Weickartshainer Schweiz

What was mined here was iron ore, more precisely brown iron or basalt iron ore. Due to the described form of weathering, iron was released from the volcanic basalt rock, became mobile and formed concretions. It was deposited in the decomposed basalt in the form of crusts and ribbons. The iron ore from the Vogelsberg was usually mined together with the basalt substitute and cleaned in a complex process. The resulting sludge was usually returned to closed open-pit mines, which were thereby backfilled. An open former opencast mine like the Weickartshainer Schweiz is therefore a rarity in the region and as a geotope of outstanding value - even if it doesn't appear so at first glance.

The former ore mining area "Germany" or better known today as Weickartshainer Switzerland is a great and idyllic place. The area with its grill hut is ideal for a wide variety of events. But it also offers hikers a great opportunity to rest and relax. A visit with children is also worthwhile, as they can play wonderfully here in the great outdoors.

The Eisenkaute, better known today as "Weickartshainer Schweiz", is a former iron mine that was exploited from 1928 to 1940.
The mine was operated by the "Luise" union, founded in 1889 and renamed "Louise" in 1911.
Already before 1889 was in the depression north of the Eisenkaute, z. B. in the "Red Trench", obtained by drilling iron ore, washed directly in the field, z. B. in the "laundry", and smelted. Numerous clearly visible remains of slag in the fields are evidence of this.(Source: weickartshain.com)

For almost a hundred years the landscape in the front Vogelsberg, around Freienseen, Weickartshain, Lardenbach, Stockhausen, Ilsdorf, Merlau, Flensungen, Nieder-Ohmen, Atzenhain up to Burg-Gemünden, was characterized by large iron ore mines.
Kilometers of cable cars and mud pipes crisscrossed the landscape, large ore processing plants and loading stations at the train stations made clear the importance of this industrial sector for our region.
Until the late 1960s, along with agriculture and forestry, mining was one of the most important sources of income for the population.(Source: erzwanderweg.de)

A fairly hilly post-mining landscape, which can only be fully understood through the explanations on the information boards for the ore trail south. At first glance, it is hard to imagine that this was a mining site with opencast mines, cable cars, railway lines, etc. until the 1960s.

Eisenkaute, today better known as "Weickartshainer Schweiz", is a former iron mine. From which a small pond and some now overgrown and justified storage mounds have remained. Well-kept rest or picnic benches.