Ettringer Lay - Vulkanparkstation

About 150 years ago, the deepest quarries around the Bellerberg volcano were established in the “Ettringer Lay.” It was not without danger that the massive rock columns of its western lava flow were quarried here to produce, among other things, building materials and paving stones.

Steep quarry gorges and numerous remnants from the era of stone extraction make the “Lay” an impressive monument to volcanology and the history of technology. In the former basalt lava quarry, you can admire basalt lava walls up to 40 meters high from one of the three Bellerberg lava flows.

Looking down from the edge of the pit toward the quarry plot with its massive basalt wall, one can imagine how deep the old valley must have been before the eruption and what vast quantities of hot lava flowed from the rim of the Ettringer Bellerberg. Along a circular hiking trail maintained by Vulkanpark GmbH, life-size steel figures—such as the “Soup Carriers”—depict scenes from the daily lives of the former quarry workers. Old quarry cranes, rusted mine cars, and tracks still bear witness today to the bustling quarrying activity that continued well into the 1970s. With its numerous technical remnants from the early 20th century, the “Ettringer Lay” is a truly unique monument to the quarrying history of our volcanic region, which today serves as a challenge for climbers, including members of the Koblenz section of the Alpine Club.