Idar-Oberstein Has it All: Gemstones, Unique Church, Celebrity
Idar-Oberstein is a town in the southwestern German province of Rhineland-Palatinate (Rhineland-Pfalz). The precious stone and garrison city is also called the “National Park City Idar-Oberstein.” Larger cities in the vicinity are Trier, Bad Kreuznach, and Kaiserslautern.
Idar-Oberstein lies on both sides of the river Nahe. It is a municipality that consists of several towns: Idar, Oberstein, and others.
What to See in Idar-Oberstein?
Felsenkirche
In the heart of Oberstein, a medieval church towers above the town. The quaint and tiny Felsenkirche sits on a natural niche in a rock formation, and it is also known as “Crag Church.” Climbing up the stairs to visit the church in the rock is a bit of a workout but well worth it.
There is a legend about the building. Around the middle of the eleventh century, two brothers lived in Oberstein. Both loved the same girl. One of them proposed to the girl, and when the other one found out about the engagement, he threw his brother out of the window. Tormented by his grave guilt, he confessed the deed to an abbot. As atonement, he had to build a chapel with his own hands on the spot where his brother had died.
The church is open to visitors from mid-March to mid-November. However, the church is closed to the public at the time of writing (2022). There is a very high risk of falling rocks, which must be secured.
Bosselstein Castle
Above the Felsenkirche, the masters of Oberstein built a fortress named Bosselstein Castle around 1200. It is a “spur castle”: type of fortification that is sited on a spur of a hill for defensive purposes.
Due to its position on a spur, only the hillside had to be protected by defensive constructions. On the other three sides, the steep hillslopes did the job.
Oberstein Castle
In the 14th century, another castle was built close to the Bosselstein Castle. It is known today as the Oberstein Castle (or Schloss Oberstein in German).
The castle of Oberstein houses an inn today, with magnificent views of the town.
Jewelry stores
Idar-Oberstein is also a leading hub of gemstone cutting and trade. First, the area was a world-famous source of agate and jasper. After the agate deposits were depleted (18th century), gem cutting became the mainstay of the inhabitants. Even today, there are around 100 cutting houses and gemstone businesses. No matter your budget, you can find gorgeous rocks to your liking. You will see an embarrassingly wide choice of pretty items, from diamond jewelry to simple semi-precious stone beads. I purchased a rose quartz bracelet (see below) for 8 euros. Unlike in most parts of Germany, the stores in Idar-Oberstein are also open on Sundays.
Deutsches Edelsteinmuseum
When in Gem City, a visit to the Gem Museum is a must. The museum is a historical building, presenting gemstones and minerals from all over the world on three floors. The display is somewhat old-fashioned—exquisite objects in vitrines with explanatory labels—but understandably so: the exhibits are priceless. In addition to sparkling diamonds, opaque opals, and dazzling agates, artistically crafted engravings (cameos) fascinate the visitor.
If you want to take pictures in the museum, you must pay for them at the cashier.
At the end of the visit, you can buy precious stones and jewelry relatively cheaply in the museum shop.
I recommend the museum for adults and older children. Our 3-year-old son—however fascinating he found the sparkling gems —posed a danger to the fragile and valuable exhibits.
Steinkaulenberg Gemstone Mines
In the only gemstone mine in Europe open to visitors, you can see stunning agates, mountain crystals, amethysts, and smoky quartz. Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit the mine because of Covid regulations. Luckily, we traveled to Idar-Oberstein with our family and found something our children liked.
According to travel writers, the term “hidden gem” is a cliché and should be avoided in travel writing.
But. Steinkaulenberg offers literally hidden gems. Gems that are hidden. The little treasure hunters can dig for gemstones in a fenced dirt yard in the mining fields.
Pre-registration is required for the Steinkaulenberg mining fields. Our family of 4 (2 children and 2 adults) paid 38 euros for a 2-hour digging experience. Wear sturdy shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring a box or bucket for the gems and geodes you find—we collected several pounds of them—but don’t bother bringing utensils; they will provide you with spades and pickaxes.
Edelstein Erlebniswelt
The name suggests that it is another adventure world for treasure hunters who like digging the dirt for gems and minerals.
We have yet to try the adventure, but the Edelstein Erlebniswelt features a huge jewelry and mineral store. Every member of our family bought a piece of jewelry or mineral samples for reasonable prices.
Map of Idar-Oberstein
Fun Fact about Idar-Oberstein
Probably many of you think that Bruce Willis is similar to this bracelet in many senses. For instance, both of them are cute. You would like to have both of them at home, they are both in front of a blue background, and Willis` shirt is the same color as the rose quartz bracelet. These characteristics are all true, but besides them, they share a more surprising attribute.
Besides the unique church and being the “jewelry capital of Germany,” Idar-Oberstein is also famous for being the birthplace of Bruce Willis.
Bruce Willis is a Military Brat!
Bruce Willis’ dad was in the military, and as military guys usually do, he married a German woman. They were stationed in Baumholder, and lived in a nearby town, Idar-Oberstein. Their son, Walter Bruce, was born during this trip.
Can you imagine that? Bruce Willis, like my own sons, is a military brat!
How to get to Idar-Oberstein
Traveling to Idar-Oberstein by train is easy. There are regional trains from Frankfurt, Mainz, and Saarbrücken, and it is comfortable if you only visit the downtown area with the museums and jewelry stores.
However, if you want to see Steinkaulenberg, I suggest driving to Idar-Oberstein: it is 6 kilometers from the downtown area.
I had no clue that Bruce Willis was military brat!!! So cool. And the town looks like an interesting place to visit.
Oooh looks really fun to explore! I don’t normally buy jewelry or gems on holiday, but I LOVE visiting castles and the Crag church is sooo cool! Idar-Oberstein looks like it’d be fab with kids. 🙂
I wish I had heard of this before. My parents used to live in Dahn, a small town somewhere in the southwest part of Germany, (They were at the airshow at USAF Ramstein Air Base near Kaiserslautern in 1988.). It would have been neat to visit this town when I visited them.
Oh no, I hope they weren’t hurt. I know Dahn: it is not far from Idar-Oberstein; both places have a US military community. Interestingly, Idar-Oberstein is not on the radar (pun unintended) of the Americans in Landstuhl or Ramstein, which is why I’m trying raise awareness.
wow what a historically interesting place!
Hunting gems in Idar-Oberstein sounds like a great idea for the kids! I’ve been to many cities in Germany before but hadn’t had the chance to visit this town. It’s now officially on my bucket list!
Wow – the Church in the Rocks is incredible. I’d love to visit Oberstein.
I hope everyone still there remembers the sacrifice of the German National Police who tried with all their hearts to save every gold bear (red bear and blue bear) even when they became our black bears.
With love and appreciate to the town and people of Dolf’s Idar Oberstein – mother of Nathan 4/5 year old in Idar and Cassandra 2 year old in Idar. From Chief of Idar Police 1990 – my gold, my red, my black – MINE BEST. Sheriff Nevada – ILEANA DEL CARMEN ALEMAN HEATH (KENEDY). ICH LIBE DICCHE (NOT FBI USA EVER-THANK YOU)
I was station in Idar oberstein for 3 years and lived around the corner from the church and the food was off the hook