Calmont (hill)

The Calmont, also called the Calmond, is a very steep hill between Bremm and Ediger-Eller in the county of Cochem-Zell in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It rises to a height of 380.6 m above sea level (NHN) above the Moselle river.

This hill is special because it is part of the famous Moselle wine region. On its very steep slopes, there are vineyards called Bremmer Calmont and Ellerer Calmont. These vineyards are among the steepest in the world, with slopes tilted at angles of over 65 degrees. This makes farming a big challenge but also very interesting.

Name

The name Calmont might come from two different places. It could be from Latin words meaning "warm hill," or from Celtic words meaning "rock hill." Both ideas help explain the name.

Geography

The Calmont is a hill between the towns of Bremm and Ediger-Eller in Germany. It stands above the Moselle River and is 380.6 meters tall. The hill is part of the pretty Moselle wine region.

The area around the Calmont has streams and natural features, making it an interesting part of the Moselle Valley.

Conservation

The Calmont is inside several protected areas. It is part of the protected area of the Moselle Region from Schweich to Koblenz. It is also inside a Special Area of Conservation for the hillsides and side valleys of the lower Moselle. It is also a bird reserve for the woods between Wittlich and Cochem. These protected areas do not reach all the way to the Moselle river.

Gallo-Roman Ambulatory Temple

At the top of Calmont hill, there was a special place for worship used by Romans between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD. In 2005, people began digging there to learn more, and they continued in 2008. Later, they built a copy of the old temple, which opened to the public on May 16, 2009.

Viniculture

In the late 20th century, only part of the original vineyards were still used. The largest area is the Bremmer Calmont, covering 33 hectares. On its steep slate hillsides, a special type of Riesling wine grows. The vintners must work by hand because the vineyards are very steep. After many years of making less wine in the Calmont area, some vintners started planting vines again in 2005. They think that by making the place more famous, they can sell their wines better. One wine estate now lets people rent out vines to grow on.

Monument and viewing plateau

About 665 metres west-southwest from the top of the Calmont hill, there is a special cross called the Monument to the Wartime Generation. It is 12 metres tall and was put up around 1970. You can see it from far away.

Next to a small building that is open from Easter until October, there is a viewing area. From there, you can see beautiful views, especially of a big bend in the Moselle river, which is 285 metres below. You can also see the old ruins of Stuben Abbey and the nearby villages of Neef, Bremm, and Ediger-Eller.

Transport and Hiking

The B 49 federal highway runs along the southern side of the Calmont between the Moselle villages of Bremm and Ediger-Eller. Nearby, the Kaiser Wilhelm Tunnel carries the Moselle railway from Cochem to Ediger-Eller.

The Calmont Klettersteig goes up the hill. It was made by the German Alpine Club and opened on May 4, 2002. Hikers can see the hill’s plants and animals along this path.

Paragliding

Near the Monument to the Wartime Generation, there is a special place where people can start paragliding. They can fly over the beautiful Moselle valley when the wind is just right. The Calmont hill acts like a big round mirror, helping create rising air currents that make paragliding easy and fun.