LAYEKAUL

You have arrived in the wild romantic valley of Patelsbach.
It was also called "Zittertal," because this is a historically significant place of the village of Karbach.
The two slate caves served as refuge and protection for some of the residents during the war.
Rembayer Gisela, who was 10 years old at the time, could still tell us quite a bit
from that era: After 14 residential houses and 16 agricultural buildings had already been destroyed by incendiary and explosive bombs by Christmas 1944, another severe bombing attack followed in early March 1945. Families who could not protect themselves in their own basement bunkers either fled to Angsthausen at Kieselay or came here to Zittertal.
The upper Layekaul was the larger of the two tunnels and provided shelter for many families. During air raids, everyone naturally ran into the tunnels. It was so crowded there that those at the back could hardly breathe.
Even at night, it was very cramped; the children slept in makeshift bunk beds stacked on top of each other.
Between the bombing attacks, most people stayed outside the caves. The men and women had built a shelter with tarpaulins and boards, where they sat together and also cooked together. March 1945 was so mild and dry that people even slept outside on calm nights. Laundry was washed in the creek, which used to have much more water. A bit further up along Patelsbach, there was another tunnel that belonged to the Prinzenstein mine, where one could wash up protected from the elements.
The only great joy for the children was sliding down the mountains through the foliage on an old ladder. Many a tree was taken along in the process. The children shared the few dolls to play with and made clothes from old rags. After several weeks of occupation, the residents returned to Karbach and began the reconstruction.
In both tunnels of Layekaul, stones were quarried and extracted for building houses. Our oldest village resident, Kapps Viktor, still tells today that an enterprising citizen wanted to resume operations in the Layekaul and hired some men, including himself, in the pub in the evenings to work there again and break slate. However, the project was quickly abandoned, and he has not received his pay for it to this day.
Just below this Layekaul, you will find a resting bench, also called a sensory bench, where one can wonderfully relax. The calm forest atmosphere allows you to recharge your energy reserves for the next steep stretch.
On your ascent to the Rheinblick shelter, you will first pass the upper Layekaul. This has since collapsed, but the enchanting-looking forecourt of the tunnel is worth seeing.

Enjoy nature!



Please do not enter
the tunnels;
slate slabs may detach at any time.
Parents are responsible for their children.