- Hatzenport
The ferry service in Hatzenport has a long history that dates back to the 16th century. It was first mentioned in 1545 as a fief of the Palatinate and later belonged to the municipality starting in 1827. Napoleon presumably gifted the ferry to the municipality after he crossed the Moselle there. The ferry long represented an important connection between the Maifeld and the Hunsrück and was part of a historic postal route from Innsbruck to Mechelen. In 1863, the still prominent ferry tower was built, during which a worker lost his life. The ferry remained in operation until 1957; the last, particularly large one cost 60,000 DM and could transport 24 tons. With the construction of the Löf–Alken bridge in 1972, the ferry service was discontinued – a piece of old Moselle tradition came to an end.
The Hatzenporter Ferry Tower is a landmark of Hatzenport. A polygonal rubble stone tower with a slate-covered helmet, built in 1863 to secure the ferry cable. The ferry operation in Hatzenport was first documented in the mid-16th century. As a Palatine fief, the ferry across the Moselle at Hatzenport was transferred in 1545 from the lordship of Ehrenburg to Friedrich von Eltz Pirmont. Since 1827, the ferry has been owned by the municipality. It is believed that Napoleon may have gifted the ferry to the municipality after crossing the Moselle here. In any case, the other ferries mostly remained state-owned. The Moselle ferry connection at Hatzenport was considered the most important link from the Maifeld to the opposite Hunsrück heights and was part of the first historical postal route Innsbruck - Mechelen. The old post station at that time was located at the height of the Gewann Fahrberg, where the steep postal road on the opposite side led to the shore. The postal route was operated by the noble family of Thurn und Taxis from Regensburg. In 1863, the landing site was established a few hundred meters upstream on the Moselle. On April 27, 1863, the foundation stone for a new ferry tower, the present-day Hatzenporter landmark, was laid. Two ferry ramps were built. The chronicle records a mishap: during the excavation of the ferry tower foundation, the mason Johann Josef Ibald was buried and could only be recovered deceased. Before World War II and afterwards until 1957, a ferry in Hatzenport was in operation. The last ferry from Hatzenport was acquired by the municipality in 1957 for 60,000 DM. With a load capacity of 24 tons, it was the largest on the entire Moselle. After the bridge construction Löf Alken in 1972, the ferry operation was no longer profitable and had to be discontinued. The end of the Moselle ferries was beginning to take shape. In their place, bridges now span from bank to bank. The times required these faster connections, which also work during ice flow and high water, at night and in fog. As the Hatzenporter said: A piece of tradition has disappeared, with “Hol über” it is over.
The surrounding gastronomy invites you to take a break.
