Ölberg, Mountain summit in the Odenwald above Schriesheim, Germany

Ölberg is a mountain summit in the Odenwald region reaching approximately 450 meters and offering views across the Rhine valley. The landscape is marked by former quarry sites and rock faces that now serve different purposes.

The remains of Strahlenburg castle sit on the northern slopes and point to early settlement in this area. The region was later shaped by stone quarrying operations that began in the late 1800s and continued until the mid-20th century.

The name Ölberg does not refer to oil but to the yellow porphyry walls of the Schriesheim quarry, visible from the Rhine plain up to near the summit. Quarrying began in the 1880s with a small municipal pit, moved to the Schlossbruch in Dossenheim in 1891, and ended at Schriesheim in 1967.

The disused Schriesheim quarry walls rise close to the summit and are visible from the Rhine plain; climbers reach the routes from the Schriesheim side. A launch site for paragliders and hang gliders lies on the southern slope below the top, with landings usually about one kilometre to the south-west. The summit area and its forest are protected, so stay on paths.

The old quarry sites were converted into climbing areas after operations ceased, drawing sports enthusiasts to the rock faces. The summit also serves as a popular paragliding launch point offering views during flight.