Eisen lies at the confluence of the Eisbach and the Söterbach. Its history stretches from ore finds, which gave the village its name, to its restoration as a habitable place in 1650. It is also home to preserved bunker complexes, significant Nardus grasslands and a golf offering with courses lasting one or two days. History, landscape and a specific activity thus meet as distinct travel interests.
Place Name, First Mention and Settlement
The name Eisen dates back to ore finds in the 14th and 15th centuries. Eisen was first mentioned in a document in 1334. These two facts answer different questions: the ore finds explain the origin of the name, while 1334 marks the first documentary mention. This distinguishes the history of the place name from the written record of the village.
Eisen belonged to the County of Sponheim. In the 17th century, the village was completely deserted, before Velten Feist from Nohfelden made it habitable again in 1650. The village’s history thus brings together a historical affiliation, a period of abandonment and the restoration of its habitability. The break in the 17th century is a different chapter from the early history of the name and its first mention: 1650 marks the return to habitability, not the first documentary mention.
Mining History and Bunker Complexes
The now-disused “Korb” baryte mine was located north of Eisen. It is another historical point of reference, this time with a named mine site and a clear status: disused. The ore finds, by contrast, explain the origin of the village’s name. The name’s origin and the mine thus illustrate two different aspects of local history.
Around Eisen, 16 of the 19 bunker complexes of the former West Wall Air Defence Zone have survived intact and are designated monuments. Four of these complexes, dating from 1938/39, have been restored to their original condition. The figures describe different aspects: 16 of 19 is the number of complexes preserved intact and designated as monuments; four refers to the ones restored to their original condition.
The monument can only be visited as part of the activities on offer. If you are planning a visit, check in advance which activities are available.
Nardus Grasslands and Golf Courses
The Nardus grasslands near Eisen are among the three most significant surviving Nardus grassland complexes in Saarland. This regional comparison gives the village a distinct landscape connection alongside its local history and bunker complexes. If nature and landscape are also important factors in choosing your stay, this is another reason to consider Eisen.
The Golfpark Bostalsee in Nohfelden-Eisen offers one- and two-day introductory golf courses through its golf academy. There are two clearly distinct course formats: the introductory course can last one or two days. This distinction is useful when planning your stay if you would like to make golf a focus. Check with the provider for currently available dates before planning your trip around a course. By comparison, no course duration is specified for visiting the monument; visits are tied to the activities on offer.
Discover more destinations: Tholey, Theley, Bosen, Marpingen, Alsweiler, Freisen, Nohfelden, Nonnweiler
Return to the overarching travel overview: Sankt Wendel.
