Liescher Berg

The Liescher Berg , also known as Löschemer Berg or Lieschem , is an approximately 350 m high elevation of the Saargau , which here as a north-eastern extension of the Lorraine plains reaches almost to the confluence of the Saar and the Moselle . It drops steeply in a north-easterly direction, sometimes over several terraces, into the Moselle and Saar valleys. In a south-westerly direction, the mountain ranges of the Saargau connect.

The Liescher Berg bears the second half of the place name of the Rhineland-Palatinate municipality of Wasser liesch , located on the northeastern mountain slope . The older mountain name "Löschem" has been preserved among the locals to this day. That's why they also call the Liescher Berg "Löschemer Berg". The pilgrimage chapel on the Liescher Berg also still has the earlier name with the name Löschemer Kapelle (see below).

On the Liescher Berg there is a high plateau , the south-western part of which bears the nationally known Perfeist nature reserve . Here so-called lean lime lawn offers the conditions for many rare plant and animal species to thrive. Depending on the season bloom including the pulsatilla vulgaris , the Cowslip , many orchid species , such as purple orchid , orchis anthropophora , himantoglossum hircinum , military orchid , the Cornelian cherry , the thyme , the autumn crocus and blue gentian .

The nature reserve also contains the remains of an extensive military camp, which is said to have been built by the Romans in the 3rd century. According to tradition, the complex was later a settlement of the temple masters . The vernacular calls the area monastery garden , which indicates such a use.

At the eastern end of the high plateau, the Löschem Chapel is visible from afar . As the Marian pilgrimage chapel , it is frequently visited by guests and local pilgrims. In front of the chapel there is a great view of the Moselle valley and the surrounding mountain ranges of the Ardennes , Eifel and Hunsrück , of the village opposite Igel , the city of Konz and the city of Trier .

Geologically, the upper part of the Liescher Berg is made up of layers of shell limestone , while its lower flanks consist of red siliciclastic rocks from the upper Buntsandstein . These two stacks of layers (called groups in geology ) can also be clearly seen on the opposite bank and the slopes above the Moselle. There, red sandstone rocks are exposed immediately next to gray-white limestone rocks due to the so-called Igeler fault , also called Igeler Bruch . The effect of the fault on the landscape can best be observed from the lookout point at the Löschem Chapel.

Coordinates: 49 ° 42 ′ 3.76 ″  N , 6 ° 32 ′ 13.26 ″  E