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  • Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel, Dominik Ketz

Maars & Crater Lakes

Peaceful. Fascinating. Captivating.

The Deep Blue Eyes of the Eifel
 

Deep blue. Crystal clear. Ancient. The maars of the Volcanic Eifel.

What was created thousands of years ago by mighty forces of nature is today a sight of unparalleled beauty. Twelve maars filled with water make the Vulkaneifel a unique and colorful natural landscape. The crystal-clear water sparkles in the sun, and the clouds are reflected on the surface. Discover these magical places on a hike along the shore—and in some volcanic craters, you can even bathe and swim.

The Eifel didn’t look as magnificent thousands of years ago as it does today. What appears idyllic and picturesque today was once pure danger: The earth was in constant motion, splitting open and heaving upward. The smell of sulfur and smoke hung in the air. In some places, magma—heated deep within the Earth and turned into a liquid—slowly rose to the surface. When this hot rock encountered an aquifer, the water vaporized instantly. The result was explosions of such immense proportions that they permanently altered the landscape. The maars were born.

Over the course of many millennia, they changed their appearance. Some of the craters that formed filled with rain and groundwater, becoming maare lakes. Some silted up again, while others remained dry from the start. Today, there are over 77 scientifically verified maars in the Vulkaneifel. Twelve of them are filled with water.

Water-filled maars

What makes the maars in the Vulkaneifel so special?

They are no ordinary lakes, but rather traces of massive volcanic eruptions: ancient craters that have filled with rainwater and groundwater over thousands of years. Whether around Daun, Gillenfeld, Ulmen, Meerfeld, or Bettenfeld—the maars and crater lakes shape the landscape of the Vulkaneifel like almost no other natural phenomenon.

Deep blue waters, clear surfaces, forested slopes, and sweeping views make them special destinations in the Eifel. At select maars, you can swim, take a dip, or go boating; others are best explored on a hike, a stroll along the shore, or from a lookout point. And even the dry maars impressively demonstrate how vividly the volcanic past of the Vulkaneifel remains visible to this day.

A very special highlight: The Windsborn Crater Lake near Bettenfeld is the only natural crater lake north of the Alps, making it a truly unique feature of the Vulkaneifel. Small, tranquil, and surrounded by nature, it’s well worth a detour on any hike through the region.

  • A beautiful landscape with a clear blue lake and green forests. In the background, gentle hills and small villages can be seen.
    Copyright: Eifel Tourismus GmbH, D. Ketz

    Gemündener Maar

    Daun
    Open today

    The Gemünden maar is lined up along a fissure running SE to NW. About 20,000 to 30,000 years ago they erupted and Gemünden Maar lake was formed.

    learn more about: Gemündener Maar
  • A picturesque landscape with a calm lake and green meadows. In the background, small houses and hills can be seen.
    Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel/D. Ketz

    Jungferweiher

    Ulmen
    Open today

    The Jungferweiher, a re-flooded dry maar located north of the Ulmener Maar, is known for its richness in migratory birds and serves as a source of drinking water for the Cochem-Zell district.

    learn more about: Jungferweiher
  • A picturesque landscape with gentle hills and a tranquil lake. Green meadows and trees surround the scene.
    Copyright: Eifel Tourismus GmbH

    Meerfelder Maar

    Meerfeld
    Open today

    The view from the lookout tower “Landesblick” is impressive: The Maar lake glistens around 200 metres below, gently embedded in the largest Maar funnel in the Eifel. However, only part of the 1,700 metres long basin is covered with water.

    learn more about: Meerfelder Maar
  • A beautiful crater lake, surrounded by green forests and agricultural fields. The landscape radiates tranquility and a connection to nature.
    Copyright: Eifel Tourismus GmbH

