

4.8

(21)

113

hikers

3. Bad Salzig Spa Park loop from Boppard-Bad Salzig

10.1km

03:04

360m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Vanessa

February 15, 2019

From the ledge "praying nun" you have a fantastic view of the Rhine Valley. At the large wooden sculpture in the form of a praying nun, you realize that you are right. Find out more about the history of this place on a billboard.

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𝒯𝒶𝓃𝒿𝒶

September 5, 2021

Weiler's "Praying Nun".

Legend, loosely based on tradition:
In the 17th century pious nuns lived in their convent above Salzig. When the Swedish king Gustav II.Adolf intervened in favor of the Protestants in the 30-year war, cath. Churches and monasteries robbed of their treasures and destroyed. The clouds of smoke also blazed on the Middle Rhine and drove the people to flee. In the cloister in Weiler, too, the nuns packed up their sacred treasures in a hurry, but were unable to escape and were slaughtered by the swords of the mercenaries. Only the pious sister Angelıka managed to escape through a secret door. She ran for her young life, pursued by the vengeful captors. Suddenly she was standing in front of this abyss here on the "Ziehley" and stared in horror at the Rhine below. In desperation she begged: “Holy Mother of God, spare me martyrdom, turn me to stone quickly”. The assassins who were hot on her heels searched for the woman for hours in vain. Finally they came to terms with the death of the young nun and climbed down the steep cliff to the Rhine in search of the fallen woman. They found nothing. Desperate, the murderers looked up at the rock on high and were horrified. Above their heads they looked into the face of the praying nun, who looked down into the valley as a petrified sculpture with folded hands and seemed to be praying for mercy for the assassins. They attracted attention knees, crossed themselves and returned penitently to the bosom of the catholic church. The rock formation with the features of a woman lost in prayer reminded of this legend for three centuries. The ledge was particularly popular as a photo opportunity. Generations of young people tried out daring climbing acrobatics their courage. Shortly before the end of the Second World War, a bomb hit the rock. What the war could not completely destroy was then blown up by a berm, who was annoyed by the constant climbing on and above his property. The bizarre natural monument collapsed as a result of the tremors the depth and triggered a landslide.The chainsaw artist Sigurd Br atzel from 66981 Münchweiler created this sculpture in 2006 to preserve the legend of the "Praying Nun" for posterity. "De Hadde Kern" took care of the installation and maintenance.
Edith Staaden-Weber Mayor of Weiler - Weiler in September 2006
Source: Text information board

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Hunsbuckel 🇺🇦

March 26, 2019

Great vantage point over the steeply sloping rocks

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Wolfpunk

May 27, 2019

Beautiful view with interesting history.

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Ralf

June 13, 2017

Magnificent view of the Rhine Valley with a legend about the origin of the eponymous rock.

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𝒯𝒶𝓃𝒿𝒶

September 5, 2021

Ziehlay with "Praying Nun"
Viewpoint with a wooden figure (Sigurd Bratzel) erected there in 2006 as a "Praying Nun." Until the mid-20th century, a natural rock stood here, which, when viewed from the Rhine, gave the impression of a praying nun. The following legend surrounds this formation: During the Thirty Years' War, the nuns from the no longer existing Weiler monastery fled from the approaching Swedish troops of Gustav Adolf. They did not make it in time and were massacred; only Sister Angelika managed to escape through a secret door and escaped to Ziehlay. Here, she prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary to protect her from her pursuers and quickly turn her to stone. The Swedish soldiers who had followed her could not find her, believing she had fallen, and descended to the Rhine. There, they gazed in horror into the petrified face of Angelika with folded hands, made the sign of the cross, and repented of their actions. Until it was blown up by a bomb during World War II on January 29, 1945, by the 8th US Army Air Force, it served as a location for souvenir photos on many occasions. It was also a popular climbing rock. From here, one has a direct view of Kestert and the "Hindenburghöhe" lookout point on the opposite bank of the Rhine, which is also a resting point on the "Rheinsteig" hiking trail. Source: Text, information board

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Wolfpunk

May 27, 2019

Great view over the Rhine.

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Florian

August 8, 2019

The look speaks for itself.

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Florian

August 16, 2019

Here you can bear it for a rest.

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Sascha's Wanderblog

April 2, 2020

Nice place to relax a little.

