Altlay is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Cochem-Zell district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Zell, whose seat is in the municipality of Zell an der Mosel. Geography The municipality lies in the north of the Hunsrück between Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (3 km to the south) and the Moselle at an elevation of some 300 m above sea level. North of the village, the Altlayer Bach flows through a narrow valley into the Moselle. Altlay lies 8 km southeast of Zell and 11 km northwest of the town of Kirchberg. History As early as 1107, the municipality was mentioned under the name Leia. About 1489, slate mining near Altlay was mentioned. Beginning in 1794, Altlay lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Under the Verwaltungsvereinfachungsgesetz (“Administration Simplification Law”) of 18 July 1970, with effect from 7 November 1970, the municipality was grouped into the Verbandsgemeinde of Zell. Politics Municipal council The council is made up of 8 council members, who were elected by majority vote at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman. Mayor Altlay’s mayor is Wolfgang Klein, and his deputies are Werner Boos and Edgar Engelbach. Culture and sightseeing Buildings The following are listed buildings or sites in Rhineland-Palatinate’s Directory of Cultural Monuments: Saint Barbara’s Catholic Parish Church (Pfarrkirche St. Barbara), Hauptstraße 34 – Baroque aisleless church from 1771; outside: metal cross from 1775; mission cross from 1868. Near Fuchsstraße 8 – cast-iron cross. Hauptstraße 43 – estate complex along the street, timber-frame house, partly solid or slated, 18th/19th century; whole complex with commercial wings. Kuhtrift 10 – estate complex along the street, timber-frame house, partly solid, 19th century. Bleesmühle – timber-frame house, early 19th century. Economy and infrastructure Slate mining In the Altlayer Bach valley, slate was quarried on the surface after underground mining was given up in the 20th century. Underground mining, however, is once again being done now that new deposits have been opened that would have been too costly to work from the surface and would have adversely affected the appearance of the landscape. The great amount of mining spoil can also now be used to backfill