Far and wide incredibly - one may safely call Edelsteinstrasse
close Idar-Oberstein which gives an understanding of history and of craft
of the Edelsteinschleiferei to the enthusiast and the inquisitive person
in a big one and a small round trip route. It is one of those destinations
which also pulls Moselle visitor in his spell - also if the center of the
glittering world lies rather in South Africa, Amsterdam or even Hollywood.
However, while one is distant and inaccessible
or appears, Edelsteinstrasse is close and handy. She animates over and over
again tourists and also Moselle company to the investigation. Here, partial
only few kilometers away from Bernkastel-Kues, one can feel violent what
precious stones are as is sharpened which occupations there have been all
around the rock-hard, glassy glittering material and his colour-intensive
companions once.
It was the craft smart production and the loops of precious
stones by which that corner of the geheimnisumwobenen Hunsrück attained once
international standing. Technical skill and precision mark a working achievement
which is estimated by jewellers all around the globe highly respected and.
Edelsteinstrasse itself when synonym Idar-Oberstein counts touches all together
nearly 30 places.
If we begin in the center. In upper stone the rocks reach
up to the close river which one do not see, but can anticipate. Here a water
vein was built over by an arterial road, absolutely unusually in this dimension.
The part of town Idar joins in the side valley of the Idarbaches. The incorporation
of a whole row of other places has done Idar-Oberstein a center, also than
shopping centre.
Back to the precious stones. The visitor must know that
Edelsteinstrasse offers to feel the historical development of the region.
This means that the historical postconsideration encloses on the one hand
those times in which the precious stone dismantling, mining stood in the
center. Subsequently when finding places became more and more unproductive,
there was a change for the processing worldwide of found precious stones
- and here the Hunsrück region was completely absolutely one of the worldwide
most important processing centers.
In the German precious stone museum all worldwide seeming
precious stones are to be admired in more than 9000 exhibits; and by no means
only as raw gem stones, but also in the polished version, up to worked out
sculptures and engravings.
The German precious stone museum is not to be mistaken
for the museum of Idar-Oberstein. Here, in the old Obersteiner marketplace,
one of the most significant mineral collections is in Germany. The wonderful
crystal hall with the biggest oversea minerals which were exported according
to Europe, and the amusing fluorescence cabinet in which one can observe
amazing color effects under black light one cannot likewise let escape.
The original built up Achatschleiferei („ the loop“) with
waterwheel and an authentic goldsmith's workshop offer insights interesting
for high into the regional approaches of the past centuries. Where, otherwise,
one has already once the possibility, to precious stone grinders with theirs„
to rich in stone ones“ To look work over the shoulder. The historical pond
loop is the last of former days 183 waterwheel-powered Achatschleifmühlen
in the brook Idar. The operations saws, sandpapering, loops and site foremen
are clearly demonstrated there still, like at great-grandfather's times.
The Schleifräder in which the masters of her field demonstrate
the art of the Achatschleiferei are from sandstone. At the latest if the
grinders on her Schleifkippstühlen recumbent, to the agate lend the last
grinding, does become clear to the visitor, what a hard day work them„ Schleffer“
once had to manage.
As famous because contain in nearly all inspection programs,
are the precious stone mines of the mountain Steinkaulen. There one can mine
precious stones himself - and they become at the end even a property of the
finder. Arms with a heavy Fäustel, with level chisel and sharp chisel and
with weatherproof clothes, one may go for steady footwear as well as protective
gloves in the mountain Steinkaulen on treasure search. This visitor's mine,
the only precious stone mine in Europe which is released for visitors leaves
his visitors of the rope and permits independent mining for precious stones
and according to heart desire to them.
Helmet and protective glasses are put if one drives with
the barrow in the Schürfstollen. The overburden which the Schürfmeister has
drawn before of the volcanic bedrock similar to basalt is transported about
children's slides and ramps in the undeveloped outskirt area of the tunnel.
There is the so-called field Schürf. Here stand big, wooden Klopftische in
which the overburden can be opened. Thus the mysterious become to the bedrock
Shh corrodes drawn.
To whom neither watching nor taking part reaches, that
can get more deeply into the matter. Of several days, even mehrwöchentliche,
edelsteinkundliche seminars are offered in which not only the understanding
for the historical work of the region is given, but already deliver a real
entrance in the craft skill of the experts. And who makes itself expert then
about the small one or the big precious stone round trip, will understand,
why this region was once the center of the precious stone world; and he will
not surprise that there is spit roast in the middle of the precious stone-raw
product centers of Brazil not only Hunsrücker, but also close Hunsrücker
the dialect tones which otherwise no Brazilian understands.
info@edelsteinstrasse.de 