    Pulvermaar

    Gillenfeld
    Open today

    Discover the unfathomable depths of the Pulvermaar! Located directly near Gillenfeld, the Pulvermaar is the deepest maar in the Eifel at 74 metres. It is surrounded by beautiful beech forest and in summer is a popular address for all those who want to swim or go boating in the midst of beautiful nature.

    learn more about: Pulvermaar
  • A picturesque landscape with a clear lake and gentle hills. In the background, there is a small village surrounded by trees.
    Copyright: Eifel Tourismus GmbH, D. Ketz

    Schalkenmehrener Maar

    Schalkenmehren
    Open today

    Especially if you visit the GesundLand Vulkaneifel in summer, a detour to the Schalkenmehren Maar is a must. Located directly at the village of the same name and opposite the Weinfelder Maar, the Schalkenmehrener Maar is one of the three Dauner Maars and offers a wonderful backdrop for an extended walk or an extensive hike. If you look closely, you can see that the Schalkenmehren Maar was once a double maar, formed by volcanic activity around 20,000 to 30,000 years ago. But the tuffs of the western maar filled up the eastern maar funnel, so that nothing can be seen of the second maar today, except for the fen vegetation that has spread in this area. Take a little discovery tour and observe numerous animal and plant species along the way!

    learn more about: Schalkenmehrener Maar
  • Three people are sitting on a meadow and looking at a small pond. The landscape is green with gentle hills and a blue sky.
    Copyright: Natur- und Geopark Vulkaneifel

    Trautzberger Maar

    Strohn
    Open today

    Waterlogging of the dried up maar lake led to its present state.

    learn more about: Trautzberger Maar
  • A picturesque landscape with a calm lake and a small town in the background. Lush green trees surround the water, providing a peaceful atmosphere.
    Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH, D. Ketz

    Ulmener Maar

    Ulmen
    Open today

    At around 11,000 years old, the Ulmener Maar is the youngest Eifel maar.

    learn more about: Ulmener Maar
  • A picturesque lake surrounded by lush meadows and trees. The sun rises over the landscape, casting gentle rays on the water.
    Copyright: Eifel Tourismus GmbH, D. Ketz

    Weinfelder Maar

    Daun
    Open today

    also called Totenmaar [maar of the dead] The Weinfelder Maar is considered the "symbol of the Eifel melancholy". Gentle slopes, on which the Eifel gold - popularly known as "Besenginster"grows and shines in early summer, around the mostly turquoise shimmering water.

    learn more about: Weinfelder Maar

Dry craters

Did you know that there are also maars that don’t contain any water?
Not all maars in the Vulkaneifel are filled with water, and that’s exactly what makes them so fascinating. So-called dry maars were formed thousands of years ago by massive steam explosions, in which red-hot magma came into contact with groundwater. What remained was a huge crater. Whether this crater fills with water or remains dry depends on the subsoil: If the crater floor is permeable, rainwater simply seeps away—a lake never forms in the first place. Over millennia, the dry maars in the Vulkaneifel have thus transformed into quiet, partly forested crater basins that today possess a charm all their own.

  • An autumn landscape with colorful trees and a large, round woodland area. Surrounded by fields and meadows.
    Copyright: Natur- und Geopark / Gassen

    Dürres Maar

    Gillenfeld
    Open today

    a dry maar full of sedges, mosses & cotton grasses

    learn more about: Dürres Maar
  • A green meadow with a brown area in the middle and some trees. The area around the plot is surrounded by fields.
    Copyright: Natur- und Geopark

    Hetsche Maar

    Gillenfeld
    Open today

    The Hetsche maar is the smallest mar in the Eifel and about 40.000 - 70.000 years old.

    learn more about: Hetsche Maar
  • A green meadow surrounded by trees and gentle hills. The sky is clear and nature feels peaceful.
    Copyright: Kappest

    Hinkelsmaar

    Bettenfeld
    Open today

    A small paradise with rare plants can be found in the Hinkelsmaar.

    learn more about: Hinkelsmaar

Take the plunge into the cool water