Erpeler Ley
The Erpeler Ley is a basalt rock on the Rhine near Erpel , a few kilometers north of the mouth of the Ahr . In addition to the Drachenfels is the 191 m above sea level. NHN (136 m above the Rhine) high elevation to the most famous volcanic ruins in the Middle Rhine Valley .
The formation of the rocks is due to the cooling and solidification in the interior of the lava flows. The columnar structure of the Erpeler Ley shows a fan-like arrangement in several places, which can be attributed to a multi-phase penetration of lava and the resulting uneven solidification.
The rock was already used as a quarry in Roman times. Since 1941, the Erpeler Ley has also been under nature protection because of its warmth-loving flora and fauna (flora: including golden aster , feather grass ; fauna: zippammer , peregrine falcon ). On the plateau of the mountain there are some monuments, opportunities for shot put and discus / javelin throw, an 800 m long cinder track and a restaurant (Bergesruh restaurant).
Monuments
Wooden cross in honor of the fallen in World War II
It was built to commemorate the victims in the battle for the Ludendorff Bridge , the remaining towers of which can be seen below the Erpeler Ley. In the now disused railway tunnel under the Ley, the population sought protection from the fighting during World War II .
Zeppelin stone
A memorial stone commemorates the transfer of the airship Z II ( LZ 5 ) from the Frankfurt ILA to the airship port in Cologne , when a storm on August 2, 1909 forced Count Zeppelin to turn back over the Erpeler Ley.
Memorial stone of the Rheno-Germania fraternity in Bonn
A memorial consisting of three basalt steles cast in concrete, each marked with the three re-establishment dates of the Rheno-Germania fraternity in the Schwarzburgbund in Bonn.
Memorial stone in honor of Hans Eich
The former Erpeler elementary school teacher Hans Eich was consecrated a cuboid basalt stone on the Erpeler Ley because of his commitment to nature conservation and the maintenance of tradition.
view
The panoramic view extends from the Siebengebirge and the city of Unkel over the Golden Mile and the Roman city of Remagen to the mouth of the Ahr , to the city of Linz on the Rhine and far into the Eifel .
Access and hiking trails
The Rotbäckchen hiking trail and the Rheinsteig lead over the Erpeler Ley , the plateau can be reached via the paved access road (from the B42 exit Erpel, signposted from there). From the direction of Bruchhausen and Unkel, various hiking trails lead to the Erpeler Ley. Sufficient parking spaces are available on the plateau, and the Erpel volunteer fire brigade regulates the access options for large events .
The ascent to the clearly visible tunnel halfway up is not recommended. »A material ropeway once floated through the opening in the rock face , with which basalt stones were transported to the Rhine on ships. The tunnel leads through the whole mountain to the rear flank of the steep face, where the basalt used to be broken. "
Events
By maintaining the hiking and forest paths as well as the running track on the plateau (cinder track) there is the possibility of larger sporting events. TuS Erpel organizes the annual Easter and St. Nicholas runs (cross-country runs in different age groups); classic car and buggy meetings take place regularly on the large meadow. Furthermore, a field day for the German radio amateurs has already been held there several times. The plateau as well as the tunnel under the mountain are used for a variety of events, since 2008 the bridge festival has been frequented by national artists. The Saint Martin's fire is also burned down every first Friday in November. This tradition was cultivated by the young people from the town of Erpel until 2007, and since 2008 the municipality of Erpel has been ensuring that a 10–12 m high tower made of wooden pallets can be burned down. At the same time, the St. Martin's parade is celebrated in the town center .
literature
- Helge Kleifeld, Thomas Vienken, Christoph Wallossek: The Erpeler Ley (= Rhenish landscapes. Issue 54). 1st edition. Rhenish Association for Monument Preservation and Landscape Protection, Cologne 2005, ISBN 3-88094-928-X .
- Helge Kleifeld: Bonn students on the Erpeler Ley. A rock in the Rhine Valley with importance for corporate history. In: Student Courier. Journal of Student History, College and Corporations. Vol. 16, No. 2, 2001, p. 12 ff.
- Helge Kleifeld: Monuments and memorials on the Erpeler Ley . In: Rheinische Heimatpflege . Vol. 37, No. 1, 2000, pp. 30 ff.
See also
- List of nature reserves in the Neuwied district (NSG no. 7138-026)
Web links
Coordinates: 50 ° 35 ' N , 7 ° 15' E
- Erpeler Ley , herrlichkeit-erpel.de
- Bergesruh restaurant on the Erpeler Ley
