Are you looking for some places to go rockhounding in Germany?
Before you fly across the world to go digging for gems, you should know it’s illegal to do in most places in the country.
Why?
Most resourceful locations, such as old mine dumps or slag heaps, are privately owned or protected areas.
So, it can be hard to know where you’re allowed to go rockhounding when you’re a tourist.
This is why we created this post for you.
Below you’ll discover the best places to go rockhounding in Germany.
Rockhounding Germany (A Visitor’s Guide)
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change. Laws are updated. Accessibility guidelines and restrictions change. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material.
Hagendorf Sud Pegmatite in Bavaria
Located in southern Germany is the town of Bavaria.
Bavaria is famous for its majestic landscapes at the foot of the Alps.
There are extensive mining operations in the eastern part of the land, where mountain ranges like the Bavarian Forest and Fichtelgebirge and the famous honey-colored fluorite district of Woelsendorf are the most important mining districts.
Below are some of the minerals and rocks found within the town of Bavaria:
- Wulfenite
- Graphite
- Fluorite
- Pyrite
- Vivianite
- Phosphoferrite
- Phosphophyllite
- Scholzite
- Triphylite
- Limonite
In Bavaria, the best place to go rockhounding is around the pegmatite of Hagendorf Sud.
Around Hagendorf Sud, people have found minerals like hagendorfite, strunzite, and zincoberaunite.
You might also like: Fluorite vs Fluoride: What’s The Difference?
Idar-Oberstein
Idar-Oberstein is a shining city located north of Baumholder.
The town is one of Germany’s best places for tourists to go rockhounding.
In addition, it has a rich history of being a part of the gemstone manufacturing industry since the middle ages.
Idar-Oberstein is also a part of a 30-mile route where people can collect and appreciate all of the precious gems and stones the country offers.
Some of the minerals often contained by their researchers are diamonds, gemstones, and metallic materials.
Also, the town holds the only gemstone mines open to visitors in Europe!
The Edelsteinminen Steinkaulenberg mine is available between the months of March 15- November 30.
It is a 400-mile long mining cave that showcases the country’s beauty of crystals and minerals within the area.
Some of the stones and gems include agate, crystals, calcite, amethyst, and smoky quartz.
If you would like to visit the gemstone mine, you will have to book a date and time in advance.
You might also like: How To Tell If Smoky Quartz Is Real
Weiherschleife Water Mill
The Weiherschleife watermill is located within the town of Idar-Oberstein.
The mill is the city’s last waterwheel-powered gemstone cutter.
The sheltered sand field that is regularly stocked with minerals from around the world may contain something in your sand sieve if you’re lucky.
Stones are cut with a flywheel and polished using a hand-driven technique, and you can watch how the stone crusher breaks down gemstone geodes into its stone inside.
Gemstone Mining Camp
The gemstone mining camp is still within the city of Idar-Oberstein and is offered to those who visited the cave tour of Edelsteinminen Steinkaulenberg.
There’s a separate fee to be able to dig around the mining camp on the tour.
The staff will give visitors pickaxes and shovels, although visitors will have to bring their own bags.
When you book your tour of the cave, you can have the option to visit the mining camp.
The gemstone mining camp is for adults and kids, and there are separate fees.
Kids can dig around the camp on their own while the adults watch, or the adults can join in on the fun.
The gemstones you find are yours to keep, and you do not have to pay for them.
Some of the gems people have found are amethysts, quartz, geodes, and jaspers.
Gemstone Adventure World
If you have rockhounding loving kids, then the Gemstone Adventure World is perfect for them to go digging for some crystals in Germany.
In a stone cave more than 60 m2 in size, where children can dig for sparkling gemstones in a protected environment from the wind and rain.
All gemstones collected by treasure hunters are theirs to keep!
The digging site is open Monday through Friday, and children can dig between 9 AM to 5 PM for 30 minutes.
German Gemstone Museum
In Idar-Oberstein, opposite the German Gemstone Exchange, is the German Gemstone Museum.
Over 10,000 exhibits in the museum showcase all types of gemstones and gemstones from around the world.
The museum presents local minerals (particularly agates) and their processing with a special focus.
You can view gems in their original shape, craft them into jewelry or sculptures.
In addition, the museum allows you to admire precious gemstones in various forms. Some of the crystals and minerals on display are Bergkristall, Opal, Tanzania, Purchase, Coral, Amber, and Kamee.
No, you can’t take the gems or minerals home with you or do any digging.
However, it is nice to visit for someone who loves crystals and wants to appreciate their beauty.
The museum is open daily, and you can view more information about it on their website here.
Eifel National Park
In Eifel National Park, you can expect to find a dramatic landscape.
Through the centuries, volcanic activity has shaped this untamed area.
A hike through the park promises dense forests, crystal-clear lakes, and rolling hills.
The scenery of the national park makes it the perfect place for crystal lovers to go rockhounding.
Some of the rocks and minerals you can find in the area are listed below:
- Agate Chalcedony
- Datolite
- Rhodochrosite
- Chatoyant Quartz
Germany’s Volcano Route is the most popular route to reach the area for mineral and crystal hunting.
Bonn and Trier are two popular cities in this route, located between the Rhine and Eifel Mountain ranges.
There are 39 geological, natural, and cultural sites along the 174 miles (280 kilometers) long road.
On this route, you’ll see crater lakes, extinct volcanoes, waterfalls, geysers, and many other natural wonders.
So the national park is not only for rock lovers but for those who love to be in tune with nature.
There is a fee associated with entering Eifel National Park, and you can look on their website to find the associated costs.
See also: Can Rhodochrosite Go In Water?
Grube Clara Silver Mine
The Clara Mine is located in the Rankach Valley of Oberwolfach.
Mineralienhalde Grube Clara offers more than 300 different types of minerals for both professional collectors and families with children.
In the stockpiles is material from the mine Clara, which has the richest variety of minerals in the world.
Some of the rocks and minerals you can find here are listed below:
- Baryte
- Fluorite veins
- Copper
- Lead minerals
- Gold
- Rhyolite
- Aphanitic
Besides offering gold washing, Mineralienhalde is also an appealing destination for kids: you can celebrate your birthday in the stockpiles.
However, there is a cost in being able to enter the Clara Silver Mine, especially if you decide to do other activities there.
Wrapping Up
The problem with rockhounding in Germany is that it can often be illegal.
It is trespassing to access spots that are on private property and/or designated nature reserves without the owner’s consent.
You should therefore check access restrictions ahead of time to avoid conflict with landowners or authorities.
Although Germany is aware of the hidden beauty of gemstones and minerals, it shows in their culture.
Interested in rockhounding and travel?
If so, you might check out:
- The 6 Must Visit Trips In Mexico If You Love Rocks
- Can You Take Sand From Normandy Beaches?
- What Kinds Of Rocks Are Common In Zambia?
We also have a growing library of articles for folks you want to learn more about how to collect rocks on international trips.
