Discover Gillenfeld: Vulkanhof and the Maare-Mosel Cycle Route

At Vulkanhof in Gillenfeld, goat cheesemaking, a farm shop and bookable farm activities come together. A different perspective opens up at the historic railway bridge dating from 1908: today it crosses the Maare-Mosel Cycle Route and is used by cyclists and walkers. There are also nature-related experiences at the maars. When planning your trip and accommodation, you can decide whether food, water or outdoor activities should be the main focus.

Maars: different nature experiences

Pulvermaar is a volcanic maar with steep, funnel-shaped sides and is considered Germany’s deepest natural lake. Swimming, fishing, hiking and boating offer different ways to experience the water. The steep, funnel-shaped landscape that drops down to the water gives the maar a distinctly different character from a flat lakeshore.

Holzmaar is a protected natural area. A path runs around the maar, and fishing is also possible. A diverse birdlife inhabits the reed beds, and there are benches around the water. Here, a walk around the maar goes hand in hand with observing nature.

Different aspects come to the fore when choosing a nature experience: at Pulvermaar, options range from water activities to hiking, while Holzmaar is associated with protected nature, reed-bed birds and a path around the water. These differences can help you plan your day around your travel group’s interests.

Experience cheese and history along the cycle route

Vulkanhof in Gillenfeld is a goat cheesemaking farm with a farm shop. Farm tours, a cheese-making school, goat hikes and farm education activities can be booked by arrangement. Depending on your interests, you can focus your visit on cheese, goats or insights into life on a farm. Opening hours and booking arrangements may change; please confirm them in advance.

The historic railway bridge, built in 1908, now crosses the Maare-Mosel Cycle Route. Cyclists and walkers encounter a structure that links its former railway history with today’s cycle route. This gives you two different options for planning your day: a pre-booked activity at Vulkanhof and a historic site along the route.

Vulkaneifel: a broader geological and cultural setting

A total of 77 maars have been identified in the wider Vulkaneifel region. In addition, 350 eruption centers have been counted there, around 270 of them dating from the more recent phase. Ulmen Maar marks the Vulkaneifel’s most recent volcanic eruption, which took place around 10,900 years ago. Near Bettenfeld lies Windsborn Crater Lake, the only natural crater lake north of the Alps. Gemündener Maar has a water surface of about seven hectares and is the smallest of the three famous “Eyes of the Eifel.”

The hiking and cycling routes also offer different ways to plan your day. The marked and signposted Vulkaneifel Trails lead to scenic highlights on either side of the Eifelsteig and include half-day hikes, day hikes and multi-day hikes. The Vulcano Trail is a 26.2-kilometer circular route east of Schalkenmehren. As a different type of tour, the eleventh stage of the Eifelsteig runs from Daun to Manderscheid and is 23.4 kilometers long. For mountain bikers, Trailpark Vulkaneifel has a network of trails about 750 kilometers long, with more than 17,500 meters of elevation gain. Check current trail conditions before setting out on a specific tour.

There are also different museum approaches to exploring volcanism: 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 interactive Strohn Volcano House is home to a lava fissure wall about 30,000 years old, around six meters long and four meters high. Those interested in castles will also find Ulmen Castle ruins in the Vulkaneifel, above the steep shore of Ulmen Maar; parts of the upper castle remain. The two Manderscheid castles are separated by the narrow Lieser valley, bringing landscape and culture together.

Choose accommodation based on your travel interests

These interests lend themselves to different day plans. When planning, also consider whether you would like to arrange individual experiences, such as farm activities, in advance.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Dreis-Brück, Schutz, Wallenborn, Winkel, Immerath, Darscheid, Saxler, Demerath.

For the broader travel overview: Daun.