Calmont (hill) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calmont |
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Bremm, Moselle, Calmont
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 380.6 m above sea level (NHN) (1,249 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Calmont
Location in Rhineland-Palatinate
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The Calmont (sometimes called Calmond) is a very steep hill in Germany. It is located between the towns of Bremm and Ediger-Eller in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The hill rises high above the Moselle river, reaching a height of about 380.6 meters (1,249 feet).
The Calmont is famous for its vineyards, which are part of the Moselle wine region. The vineyards here, like the Bremmer Calmont and Ellerer Calmont, are some of the steepest in the world. Their slopes can be more than 65 degrees!
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What Does Calmont Mean?
The name Calmont might come from two different languages:
- From Latin: calidus means "warm" and mons means "hill". So, "warm hill".
- From Celtic: kal means "hard". This would mean "rock hill".
Where is Calmont Located?
The Calmont is found between Bremm to the south and Ediger-Eller to the southeast. Both towns are on the left side of the Moselle river. The top of the hill is right on the border between these two towns.
The southern side of the hill belongs to Bremm. The northern and eastern sides belong to Ediger-Eller. A small stream called the Ellerbach flows around the northern and eastern parts of the hill.
How Tall is Calmont?
The summit of the Calmont is 380.6 meters (1,249 feet) high. This means it stands about 293.1 meters (961 feet) above the Moselle river. It is also about 270 meters (886 feet) higher than the town of Bremm.
Protecting Nature on Calmont
The Calmont is part of several protected areas. These areas help to keep the natural environment safe.
- It is in the "Moselle Region from Schweich to Koblenz" protected area. This large area was set up in 1979.
- It is also part of a Special Area of Conservation called "Hillsides and Side Valleys of the Lower Moselle".
- There is also a bird reserve nearby called "Woods between Wittlich and Cochem". These areas protect the plants and animals that live there.
Ancient Roman Temple
On top of the Calmont, there was once a Roman temple. This temple was used from the 2nd century AD until about the 4th century AD.
Archaeologists started digging here in 2005 and continued in 2008. After the digs, a Gallo-Roman ambulatory temple was rebuilt. It opened to visitors on May 16, 2009.
Growing Wine on Calmont
For a long time, only a small part of the Calmont's vineyards were still used. The biggest area is the Bremmer Calmont, which covers 33 hectares (about 81 acres).
The steep, slate hillsides here are perfect for growing a special type of Riesling grape. However, because the slopes are so steep, vintners (wine growers) have to do all the work by hand. This makes it very hard work!
Since 2005, more wine growers have started planting new vines on the Calmont. They hope that the fame of this unique location will help them sell their wines better. Some even offer to rent out vine stocks to others.
Monument and Great Views
About 665 meters (2,182 feet) southwest of the Calmont summit, you can find the "Monument to the Wartime Generation". This is a 12-meter-high (39-foot) summit cross that was put up around 1970. You can see it from far away.
Next to the monument, there is a small hut that opens from Easter to October. It's a type of seasonal wine tavern called a Straußwirtschaft. There's also an "observation plateau" nearby. From here, you get amazing views of the Moselle river's big loop, which is 285 meters (935 feet) below. You can also see the ruins of Stuben Abbey and the towns of Neef, Bremm, and Ediger-Eller.
Hiking and Getting Around
At the southern base of the Calmont, the B 49 federal highway runs between Bremm and Ediger-Eller. East of the hill, there's a long tunnel called the Kaiser Wilhelm Tunnel. This tunnel is 4,205 meters (13,796 feet) long and carries the Moselle railway from Cochem to the Ediger-Eller station. The railway then crosses the Moselle river on a 281-meter-long (922-foot) bridge.
A special hiking trail called the Calmont Klettersteig runs along the hill. It was built by the German Alpine Club and opened on May 4, 2002. On this trail, you can learn all about the hills, their plants, and their animals.
Paragliding Adventures
Near the Monument to the Wartime Generation, there's a special area for paragliders to launch. If the wind conditions are right, they can fly high over the Moselle valley.
The Calmont hill is like a giant curved mirror in the valley. Because it faces south and has a slate bedrock, it creates perfect conditions for warm air currents to rise. This makes it an ideal spot for paragliding!
