Honzrather Keller

Useful Information

Location:	Kathreinenstraße 4, 66701 Beckingen. (49.4295199, 6.7308146)
Open:	APR to 07-JAN daily 10-20. [2025]
Fee:	free. [2025]
Classification:	Cellar
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	SchauFelskeller, Kathreinenstraße 4, 66701 Beckingen, Tel: +49-. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

The Honzrather Keller (Honzrather cellars), also known as Honzrather Felsenkeller or Honzer Felskeller, are a group of rock cellars. They were probably dug into the red sandstone by hand around 200 to 150 years ago, although their exact age is unknown. They were used as cellars for food, storage rooms and also as cattle sheds. Some were even lived in. In the final days of the Second World War, they were also used as air raid shelters. Some are in poor condition, some are freely accessible due to the lack of a door, while others are still in use.

Originally there were probably around 140 cellars in total, 100 still exist today. This is quite unusual, this is the only such large complex in Saarland. The reason for this is, of course, the relatively soft sandstone, which was easy to work by hand. But it is also the reason why some cellars were damaged. The roots of plants on the slope above the cellars, mainly acacia trees, penetrate crevices in the rock in search of water and then burst them over time. The damage is not only a danger to a unique monument, it also poses a threat to passers-by.

During the discussion of the problem in the local council, it was naturally also about the costs and who would have to bear them. Unfortunately, no owners could be found, which is due to a very peculiar way of dealing with land ownership in Honzrath. In the past, the farmers of the village were joint owners of the fields, meadows, pastures, forest and even the gardens. The land was redistributed from year to year according to the proportion of share rights. Only the buildings and gardens belonged to the respective inhabitants. The cellars are therefore still located on land owned by the municipality, although a survey was carried out after the land registry was established in 1898. A parcel of land was entered in the land register in front of each cellar entrance, which served as access to the cellar. Although all these plots are private, it was entered in the land register “that the same may be used as a path to the other cellars”.

In recent years, several cellars have been renovated and restored to their historical condition. This was an initiative of the local history society and other Honzrath citizens. They have also converted one of the cellars on Kathreinenstraße, directly behind the chapel of St. Catherine, for visitors. A multimedia sound and light show has been set up under the name SchauFelskeller, which tells the story of this rock cellar in three phases. The automatic translation fails with this name though, as it actually means "show rock celler", but "Schau Fels" written together is mixed up with "Schaufel" (shovel). Its origins, its use as a storage cellars and its use as air-raid shelter at the end of 1944. The opening hours from Easter to Epiphany are quite unusual; the cellars are closed for a quarter of a year for a “climatic regeneration phase”. In the meantime, the neighboring cellar has also been purchased and restored and is used for temporary exhibitions.