Zyklopensteine, Natural monument and blockfield near Aachen, Germany and Raeren, Belgium
The Cyclopean Stones are a blockfield of roughly fifty boulders spread across about one hectare in a forested area along the German-Belgian border. This unusual assembly of large rock masses stands out distinctly from the surrounding woodland.
The site received official protection status on July 6, 1998, when it was designated part of Belgium's German-speaking Community's protected landscapes. This recognition marked the growing appreciation of the location's geological importance to both neighboring regions.
The stones take their name from mythological giants of ancient tales, and locals have long told stories of an angry cyclops hurling these massive boulders across the land. Visitors walking between the blocks today can sense these old legends woven into the landscape.
The site is freely accessible throughout the year by following marked trails from either the German or Belgian side of the border. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the uneven terrain between the stones can be challenging to navigate.
The boulders formed from loose Upper Cretaceous Aachen sand that solidified through quartz transformation under tropical conditions millions of years ago. This geological process reveals how the landscape was shaped during an era with a radically different climate than today.
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