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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A beautiful view over the valley with gentle hills and wooded areas. In the foreground are a bench and an information table. — Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH

The view from the Ernstberg over the Eifel is simply magnificent.

<p>Historic building in Gerolstein with the inscription 'Anno 1710' and '1949', stairs and statue in the foreground.</p> — Copyright: Jochen Hank

The Natural History Museum in the old town hall of Gerolstein is on the trail of nature. In addition to minerals, rocks and fossils from the region, there are also exhibits from the prehistoric and early history as well as the most species-rich collection of butterflies in the Eifel.

A beautiful park with colorful flowers and lush greenery. In the background, there is a pond with a bubbling fountain. — Copyright: Rheinland-Pfalz Tourismus GmbH/F. Trykowski

Kurpark Daun - Arrive and relax

Feet are in the sand. The ground is bright and sunny. — Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel

Bad Bertricher Venenpfad® The Bad Bertricher Venenpfad®, the first in Europe, was created by a joint initiative of GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH, the Mosel-Eifel-Klinik - specialist clinic for venous diseases and the German Vein Academy (DVA). On an approx. 1000m long route, you will practice using the exercises at 8 information stations and you will train the leg muscles, stimulate the blood circulation in the legs and thus prevent varicose veins.Suggestion: Ask for a professionally trained vein trainer from the Mosel-Eifel-Klinik (contact: 0049-2674-940317)

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

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.

A tranquil lake surrounded by lush, green forest. The sky is clear and blue, perfect for a relaxing day in nature. — Copyright: GesundLand Vulkaneifel/D. Ketz

best researched worldwide

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

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

A couple stands in a narrow cave and gazes intently upward. The walls are made of gray rock, and light shines through a crevice. — Copyright: Eifel Tourismus GmbH, AR - shapefruitAG

At the foot of the Falkenlay rock there are smaller stone age caves. Their settllement between 4,000 and 2,000 BC by Stone Age hunters was proven by corresponding finds. The caves can be reached via the "HeimatSpur Geo-Route", "HeimatSpur Wasserfall-Erlebnisroute" hiking trails.

A person relaxes on a red boat on a calm lake. In the background, there are trees and a blue sky with some clouds. — Copyright: Eifel Tourismus GmbH/D. Ketz

The Pulvermaar, an almost circular lake with 74 m deep blue water surrounded by steep slopes and beautiful beech forest, invites you to swim in a unique natural setting.

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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

Eifelblick am Ernstberg

Gerolstein Natural History Museum - journeys in time on the Eifelsteig

Kurpark Daun

Bad Bertricher Venenpfad®

Gemündener Maar

Holzmaar

Weinfelder Maar

Trautzberger Maar

Steinzeithöhlen

Pulvermaar nature pool