Brennender Berg

The Brennender Berg is a natural monument in a deep, narrow gorge between Dudweiler and Sulzbach in Saarland. A smouldering coal-seam fire has burned there since 1668. The fire does not blaze openly but glows beneath the surface. Smoke rises through cracks in the rock when the weather allows. Warm air escapes from at least one crevice. The glow once shone through the rock and could be seen from a distance. The cause remains unknown, though spontaneous combustion from old mining is likely. A shepherd’s fire spreading through roots is another tale. Water failed to extinguish it when attempts were made long ago. By the late 18th century the fire weakened. Goethe visited in 1770 and left a record of the scene. A plaque marks Goethe’s visit near the Dudweiler cemetery car park. The path leads into the gorge where the sulphur smell is strong. The ground feels hot even through shoe soles. One side of the cave glows faintly under a crust of red and white rock. Steam rises from crevices, adding to the strange atmosphere.