Discovery loop limestone traces

In the picturesque village of Gruiten, the route starts at the "Haus Am Quall," the oldest secular building in Haan. The hike now leads out of the village along the Düssel river on a former railway line, which used to connect five quarries to the factories.

On the path through the idyllic Düssel valley, you can always catch a glimpse of the quarrying of limestone on the rock walls that line the path on both sides. Almost the entire topography was shaped by the lime industry. Past former canteen buildings, the path leads towards Winkelsmühle. Along this part of the route, you can particularly impressively discover the around 1980 restored ruins of the historical lime kiln Hupertsbracken.

After a refreshing break at the "Im kühlen Grund" inn, you reach the Ehlenbeck farm. At this spot, where agriculture is now practiced, there used to be a lime sintering plant until 1932, the Lindenbeck plant with the then highest chimney in Germany. At this location, which can be considered the cradle of Gruiten's industrial lime processing, the remnants are still partly visible today.

The return journey now leads out of the valley, past the ruins of a ring kiln and further traces of the extensive and diverse transport network. Back in the village of Gruiten, a short stroll is worthwhile. The higher-located cemetery offers a magnificent view over the historic village.