Brockscheid: Bell Casting, the Lieser Trail and Maars

Brockscheid combines the traditional craft of bell founding with trails through the Lieser Valley and to nearby maars. This gives you a choice of different ways to spend your stay: an insight into an old craft, a walk along a river landscape or an excursion to a maar. Cyclists also have a signposted connection to the Maare-Mosel Cycle Route.

Bell Casting as a Distinctive Craft

The traditional craft of bell founding has been practised in Brockscheid since 1840. The municipality presents the bell foundry as a visitor attraction, where you can see the craft at close quarters. For visitors with an interest in the subject, it is not only the finished product but the manufacturing process itself that takes centre stage. Check what is available before your visit, as visitor arrangements may vary.

Exploring the Lieser Trail

The Lieser Trail between Daun and Wittlich passes right by the built-up area of Brockscheid. It follows the deeply cut, narrow in places, Lieser Valley, which is also connected with Brockscheid’s medieval history. If you enjoy walking, you can combine the valley scenery with a historical connection to the village. When planning your hike, bear in mind that trail conditions may change.

Experience Maars on Foot and by the Water

Several volcanic maars in the area can be walked around. Holzmaar and Dürre Maar are within walking distance; a footpath through the woods leads to Schalkenmehrener Maar in about 45 minutes. Swimming and pedal boating are available there. Alongside the Lieser Valley, individual bodies of water therefore offer further destinations for excursions: a walk around a maar, a trail through the surrounding area and time by the water each offer a different focus. Swimming access and facilities may change; check what is currently available before your excursion.

The Cycling Connection to Daun and Bernkastel-Kues

For a cycling tour, the Glockenschleife is the direct connection: this local cycle route links Brockscheid to the Maare-Mosel Cycle Route between Daun and Bernkastel-Kues. Cycling can thus be planned as an activity in its own right, alongside the walking trails. The Lieser Trail, the paths to the maars and the Glockenschleife offer different ways to explore the area actively. Check the conditions on your planned route before setting off.

The Volcanic Eifel in a Broader Geological Context

A look at the Volcanic Eifel places its maar landscape in a broader context. To date, 77 maars have been identified there. In addition, 350 eruption centres have been counted, about 270 of them dating from the more recent period. Ulmener Maar marks the most recent volcanic eruption in the Volcanic Eifel, which took place around 10,900 years ago. These regional figures complement visits to individual maars with a broader view of the Volcanic Eifel’s volcanic history.

Museums in the region also explore this history. The Eifel Volcano Museum in Daun features three-dimensional landscape models of cinder cones, maars and mineral springs, as well as exhibits on West Eifel volcanism. The Vulkanhaus Strohn is an interactive museum featuring a lava fissure wall around 30,000 years old, approximately six metres long and four metres high. The exhibitions in Daun and Strohn thus offer different insights into landforms and volcanism.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

If you are planning a trip as a family or group, it can help to first agree on what you all want to focus on: should the bell foundry be the cultural highlight, should trails through the Lieser Valley and to the maars take priority, or is the cycling connection especially important? When looking for accommodation in Brockscheid, you can use this priority as your starting point. Then compare specific options based on the location and amenities that matter for your own travel plans.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Nerdlen, Nohn, Steiningen, Betteldorf, Strotzbüsch, Schutz, Demerath, Schönbach.

Return to the main travel overview: Daun.