Caan combines the Caaner Schweiz with a distinctive history of clay mining: rugged cliffs and narrow, challenging trails stand alongside traces of former clay extraction. The Marienkapelle lies on the “From Teufelsberg to the Caaner Schweiz” hiking route; Grube Rainstück preserves traces of earlier mining. Hiking trails, viewpoints and industrial history therefore offer distinct focal points. When planning your trip, it is worth deciding first whether you would like to focus on the rocky trails or the history of clay mining.
Rocky Trails and Views
The Caaner Schweiz is characterized by rugged cliffs rising above the Sayntal valley. Its narrow, rocky trails offer a challenging hiking experience. If you choose Caan for its landscape, keep the character of these trails in mind when planning: the appeal lies not only in the cliffs but also in the narrow paths that wind through this landscape. The Pfahlberg above the Sayntal valley near Caan is a volcano around 800,000 years old. From the Teufelsberg, the view extends into the Brexbachtal valley. Here, striking rock formations, geological history and a specific viewpoint each offer a different aspect of the landscape.
The Marienkapelle and Finding Your Way
The “From Teufelsberg to the Caaner Schweiz” route passes the Marienkapelle. There is a drinking-water fountain with a fresh-water connection at the chapel. A yellow-marked shortcut leads from the Caaner Schweiz to the Caan barbecue hut. Trail markings and conditions can change, so check the route before setting out. The chapel also has a history that can be dated: it was blessed during an ecumenical service in June 2013. In 2017, it received an altarpiece by church painter Eberhard Münch. These two dates mark different events and add a cultural-historical aspect to the hiking connection.
Clay-Mining History at RainstĂĽck
Grube Rainstück, on the outskirts of Caan, is a former clay mine with both underground and surface operations. From 1949 to 1960, clay was extracted here both in an open pit and underground. The former open pit is now a small lake. Remains of buildings, spoil heaps and terrain features have been preserved around the former loading area. Together, these traces show different aspects of the former operation: the extraction, the loading area and the changes to the terrain. Evidence also attests to an even older tradition of working with clay: a ceramic vessel from the La Tène period comes from the area around Caan. In the Kannenbäckerland, valuable clay deposits had already led to pottery-making in Celtic times.
More to Explore in the Westerwald
The wider Westerwald destination offers other ways to focus on hiking and geological history. The WesterwaldSteig is a 235-kilometer long-distance hiking trail through the Westerwald, with 16 stages. It offers a larger-scale stage-planning option than the narrow, challenging rocky trails of the Caaner Schweiz. Check the current route planner before choosing a stage. Clay craftsmanship and geology are also regional themes: the Westerwald Ceramic Museum traces the history of working with clay; most of the objects on display come from a Westerwald clay pit. The Stöffel Park, covering around 140 hectares in the Westerwald, is a former basalt quarry site that brings together industrial heritage, geological history and nature. The TERTIÄRUM there displays fossils, including the Stöffel mouse, which documents around 25 million years of Earth’s history. This makes it possible to consider Caan’s local clay-mining history and the broader themes of the Westerwald as different focal points for a trip.
Discover more destinations: Niedersayn, Guckheim, Nentershausen, Sessenbach, Freilingen, Meudt, Langenhahn, Westernohe.
Go to the general travel overview: Westerwald.
