Idar-Oberstein, the German gem center

In the narrows between steep, rocky cliffs and the banks of the Nahe River lies Idar-Oberstein. Since every square meter of land is at a premium here, the river has been covered over by the town. This means that since 1986 the Nahe has flowed underneath the town for several kilometers. The world famous Felsenkirche (a church from 1482-1484), the construction of which is traced to a story of fratricide, is built high above the old town into a vertical rock wall and gives Idar-Oberstein quite a unique character. The steep steps leading up to Felsenkirche are climbed every year by countless visitors from all over the world, whose efforts however are more than rewarded by impressive works of art there. Examples are a Gothic winged altar from 1410 and a beautiful Stumm organ from the year 1756. The setting of both the old and the new castles high above Felsenkirche gives the visitor a feel for how proudly enthroned above the town and valley the lords of Dhaun and Oberstein castles were in the Middle Ages. In addition to Felsenkirche, the town is well known for its agate cutting. There is actually no other excavation site in Europe as famous as the Idar-Oberstein region for its enormous variety of agates in the most varied forms and colors. The "birth" of agates lies in the Permian period 285 million years ago and is attributed to the pronounced volcanism in the Nahe Valley. Agates fill hollow cavities in volcanic rock, however it is not exactly clear how the quartz accumulates in the cavities and is transformed to agates. Smoky quartz, amethysts, jasper and calcite have also formed in this time. Originally, agate cutters worked on the semi-precious stones from the region (commercial mining from 1375-1875) in their small cutting shops along the water-rich streams, which flow from the Idarwald and Hochwald heights to the Nahe River. Today the raw stones are imported from all over the world. In addition to the agate cutting, a highly developed jewelry industry evolved, which also encompasses the trade of precious stones and pearls. No wonder that Idar-Oberstein became one of the leading international centers for the jewelry industry, where dreams of agates, and also other precious stones entice many.

A few kilometers upstream from Idar-Oberstein the Siesbach, coming from the Hochwald heights, flows into the Nahe river. In former times this quite insignificant stream formed the border between the Roman provinces Gallia Belgica and Germania Superior, and later between the jurisdictions of the archbishoprics of Trier and Mainz. During the years 1976/1977 a large Gallic-Roman burial mound was completely excavated at the headwaters of Siesbach in the forest-region "Kipp" at the foot of Hochwald. From its grave decorations and inventory from the graves the influence of the Roman culture on the native people of the Celtic Treverians can be impressively documented. This archaeological memorial, which possseses more than just local significance, was used as family burial ground between 167 and 174 AD by a distinguished and evidently wealthy Treverian family for three interment ceremonies and was completed around the year 175 AD. For an overview of the Celtic and Roman history an excursion to the museum in nearby Birkenfeld. is certainly worthwhile. A visit to the Gallic-Roman burial mounds near the town of Siesbach can be easily combined with a hike around the Idar-Oberstein region: follow Idarbach creek past the water mill 'Weiherschleife' (with its water-driven tools for grinding and polishing agates), to the "peace oak", from there walk to Hettenrodt and then past Siesbach to the small forest road "Struthchaussee" at the foot of Ringskopf mountain. For those who prefer to travel in comfort, you can tour this area by car on a small road that begins in the town of Kirschweiler and passes the golf course below Kirschweiler Fortress.

For further information: Brandt H.P., Zur Geschichte des Achatbergbaus im Nahegebiet. In: H.P. Brandt (Hrsg.) Geschichte des Bergbaus an der oberen Nahe, Charivari Idar-Oberstein, 1978 and Gilles K.J., Die Römer im Birkenfelder Land —römischer Grabhügel "Kipp" bei Siesbach. Mitteilungen des Vereins für Heimatkunde, Sonderheft 47, Birkenfeld 1985: 81-100

Johann Michael Stumm (1683-1747), was an organ builder of Hunsrück who was well known far beyond his own region of Sulzbach in the Idarwald region. He founded an organ building dynasty that produced more than 200 beautifully hand made instruments of excellent sound quality.