Zur Fossilienexpedition auf der Spitze des Piesbergs

There are 300 million years of geological history to discover on the Piesberg. Where the mountain with the large quarry is today, there was once another plain with a branching river system. Ferns, lycopods, horsetails and conifers grew in the tropical to subtropical climate. Insects, giant millipedes, spiders and scorpions also lived here. Today, the traces of this life from the Carboniferous period can be discovered in the form of fossilized imprints in the mudstone on the Piesberg.

The Piesberg Society House lends out backpacks for an independent expedition to the highest point of the Piesberg to a fossil discovery site. There, children and the young at heart can search for fossils. The rucksack contains a hammer, gloves, safety goggles and a discovery map showing the way. Sturdy shoes and clothing to protect against the sun and wind are recommended for the hike. If the hike is too long for you, we recommend taking a ride on the light railroad for part of the route on the first and third Sunday of every month. The search for fossils is limited to the open area at the top of the Piesberg. It is strictly forbidden to enter the quarry! Further information is available at the information table in the Piesberg Society House. If you want to experience even more of the Piesberg, you can enjoy great views of the quarry on a hike or visit the arboretum with the large sequoia tree, the Johannissteine natural monument or the accessible ruins at the Stüve shaft. Information boards along the hiking trail provide a wealth of information about the geology, mining history and diverse nature of the Piesberg.

After the hike, we recommend a delicious home-baked cake in the Sunday café in the Gesellschaftshaus or a visit to the MIK Museum of Industrial Culture.

Backpacks are handed out between 14:00 and 16:00 /returned by 18:00
Sunday café: 14:00 to 18:00

General information