Kirn in the Nahe valley

Kirn is a pretty little town in the upper Nahe area with a remarkable old center containing half-timbered houses from the 16th and 18th centuries, a historic market square and a twon hall built in 1769 (a former Piarist cloister). First mentioned in records from the year 841, Kirn is dwarfed by the Kyrburg (10th century). It was once the seat of the Wildgrafen counts, and later, the counts of Salm-Kyrburg. The Kirner 'Dolomites' (they are, however, granite) in the Hahnenbach valley are a popular destination for climbers.

About 2 kilometers downstream from Kirn lies the nature preserve "Hellberg" with the most imposing boulder scree north of the Alps. The Hellberg was formed in the Permian period about 285 million years ago, in a time of much volcanic activity, as an impressive intrusion block under the earth's surface. Throughout the following millions of years, it was gradually exposed. Weathering of the extremely hard rock happened only very slowly. Due to the very steep slope, the boulders and debris are constantly in motion. The shady north-facing site makes this an extremely cold and inhospitable place for plant life.

Photo: The Kirn town hall from 1796, a former Piarist monastery.