The town of the jewels
Idar-Oberstein is a major county town with over 24,000 inhabitants. It is located in the administrative district of Birkenfeld in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Famous for its precious stones and jewellery, the gemstone town is situated at the southern end of the Hunsrück on both banks of the river Nahe.
The landmark of the town, the „Crag church“, a church built in a natural rock niche, rises far above Idar-Oberstein. The church is accessible only through a tunnel. Though it protects you from falling stones, it has more than 40 steps that have to be climbed up.
Other places worth seeing are the ruin of castle Bosselstein, castle Oberstein which forms the historical centre of the town, and the gemstone mines Kaulenberg, Europe’s single gemstone mines open to visitors.
Idar-Oberstein has a very nice city centre with village character and offers many things to discover and enjoy.
More information: http://www.idar-oberstein.de/en/tourism/information/
Photo: Allan Grosskrueger/Shutterstock
