Top Things to See and Do in Idar Oberstein, Germany

Idar-Oberstein is a quiet village in the Hunsrueck area that is famous for its natural gem deposits, spit roast dinners, and great hiking trails. It is also where Bruce Willis was born. We’ve looked at what’s in and around town and made a list of ten things to do that will help you plan your stay.

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German Gemstone Museum, Idar-Oberstein

Museum

Idar Oberstein, Germany - Travel Pixy — Inside the gemstone museum in Idar-Oberstein | © Beckstet / WikiCommons | © Beckstet / WikiCommons

You might say that not everything that shines is gold. Even more so when you go to Idar-main Oberstein’s attraction, a museum that is all about gems. All three floors of the villa are full of crystals, diamonds, and almost every other kind of gemstone you can find on Earth. There are a total of 10,000 items on display, which is a lot. The vaulted cellar rooms are used for special shows about the valuable crystal clusters.

Oberstein Castle, Idar-Oberstein

Ruins

The fortress of Oberstein Castle is perched on a rocky cliff north of the village of Oberstein. Count Daun-Oberstein lived in the fort until the beginning of the 17th century. After that, it was used as the administrative center. Over the course of history, wars and fires destroyed the fort, and work is still going on to rebuild it. For €2, you can look around the inside at your own pace. Guided tours need to be set up ahead of time.

Felsenkirche, Idar-Oberstein

Church

The Felsenkirche is the most well-known landmark in Idar-Oberstein. Its name, which means “church of the rocks” in English, says a lot about where it is. The chapel is not on or near a rock. Instead, it is built right into the rock below Oberstein Castle. There are no roads that lead up to the church, so you have to walk through a tunnel and climb 230 steps to get to the ledge.

Nahe-Skywalk

Natural Feature

About 20 kilometers outside of Idar-Oberstein is one of the most popular places to look out over the area. Since it was built only three years ago, the Nahe-Skywalk has become a must-see for anyone visiting the area. The steel and glass observation deck sticks out from the top of the hill and over the Nahe River, which runs 70 meters below. From there, you can see the whole valley.

Fort Bosselstein

Ruins

You’ve probably seen the Crag Church from a distance, if not up close. If you look slightly to the right, you’ll see the remains of the Bosselstein Fort, which is another Idar-Oberstein attraction. After it stopped being used in 1600, the fortress, which was built in the 12th century, began to fall apart. Now, only the crumbling ruins of the castle keep and the wall around it are left. The views of the Nahe valley are still worth the climb up to the old fort.

Hunsrück hikes

Hiking Trail

Idar-Oberstein is a great place to stay if you want to go hiking on one of the many trails in the area. The most famous trail is the 410-kilometer-long Saar-Hunsrück Climb, which starts just north of the town center and goes through the state of Saarland all the way to the border with Luxembourg or to the city of Trier, which is further north. If you’d rather only spend a couple of hours exploring the area, try one of the short hikes or circular routes instead.

Jakob Bengel Industrial Museum

Museum

Jakob Bengel started his company in 1873. At first, it made chains for pocket watches, but as time went on, the locksmith got ideas from Bauhaus and Art Deco designers and started making jewelry and other accessories. The museum gives tours of the factory, which hasn’t changed much in 130 years, and tells people about the technology, processes, and old machines that were used back then.

Erbeskopf Mountain

Natural Feature

Rhineland-tallest Palatinate’s mountain is just a short drive away. Erbeskopf Mountain rises to a height of 816 meters (2,677 ft) and is a good place to visit any time of year. In the summer, you can ride a toboggan down the mountain, and when it snows, the mountain range turns into a winter wonderland and a popular skiing slope.

Spießbratenhaus

Restaurant, German

There are a lot of great restaurants in Idar-Oberstein, but one is the best. German immigrants brought Brazilian food traditions back to Germany, and over the years, the restaurant has gotten better at making the perfect spit roast. On the menu are slow-roasted beef, saddles of lamb, and marinated pork neck, all of which are cooked over an open fire. Still, that’s not all. You can also get salads, Flammkuchen, burgers, pasta, pizza, and more.

Topic: Top Things to See and Do in Idar Oberstein, Germany

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