What is sandstone? An entire region has now dedicated itself to answering the supposedly simple question. A recently opened "Bunter Sandstone Adventure Trail" on the southwestern Main quadrangle between Miltenberg and Faulbach pays tribute to the material and its landscape-changing extraction in all its geological, economic and social complexity. One thing caused the other in the 250-million-year-old sedimentary rock. Only the crystalline reddish structure created by iron oxide made it a sought-after material with enchanting aesthetics.

Thanks to their location at the interface of the huge sandstone shield between the Odenwald and Spessart, the municipalities see themselves called upon to present the topic to the public. Without the sawing work of the Main due to the 500 meter thick support, the use already practiced by the Romans would not have been possible or only selectively. It was then the construction of castles from which the systematic extraction of the rock originated and found its representative climax in the use for the Frankfurt Cathedral or the Aschaffenburg Palace.

Industrial forms took place in the middle of the 19th century. The slopes, which were actually torn open all over the Main knee, must have offered a sight like American canyons. Even today, the bright red, long-disused walls stand out from the riverside green. The idea of preserving the stone wonderland and making it accessible was obvious. Nevertheless, they struggled for eight years for acceptance and funding before completing what "adventure trail" only inadequately describes.

In a spectacular, even courageous way, a combination of theoretical and practical view was achieved here, which is probably unique in local latitudes. For the introduction to geology and history, a profaned church from the 18th century was specially converted and dismantled in Collenberg, after it had served the fire brigade since 1969. Opposite it stands the Church of St. James, consecrated 100 years ago, whose architecture of white-banded workpieces up to the pulpit with the evangelists seems to be guided solely by the idea of giving the beauty of sandstone a sacred dimension.

In sharp contrast to this are the harsh working conditions in the quarries. The 40-kilometre-long adventure trail leads near Collenberg via an adventurous path in front of the vertical walls to striking caves. They are reminiscent of the risky but effective method of fall reduction. Fissures and cavities were used, which were undertaken in such a way that they could be blown up. The danger lay in the yielding of further rock when clearing. Even now, collapse litters the ground, as if the removal took place soon.

Directions:

Thanks to the single-track route around the Mainviereck, the main towns on the Buntsandstein-Erlebnisweg are easily accessible by train, or it brings you back, if you only walk the path. In Collenberg it is only minutes from the stop to the town centre; there is also parking space on the Main and in Bildstraße. To get in the mood, walk left to the rededicated church with the sandstone exhibition and the Jakobskirche opposite.

A visit to both can also wait, as they will be touched at the end anyway. The starting point is in front of it at the junction "An der Ziegelhütte" from Bildstraße, where several markings are available. We opt for C 1 and 2. They lead out through new buildings, but also touch extraordinary sandstone works in the form of large tombs of the quarry owners in the cemetery.