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🇺🇦Uwe 🏃‍♂️1098🏍

July 19, 2020

Yes was a really nice look

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𝒯𝒶𝓃𝒿𝒶

September 5, 2021

Weiler's "Praying Nun".
Legend, loosely based on tradition:

In the 17th century pious nuns lived in their convent above Salzig. When the Swedish king Gustav II.Adolf intervened in favor of the Protestants in the 30-year war, cath. Churches and monasteries robbed of their treasures and destroyed. The clouds of smoke also blazed on the Middle Rhine and drove the people to flee. In the cloister in Weiler, too, the nuns packed up their sacred treasures in a hurry, but were unable to escape and were slaughtered by the swords of the mercenaries. Only the pious sister Angelıka managed to escape through a secret door. She ran for her young life, pursued by the vengeful captors. Suddenly she was standing in front of this abyss here on the "Ziehley" and stared in horror at the Rhine below. In desperation she begged: “Holy Mother of God, spare me martyrdom, turn me to stone quickly”. The assassins who were hot on her heels searched for the woman for hours in vain. Finally they came to terms with the death of the young nun and climbed down the steep cliff to the Rhine in search of the fallen woman. They found nothing. Desperate, the murderers looked up at the rock on high and were horrified. Above their heads they looked into the face of the praying nun, who looked down into the valley as a petrified sculpture with folded hands and seemed to be praying for mercy for the assassins. They attracted attention knees, crossed themselves and returned penitently to the bosom of the catholic church. The rock formation with the features of a woman lost in prayer reminded of this legend for three centuries. The ledge was particularly popular as a photo opportunity. Generations of young people tried out daring climbing acrobatics their courage. Shortly before the end of the Second World War, a bomb hit the rock. What the war could not completely destroy was then blown up by a berm, who was annoyed by the constant climbing on and above his property. The bizarre natural monument collapsed as a result of the tremors the depth and triggered a landslide.The chainsaw artist Sigurd Br atzel from 66981 Münchweiler created this sculpture in 2006 to preserve the legend of the "Praying Nun" for posterity. "De Hadde Kern" took care of the installation and maintenance.

Edith Staaden-Weber Mayor of Weiler - Weiler in September 2006
Source: Text information board

Translated by Google •

𝒯𝒶𝓃𝒿𝒶

September 5, 2021

Ziehlay with "Praying Nun"

Viewpoint with a wooden figure (Sigurd Bratzel) set up there in 2006 as a "praying nun". Until the middle of the 20th century there was a grown rock here, which gave the impression of a praying nun with a view of the Rhine. The following legend is entwined around this formation : During the Thirty Years' War, the nuns fled from the defunct Weilerer monastery from the approaching Swedish troops of Gustav Adolf. They did not make it in time and were massacred; only Sister Angelika managed to escape through a secret door and she saved herself on the Ziehlay. Here she prayed to the Holy Mother of God to save her from her pursuers and to quickly turn her to stone.The Swedish soldiers who had followed her did not find her anymore, believing that she had fallen, and descended to the Rhine.There they looked horrified in the face of the petrified Angelica with folded hands, crossed themselves and repented their deeds Blow up by a bomb hit during the Second World War on January 29th, 1945 by the 8th US Army Air Force, this served as a location for souvenir photos on many occasions. It was also a popular climbing rock. From here you have a direct view of Kestert and the vantage point "Hindenburghöhe" on the opposite side of the Rhine, which is also the resting point of the continuous "Rheinsteig" hiking trail. Source: text information board

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Veronika 2020

June 21, 2020

Cross made of quartz stones, which was integrated into the wall between 1900 and 1920. The occasion was a fatally injured rider

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Sabine 🦁

September 15, 2019

Beautiful and promising rest area with dream couch on the RhineBurgenWeg.

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Sascha's Wanderblog

March 28, 2020

Also a nice place for a rest with a great view

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Gss

April 5, 2020

Really a nice view with the nun Angelika and her touching story.

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Denis

June 14, 2020

Wonderful view of Kestert and the Taunus

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Jeff

June 21, 2020

A wonderful view, opportunity for a break

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Veronika 2020

June 21, 2020

Here you have to stop and enjoy the great view, one of the most beautiful on the route of the dream loop Fünfseenblick.

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👣Albert Schäfer🚴‍♂️

February 2, 2021

Nice rest area with a great view

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d.83.bach

February 28, 2021

Great view of the Rhine

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🐐Zwei Bergziegen🐐

September 19, 2021

Interesting legend that is explained with an information board.
Plus a breathtaking panoramic view of the Rhine Valley 💚😮💯📸
Great photo location and a changing picture every season 🌿 🍁 🍂

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JakobusPilger

May 13, 2023

This place with a beautiful view over the Rhine and the statue of the "Praying Nun" can be reached both via the Burgenweg and the Saar-Hunsrück dream loop "Fünfseenblick".

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Details

Informations

Elevation 150 m

Weather

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Friday 14 November

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Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

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Location: Boppard, Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

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View of the Rhine Valley and the Praying Nun statue (Ziehlay)

1. Teufelslay Viewpoint loop from Boppard-Bad Salzig

2. Edgar Reitz Viewpoint (Middle Rhine Valley Overlook) – Kalkofen Viewpoint with Resting Bench loop from Boppard-Bad Salzig

3. Bad Salzig Spa Park loop from Boppard-Bad Salzig

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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