Glees: Krotzenhäuser, Mauerley and Lake Laach

The Krotzen houses made from lava fragments and Mauerley give Glees a distinctive character: the use of volcanic material in house construction, a site considered to be a Roman quarry, and a bouldering area are different themes that sit side by side here. Lake Laach, which is considered a recreational area for swimming, sailing, walks and camping, is also close to Glees and Maria Laach. The German Volcano Route starts in the Maria Laach locality and offers a broader thematic perspective on Eifel volcanism.

Lava as a building material

The Krotzen houses are houses open to visitors that were built using lava fragments. This building material brings the relationship between volcanic rock and architecture to the fore: here, lava is not merely a geological term, but a material used in house construction. If you like to pay attention to what buildings are made of, the houses offer a tangible way to explore the subject. During a visit, you can consider how rock shapes the construction of a house. This adds an architectural perspective to your stay, distinct from the activities at Lake Laach.

Mauerley: quarry and bouldering

Mauerley offers a different focus. It is considered a Roman quarry and a bouldering area. These two descriptions appeal to different interests: the first is historical, the second activity-based. When planning your trip, you can consider them separately, depending on whether you are more interested in its classification as a quarry or in bouldering. Compared with the Krotzen houses, the focus shifts from the building material of a house to a place shaped by its quarry history and bouldering.

Lake Laach and Maria Laach

Lake Laach, near Glees and Maria Laach, is considered a recreational area for swimming, sailing, walks and camping. The Benedictine Abbey of Maria Laach is also close to the lake. The activities mentioned differ in their focus: swimming and sailing take you to the water, while walks and camping offer other forms of recreation. Which activities are available at different times of the year may vary, so take your travel dates into account when planning.

The German Volcano Route

The German Volcano Route links 39 sites over 280 kilometres, all significant to Eifel volcanism in geological, cultural-historical and industrial-historical terms; it starts in the Maria Laach locality. Its length and many sites give it a different scale from individual places. For travellers who want to explore Eifel volcanism beyond a single building or activity, the themed route offers a broader framework.

Regional history in Ahrweiler

In the wider travel destination of Ahrweiler, the Ahrweiler District Archive is a local history resource and advice centre for historical and local history questions about the region. If you are interested not only in individual places but also in regional history, this institution offers an additional way to explore the subject. It complements local buildings and activities with a regional-history perspective.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wehr, Oberzissen, Spessart, Niederdürenbach, Weibern, Hohenleimbach, Burgbrohl, Dedenbach.

Back to the main travel overview: Brohltal.