Top 10 Places to Visit

Still undecided?

Then let our guests’ top 10 destinations inspire you—the most popular highlights of the Vulkaneifel at a glance. Below, you’ll find an overview of all the destinations.

Discover the highlights of the Vulkaneifel

An old castle by a river, surrounded by green trees. The sky is clear with some clouds. — Copyright: Dominik Ketz

The spa town of Manderscheid is most famous for two medieval castle ruins that stand directly opposite each other on steep mountain spurs not far from the town's alleyways. The massive complexes are separated only by the little Lieser river and a meadow, which in summer becomes a perfect place for a breather while hiking the Eifelsteig trail or for a family picnic with children. On a weekend in August, however, the castles and the meadow are ideal settings for a spectacular festival with quaint crafts, jugglers, jousting tournaments and minstrel singing. In Advent, the Manderscheid Castle Christmas lends the town a special magic. The freely accessible upper castle with its five-storey keep still looks martial today. The lower castle can be explored on guided tours - even at night - or on your own; it only remains closed in bad weather.

A natural landscape with a small stream and a rock wall. In the background, trees and a building are visible. — Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel/M. Rothbrust

Discover a small natural monument of a special kind on the outskirts of Bad Bertrich: the “Elfengrotte”, also called “Käsegrotte”. It originated a thousand years ago, when hot basalt currents flowed through the Üssbach valley and gave the valley a new shape. Located not far from the rushing Elbesbach waterfall, the Elfengrotte has a fairy-tale magic that you should explore.

View of the Weinfelder Maar with yellow gorse in the foreground and blue sky in the background. — Copyright: Rheinland-Pfalz Tourismus GmbH, Dominik Ketz

11.3 km 2:43 h Medium

Circular hiking trail around the Daun maars.

A stone pavilion with a pointed roof stands in a green landscape under a blue sky. — Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel

13.3 km 4:30 h Difficult

Circular hike (approx. 13 km) in the GesundLand Vulkaneifel from/to Bad Bertrich to the Klidinger waterfall. Germany's most beautiful hiking trail 2023

An old church surrounded by green meadows and trees. The sky is blue with some white clouds. — Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH

Pass through the gateway to the centuries-old Himmerod Abbey and discover a time that seems long forgotten. The thick walls and small monastery farms of the Cistercian Abbey in the Salm Valley give you contemplative moments in the middle of the GesundLand Vulkaneifel.

A picturesque landscape with a lake, surrounded by green meadows and hills. In the background, a small village can be seen. — Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH/D. Ketz

This viewpoint directly at the Meerfelder Maar is unique.

Two cyclists on a viaduct in the countryside. — Copyright: Eifel Tourismus GmbH, D. Ketz

58.5 km 4:45 h Easy

Daun - Bernkastel-Kues

A charming building with traditional elements and an inviting terrace. The outdoor area is green and invites you to linger. — Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH

Touch, grasp and understand - this is what distinguishes the interactive museum Vulkanhaus Strohn.

A tunnel with colorful murals. Two people are looking at display boards on the wall. — Copyright: Eifel Tourismus GmbH, AR-shapefruit AG

Underground connection between two Eifel maars: The Ulmen maar-tunnel

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

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.

All Attractions at a Glance

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Two hikers emerge from a moss-covered cave. A woman in front smiles as she ascends a staircase. A man follows her. — Copyright: Eifel Tourismus GmbH, Dominik Ketz

The millstone caves are located northwest of Gerolstein, between the districts Müllenborn and Roth. For those who want to get really deep insights into the interior of the volcano Eifel, a visit to the Mühlstein caves is a must.

A couple stands in nature and looks at a small pond. The surroundings are green with a bright blue sky and a few clouds. — Copyright: Eifel Tourismus GmbH, D. Ketz

A maar and nature reserve with a "medieval lake" full of birds that find ideal living conditions here.

Exterior view of the mousetrap museum in Neroth. In the foreground, a sculpture of two mice, in the background a white building with brown windows. — Copyright: H. Wallenborn

In this museum the home work, manufacturing and distribution system for iron wire mesh ware from Neroth in the 19th Century is exhibited.

A boy sits by a water fountain and looks at his phone. In the background, there is a small traditional half-timbered building and lots of green nature. — Copyright: Natur- und Geopark Vulkaneifel GmbH

Another testimony of volcanic origin is the Vulkania healing spring, not far from the Nürburg spring in Dreis-Brück. The recognised healing water is a little refreshment on the way.

An old castle ruin, surrounded by dense green vegetation. The remains of the walls and towers are clearly visible and testify to past architecture.

The Niederburg, first mentioned in a document in 1173, was always owned by the Manderscheider dynasty of counts. Here you can get a hands-on experience of the Middle Ages! Especially at the annual "Historical Ford Festival" on the last weekend in August.

Two people are leaning over a water source surrounded by stone walls. In the background, trees and a meadow can be seen. — Copyright: Natur- und Geopark Vulkaneifel GmbH

The “Dreisborn” in the upper Prembach valley below the Mosenberg volcanic group is a constantly producing mineral spring, a so-called “Säuerling” (acidulous spring). The “Dreisborn” belongs to the municipality of Bettenfeld.

A rocky landscape with scattered stones and eroded slopes. In the background, there are trees and a cloudy sky. — Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH

Volcanism comes alive in the Volcano Experience Park Mosenberg! Imagine the forces that were unleashed thousands of years ago when you stand in front of the meter-high lava wall and follow the tracks of various volcanic rocks on the nature trail. An exciting look into the history of the earth awaits you at the Mosenberg Volcano Experience Park!

A person is working on a sculpture made of stone. The hands are holding a part of the unfinished sculpture, while tools are lying on the table. — Copyright: Atelier AAK 1

Anyone who wants to try out their talent as a sculptor has the opportunity to do so in the studio of the freelance sculptor, restorer and lecturer Michael Hussmann. The motto is "practical action instead of theoretical shop talk".

Two people are sitting by the shore of a small body of water, exploring the surroundings. In the foreground, a pink plant is blooming. — Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH

Mindfulness point 3a: "Barefoot bathing place" - barefoot through the Kleine Kyll river

A viewing platform with a modern stone column monument. In the background, gentle hills stretch under a clear blue sky. — Copyright: Eifelsüchtig/Ursula Peters

On a forest sofa, let your gaze wander comfortably over the Siebenbach valley and take in all seven meanders of the stream at a glance. On the way on the Heimatspur 05!

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Top 10 Places to Visit

Discover the highlights of the Vulkaneifel

Castles of Manderscheid

Elfengrotte (Käsegrotte)

HeimatSpur MaareGlück

HeimatSpur Wasserfall-Erlebnisroute

Himmerod Abbey

Landesblick Meerfelder Maar

Maare-Mosel-Cycletour

Strohn Volcano House

Ulmen maar-tunnel

Weinfelder Maar

All Attractions at a Glance

The millstone caves of the Rother Kopf

Sangweiher

Mausefallenmuseum Neroth

Vulkania Heilquelle

Niederburg Manderscheid

Dreisborn Mineralquelle

Vulkanerlebnispark Mosenberg

Atelier AAK 1 Eckfeld

Achtsamkeitspunkt 3a "Barfußbadeplatz"

Aussichtspunkt Achterhöhe