The Richelsley, also spelled Richel Ley, is an 80-meter-long and up to 12-meter-high Devonian conglomerate rock whose rock was originally deposited as gravel-like sediment on the seabed not far from the then coast over 400 million years ago. The rock is said to have received its name in the 12th century from Richwin, the founder of Richwinstein Castle, today's Reichenstein Monastery. It is mistakenly referred to as a megalith in various writings. However, it is a natural rock formation that has survived the weathering and erosion of the surrounding rock and has remained in its present form and size. The Richelsley is famous, among other things, for a mighty 6-meter-high cross weighing approximately 1.4 tons, which stands firmly anchored in the rock on the crest of the rock. 31 steps lead up to the cross, which is carved with cruciform ornamentation. The novel Das Kreuz im Venn by Clara Viebig, published around 1908, made Richelsley, located in the middle of the forest, and the cross known beyond the Eifel region.