Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Natural Monuments

Gießen District

Weickartshainer Schweiz Pond and Mining Landscape

Natural Monuments

Gießen District

Weickartshainer Schweiz Pond and Mining Landscape

Highlight • Historical Site

Weickartshainer Schweiz Pond and Mining Landscape

Recommended by 84 hikers out of 90

Save

Location: Grünberg, Landkreis Gießen, Gießen District, Hesse, Germany

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Weickartshainer Schweiz Pond and Mining Landscape

4.8

(12)

hikers

1. Grünberg Old Town – Brunnental Nature Reserve loop from Grünberg (Oberhessen)

16.6km

04:37

290m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

4.2

(6)

hikers

2. Laubach Castle – Laubach Castle Park loop from Laubach

14.0km

03:54

270m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

5.0

(4)

hikers

3. Grube Deutschland – Sludge ponds on the Erzweg South loop from Weickartshain

8.26km

02:13

100m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

Tips

Michel ✔

March 20, 2022

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.

Translated by Google •

⛰🥾 Dominik 🥾⛰

April 30, 2023

Why it is called Switzerland remained undecided! 🤷‍♂️

Translated by Google •

Mafel

September 6, 2019

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.

Translated by Google •

joge

November 25, 2020

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.

Translated by Google •

Sopho, Micha, Frieda & Bella 🐶🐾

March 11, 2021

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)

Translated by Google •

Sopho, Micha, Frieda & Bella 🐶🐾

March 11, 2021

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)

Translated by Google •

Frank Rmr

June 2, 2021

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.

Translated by Google •

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 300 m

Weather

Today

Saturday 15 November

14°C

8°C

100 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Grünberg, Landkreis Gießen, Gießen District, Hesse, Germany

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Quellenhaus am Historischen Wasserweg

Dream Paths in the Vogelsberg Mountains

Ore Processing Plant Weickartshain

Laubach Market Square

Cable Car Information Board (Erzweg Süd)

Grünberg Market Square and Town Hall

Wooden Shelter in the Vogelsberg Mountains

Idyllic Pond in the Vogelsberg Mountains

Forest Trail to Waldhaus Laubach

Fräuleinsteich

Bench With a View of Herbstein

Rennofen und Wuhläcker Pond

Weickartshainer Schweiz Pond and Mining Landscape

1. Grünberg Old Town – Brunnental Nature Reserve loop from Grünberg (Oberhessen)

2. Laubach Castle – Laubach Castle Park loop from Laubach

3. Grube Deutschland – Sludge ponds on the Erzweg South loop from Weickartshain

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️