© Image Facebook / Patrick Mischel
Despite a sign posted on the Mullerthal trail to the travertine spring "Kallektuffquell" cautioning visitors about the slipperiness of the footbridge, there are no additional warnings regarding the potential dangers posed by the aging, and unfortunately decaying, wooden structure.
If you haven’t yet visited the travertine spring in Mullerthal, now might be the perfect time to explore this hidden gem, but your visit comes with a caveat.
Just a few metres across a wooden footbridge lies a small but lush waterfall, with crystal-clear, calcareous water cascading over a rock formation into a natural basin. This stunning natural attraction, known as the 'Kallektuffquell,' or travertine spring in Luxembourgish. And this one in Mullerthal is a source of pride for both local authorities and tourist offices.
'Tuff' comes from the latin word for stone, tofus, and the stone at the spring is called travertine, a highly porous sedimentary rock composed of 75% volcanic ash. Historically, travertine bricks were very popular in construction. Travertine is a carbonate deposit that forms in limestone around mineral springs.
However, this otherwise idyllic site is overshadowed by concerns over the footbridge leading to the spring.
The spring is located in Mullerthal, the area often referred to as Luxembourg's Little Switzerland, is a natural attraction with delightful crystal-clear waters. Tucked between Consdorf and Reuland-Moulin, the site is a must-see for visitors. However, reaching it has become a bit of a safety hazard as it requires crossing a 10-year-old decaying wooden footbridge. Not only are parts of the wood rotting, but the wood becomes very slippery and slimy when wet, posing a hazard that even a posted warning fails to address accurately.
According to RTL’s Monique Kater, local resident Patrick Mischel reported the state of the bridge in mid-September and only received a response over a month later on October 24. According to unofficial sources who did not wish to be cited, minor repairs were reportedly made by the Consdorf and Waldbillig local governments at the beginning of the year, and now again just after mid-September but the underlying issues persist.
The Mullerthal Region tourism association recently issued a press release which raises more questions than it answers. Listing numerous entities involved in maintaining the bridge, the press release acknowledged the issue and announced that a study will be conducted before any further actions or decisions are made regarding the bridge’s repair.
"Regional Tourist Office is working closely with the concerned municipalities of Consdorf and Waldbillig, the Syndicats d'Initiative et de Tourisme (SIT), the Nature and Forestry Agency (ANF), the Directorate-General for Tourism at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Natur-& Geopark Mëllerdall (NGPM). The Regional Tourist Office has a coordinating role to play in ensuring that the wooden footbridge is repaired quickly and sustainably.
A study was commissioned in order to find a permanent solution to preserve the footbridge that takes into account the needs of guests and the region alike. The next steps and possible options will now be discussed at a further meeting of the partners involved."
The core issue may indeed revolve around who will have to foot the bill of building a new footbridge with the number of parties involved. While the study might be necessary to assess costs and feasibility, all that can be hoped is that the repairs are made in time for the upcoming tourist season.
