Top 14 Caves around Erden

The ruins of Mont Royal fortress lie above Traben-Trarbach on a bend in the Moselle River and were built at the end of the 17th century by order of the French Sun King, Louis XIV. The complex covered an area of 50 hectares and offered space for up to 12,000 soldiers and 3,000 horses. It was intended to serve as a supply base for the French Rhine Army and to control the central Rhineland. Only eleven years after construction began, following the Peace of Rijswijk in 1697, the French destroyed the fortress themselves in 1698 to avoid surrendering it to their opponents. Today, only a few remains of the once mighty fortress are visible. These include sections of the walls, casemates, cellar vaults, and defensive ditches. A large part of the ruins is overgrown by forest.

At first glance, the spiral sandstone staircase appears to be enclosed by a gate. However, this only prevents ascent. The descent leads into darkness via the stairs, which are partially slippery due to rubble, followed by a tunnel leading to a loooong, equally slippery staircase that descends into the depths. This tunnel then leads into a long, equally slippery tunnel with loopholes on the sides, at the end of which you return to daylight. Sturdy footwear and sufficient lighting, or good accident insurance, are recommended!

All that remains of the barracks, i.e. the accommodation buildings, are numerous vaulted cellars, which have collapsed in many places, creating a huge crater field.

Nice VIP highlight with the passage grotto, the waterfall and the Teufelsbrück. Belongs to a hike around Bad Bertrich.

The cheese grotto got its name from the cheese loaves apparently stacked here. The also common naming Elfengrotte does not come from elves, but here was the eleventh mill in the Ueßbachtal.

"The enchanted elf grotto near Bad Bertrich is a popular excursion destination, especially for small GesundLand visitors, because fabulous fairy tales come to life here in front of the inner eye. Sink into legendary stories and old legends for a moment when you visit the small grotto. The cave is located directly on the "HeimatSpur Walking Path Elfengrotte", which is 2.4 km long and can also be mastered by children. Right next door, the Elbesbach waterfall tumbles down with a roar. This place owes its nickname "cheese grotto" to the shape of its Stones reminiscent of round cheese loaves.The grotto was created many thousands of years ago when glowing hot basalt lava flowed from the high volcanoes into the Üssbach valley and created a unique landscape there.When it cools down, the basalt lava solidifies into columns in which horizontal stress cracks developed. Weathering over the centuries has given rise to the shape of stacked cheese loaves, the de give the elf grotto its special look." You can visit the Elfengrotte along these hiking trails: - HeimatSspur walking path Elfengrotte - HeimatSspur Adventure Trail Knights-Robbers-Romans - HeimatSspur In the footsteps of the Moselle gang https://www.eifel.info/a-elfengrotte

A beautiful footpath along the Üßbach leads to the Elfengrotte. You actually feel like you are in a fairytale world, where elves, gnomes and fairies could appear on every corner. For the not so romantically inclined: Magnificent volcanological outcrops.

I was there once in the summer, but unfortunately everything in front of the cave was overgrown and I didn't want to go through the bushes in short clothes. I made up for it and went there in the winter. Very beautiful. A small pond has formed. The water is crystal clear.