The Freisen Trail of Agates provides an insight into 290 million years of geological history on Mount Hellerberg. Volcanic forces were the trigger for the formation of the magnificent agates found in the Mount Hellerberg quarry over many years. The highlight of the tour is a mighty stone sphere that was opened up in a rock face at the quarry. At 10 stations along this hiking trail, you will gain fascinating insights into the geological heritage of Mount Hellerberg.
Autorentipp
Mineral finds from Mount Hellerberg can be marvelled at in the Mineral Museum in Freisen and the Mineralogical Museum in Oberkirchen.
Opening hours for both museums:
Every first Sunday of the month from 1 pm to 6 pm and by appointment.
Free admission.
Wegbeschreibung
From the composting plant, we walk uphill on the road through a small valley. The remains of an old quarry can soon be seen on the right-hand side of the path. After a few metres, a short detour to the right leads to the former ‘Schassewitt’ quarry. Andesite used to be mined here and processed into gravel. After the end of quarrying operations in the 1980s, nature has reclaimed this habitat.
The trail continues to the windy Freisener Höhe, 600 metres above sea level. Due to its particularly favourable location, the first wind farm in Saarland was built on the 609-metre-high Trautzberg at the end of the 1990s. We continue along the hill, pass through a small wood and at the same time cross the border with Rhineland-Palatinate. We cross an open area and walk down to the right to the large wind turbine standing on a lattice mast. Here we enter the forest and walk along narrow paths and forest tracks on the Böschberg. At a bend, we leave the wide forest path and walk along a path through the small stream valley into the disused Hellerberg quarry. On the lowest quarry floor, the quarry walls tower mightily in front of us. Straight ahead, we cross the quarrying area and enter the forest again. Keep right at the crossroads and walk uphill through a beech forest.
A path soon branches off to the right, which leads steeply into the second extraction level of the quarry. As soon as you emerge from the forest, you will immediately come across a mighty 15 metre high rock ball made of andesite rock. A plaque explains the history of the formation of this spectacular geotope. We now walk back to the crossroads and then keep to the right. The path curves up to the third extraction level of the quarry. From up here, there are already beautiful views of Oberkirchen, the Ostertal valley and the Palatinate. In some places, you can see the agates in the quarry walls with the naked eye, which often appear in a pink pastel colour on the Hellerberg. After leaving the quarry, the path leads through a spruce forest up to the summit path, where we turn left. After about 300 metres, we turn left at the boulders onto a barely visible path. After a few metres, we reach one of the breathtaking viewpoints. The view stretches from Weiselberg to Oberkirchen with its stone viaduct, all the way to Potzberg and far into the Palatinate mountains. We walk back along the summit path to the new mountain hut, where we can enjoy a lovely view of nearby Freisen while taking a break. From here, it is only a short descent along the track to the composting plant, where our hike began.
Sicherheitshinweise
Caution: Entering forests and walking on hiking trails is always at your own risk.
Depending on the season and the weather conditions, you may need to be more sure-footed on certain sections of the trail. It is, therefore, advisable to wear clothing appropriate to the season and the weather conditions and hiking boots with an appropriate tread.
Buchempfehlungen des Autors
Glanzlichter - Reichhaltig bebildertes Themenheft zu den Freisener Achaten. Bezug über die Hompage des Mineralienvereins in Freisen - www.mineralienverein-freisen.de
Weitere Informationen
Network Freisen www.netzwerk-freisen.de
Freisen Mineral Society www.mineralienverein-freisen.de
Further tour suggestions with hikes in the region and lots of other useful information can also be found on the homepage of Touristik & Freizeit Sankt Wendeler Land at www.bostalsee.de/aktiv/wandern
Saarland Tourist Information Centre
Tel.: +49 (0) 681 - 9 27 20 - 0
www.urlaub.saarland.de
