Leienkaul is a starting point for the hiking loop in the Kaulenbachtal slate region. The valley brings together traces of former mining, protected nature and preserved evidence of slate quarrying. Guided hikes and travel by car are also relevant when planning your trip. This gives a stay a clear focus on landscape and history.
Hiking and slate mining in the Kaulenbachtal
The hiking loop in the Kaulenbachtal slate region is 14.2 kilometres long and can begin in Leienkaul. The association dedicated to preserving the history of slate mining also offers guided hikes through the slate-mining landscape. You can therefore consider planning your own hike along the loop or enquire about a guided tour. Check local arrangements for guided hikes before you travel. For further planning, the length of the loop is a specific planning detail: when planning your day, take into account how much time you expect the route to take.
The Kaulenbachtal between Leienkaul, Laubach and MĂĽllenbach was once a slate-mining area. It became a nature reserve in 1988 and a protected heritage area in 1993. Spoil heaps and tunnels provide habitats for rare species, including sand lizards and hibernating bats. Traces of former mining are thus also part of a landscape protected for both its natural and heritage value. Visitors interested in how former mining areas have changed and how they are classified today can find both aspects side by side in the valley.
The history of slate mining is also evident in specific features: the Kaulenbachtal has preserved mining remains, information boards, historic mine carts and a reconstructed slate-splitting house. Alongside the landscape and its habitats, these give the excursion a tangible cultural dimension. Another highlight of the route is Maria Martental. The monastery and pilgrimage church have a history dating back to 1140, adding a religious theme to the industrial history.
Getting there by car
You can reach the visitor route in the Kaulenbachtal by car from the A48 via the Kaisersesch exit. From there, follow the L98, L100, L52 and Breitenbruch to a car park. Before setting off, check whether roadworks or traffic restrictions may affect the route. This lets you plan your journey using the roads listed and adjust your route if necessary.
More topics in the wider Cochem-Zell destination
The wider Cochem-Zell destination offers further cultural and landscape-related themes. The medieval Reichsburg Cochem was restored and rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style in the 19th century by Louis Ravené as part of the Romantic revival of castles. Visitors can see interiors including the Knights’ Hall, dining room, hunting room and women’s chamber. This is a different cultural focus from the mining traces in the Kaulenbachtal: here the castle and its interiors take centre stage, while the valley highlights the history of slate quarrying and its preserved remnants.
The nature-related attractions in Cochem-Zell are also different. Jungferweiher is an important breeding and resting area for numerous bird species, especially during spring and autumn migration. The Geierlay suspension bridge offers another distinct attraction: it is 360 metres long and stands 100 metres above the Mörsdorfer Bachtal, between Sosberg in the Cochem-Zell district and Mörsdorf in the Rhein-Hunsrück district. These examples belong to the wider Cochem-Zell destination and should be distinguished from the local focus on Leienkaul.
Discover more destinations: Kaifenheim, MĂĽllenbach, Illerich, Landkern, Laubach
Back to the wider travel overview: Kaisersesch.
