RTL Today - The adventures of Daisy the bus: Off the beaten track family travel

TRAVELLING IN LUXEMBOURG :The rock labyrinths of Berdorf

The unusual geology of the “Mullerthal” region of Luxembourg has created a fantasy wonderland of rock labyrinths, perfect for little explorers with big imaginations.

I assemble my children at the entrance and give them their instructions: find the way out of the labyrinth by following the numbers from one to seven. There’s no need to climb, and the older ones should look out for their younger siblings.

Then, with wide-eyed excitement and a healthy pinprick of fear, they run off into the narrow crevices.

The rock labyrinths of Berdof / © www.Daisythebus.com

A few minutes later I meet them all back at the exit. Their little smiling faces are pockmarked with achievement and their eyes glittering with wonder.

“Can we do it again? Can we do it again PLEASE?” they beg in unison. Of course they can.
Off they go, back to the start, delving into their rocky fairy-tale land once again. And again, and again.

The Siewenschlüff

The Siewenschlüff (“Seven gorges”) is a natural curiosity, is a natural curiosity, that’s for sure.
But it is not unique, not here anyway. In the fantasy adventure land otherwise known as the “Mullerthal” region of Luxembourg, there are many of these rock labyrinths, mostly centred around the small tourist village of Berdorf.

In this article, we have picked out a few of our favourites, but first it may be interesting to know HOW this bizarre landscape was formed.

An oversimplified geology lesson (skip this if easily bored…)

The letters in (brackets) refer to the diagram below, drawn by my 8-year old daughter.

Millions of years ago, the Mullerthal region was covered by a large sea. Over time, a thick layer of sand (A, initially stretching up to the dotted line) was deposited upon a layer of clay (B).

When the sea receded and water starting flowing over the land, the relatively soft sandstone eroded, thus eventually forming the stream-filled valleys (C) and cliffs (D) that we see today. However, when water filters through the permeable sandstone and reaches the watertight layer of clay beneath, it becomes trapped.

This layer of water destabilises the rocks around the valley edges, causing sections of sandstone to slip down the valley or break off entirely (E).

The resulting crevices (F) and caves (G) are a veritable feast for tourists hungry for spectacular and unusual scenery. Labyrinths are formed where these crevices are created at angles to each other. Which brings us neatly to the…

Werschrummschlüff

Probably the most accessible (and unpronounceable) of our featured rock labyrinths, the Werschrummschlüff is located immediately beside the road between Berdorf and Beaufort. However, most tourists probably explore it by accident, hoping to find a way out to access the pinnacle of the nearby “Predigtstuhl” rock teetering ominously over the road. (Tip: you can’t. To conquer the “Predigtstuhl“, walk back down the road 50 metres, then up the steps).

Unlike the “Siewenschluff“, there is no pre-numbered way to discover the various crevices here, only the occasional arrow to help you find your way.

As a result, I often feel that I haven’t fully explored this labyrinth yet, and always find a new (or forgotten about) crevice each time I visit.

As an added bonus, the higher ground just above the “Werschrumschlüff” is one of the best places in the Mullerthal to see the awesome spring display of wood anemones (anemone nemorosa). Visit on a sunny day in early April to see this natural phenomenon at its very best.

In part 2 of we discover the Gorges du Roitzbach...follow us...

We’re a family from Luxembourg with four children

“Daisy the bus” is the kids’ nickname for our minivanTogether, we like to travel off the beaten track all across Europe. We try our best to have responsible, meaningful travel adventures.