Discover Daun: maars, trails and town history

Daun is close to the three Daun maars. The Maare-Moselle Cycle Route also starts here, and several hiking trails lead to mineral springs or through forests. The spa gardens, Eifel Volcano Museum, church and castle ruins offer further, varied ways to shape your stay. If you are planning a trip around several interests, you can divide your days between activity, nature and culture. When looking for accommodation in Daun, it helps to ask which of these interests should determine the location of your trip.

Cycling: circular route and trail options

The Maare-Moselle Cycle Route starts in Daun, making it a practical starting point for a cycling holiday. An e-bike circular route also starts and ends here. E-bikes can be rented from the GesundLand Tourist Information; check availability in advance if rental is important to your plans. On the way back, the circular route crosses the Daun Viaduct, which offers a view towards the town.

The trail network in the Vulkaneifel Trail Park is signposted so that you can ride the routes without GPS or map support. The mountain bike routes have varying levels of difficulty, run along forest and forestry tracks, and also include the KoulShore single-track area. This distinction is useful when planning: the e-bike circular route focuses on its start and finish in Daun and the viaduct; in the trail park, you can choose according to the different difficulty levels and types of route.

Hiking, parks and nature experiences

The HeimatSpur Dreeswanderweg starts at the FORUM Daun, reaches the Hotzendrees and passes close to the Kolverater Drees, which lies just outside Daun. The HeimatSpur Kleiner Dauner is an 8.5-kilometre circular hike starting and ending in Daun that also reaches the Hotzendrees. The routes differ in their specifically stated features: the Dreeswanderweg is notable for its starting point and proximity to the Kolverater Drees, while the Kleiner Dauner is described by its circular route and length. The HeimatSpur Großer Dauner leads through forests and along varied trails around Daun.

Daun Spa Gardens offer a quiet public park setting. Facilities include the DUNARIS mineral spring, options for drinking or bathing cures, and a Kneipp facility. There is also access to several walking trails, including the Eifelsteig and Lieserpfad. With its park, cures and walking trails, the spa gardens offer a more peaceful focus than the mountain bike routes.

At the Daun Wildlife and Adventure Park, viewing platforms and feeding stations offer the chance to see animals up close; there is also a small-animal farm. A 800-metre summer toboggan run is located right outside the park. As this is a seasonal attraction, check in advance whether it will be available when you visit.

Volcanism and Daun town history

The Eifel Volcano Museum in Daun is housed in the former Daun district office and explores regional volcanism through interactive models, information panels and images. Here, a former administrative building and the story of the volcanic landscape come together as two distinct themes.

Two Daun landmarks also reveal different aspects of history. The Romanesque crypt of St. Nicholas Church survived the destruction caused by the bombing on 2 January 1945. Daun Castle Ruins retain a curtain wall and a bastion tower with loopholes. Together, ecclesiastical architecture and military architecture offer distinct cultural themes.

Choose accommodation to suit your travel plans

If cycling is important to you, the Maare-Moselle Cycle Route’s starting point in Daun is a practical consideration. The HeimatSpur hiking trails differ in their starting points, circular routes, lengths and landscapes. The museum, church and castle ruins complement the nature and activity options with culture.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bleckhausen, Demerath, Deudesfeld, Dockweiler, Ellscheid, Gillenfeld, Hinterweiler, Immerath, Mehren, Meisburg, Niederstadtfeld, Saxler, Schalkenmehren, Schutz, Steiningen, Strohn, Strotzbüsch, Utzerath, Wallenborn, Steineberg, Udler, Nohn, Üdersdorf, Darscheid, Dreis-Brück, Brockscheid, Nerdlen, Kradenbach, Schönbach, Winkel, Tettscheid, Oberstadtfeld, Betteldorf and Mückeln.

For the higher-level travel overview: Vulkaneifel.