Windsborn-Kratersee, © Eifel Tourismus GmbH - Dominik Ketz

Volcanic phenomena

As well as the water-filled maars, the Eifel has other special volcanic features.

As well as the water-filled maars, the Eifel has other special volcanic features. These include the “Wallender Born”, or “boiling spring” cold water geyser, which breaks out every 30 minutes or so. Or maars which have already silted over and the only mountain crater lake north of the Alps (Windsborn crater lake). In old stone quarries, you can take a close look at lava flows.

Share content:

Laacher See in der Eifel, © Eifel Tourismus GmbH, Dominik Ketz

Laacher See lake and Maria Laach

Around 13,000 years ago, the Laacher See volcano eruted violently. Today, the lake is a popular day trip destination. Near the Laacher See lake, you'll also find the beautiful Maria Laach Abbey.

Wallender Born

A seemingly peaceful fountain awakens, begins to bubbling. Suddenly, a fountain of 9 ° C of cold water shoots into the sky, for six minutes it bubbles up. The haunted by, the "Brubbel" like the locals call their phenomenon affectionate, is just as flashy.

Windsborn Kratersee

A special geological highlight is the Windsborn crater lake which is part of the Mosenberg volcano group. It was wrongly referred to as Maar in the past but today it is clear that its origin was different.

Eckfelder Urpferdchen, © Maarmuseum Manderscheid

Eckfelder Maar

Less of an excursion destination than a spectacular site is the Eckfelder Maar in a side valley of the Lieser about 2 km north of Manderscheid.

Blick ins Maar, © Natur und Geopark Vulkaneifel

Mosbrucher Weiher

Mosbrucher Pond The Mosbrucher pond is framed by agriculturally used area of the neighbouring communities. In the areas of undisturbed marshland development, the peat thickness is up to 6 metres, on top of which a varied mosaic of different marshland communities can be found.

Führung im Lavakeller Mendig, © Eifel Tourismus GmbH, D. Ketz

Lavakeller – Einmalige Landschaft in der Tiefe

There are many steps leading deep down below the town of Mendig: Here in the lava cellars, in the middle of the cooled volcanic rock, it is consistently cold even in the hottest summers, there is a mysterious dim light, there is the smell of moisture. Up to 28 Mendig breweries used the 32-metre-high, cathedral-like halls in the basalt rock to store fresh beer. Mighty pillars, left standing during centuries of basalt and lava mining, support the gigantic cellars. A guided tour through the cellars is an unforgettable aha experience. The Vulkan Brewery in Mendig, which is located above the cellars, still uses this unique cold storage facility today. The Lava Dome as a multimedia museum shows many more exciting facets of volcanism.

In der Ettringer Lay, © Foto: Svenja Schulze-Entrup, Quelle: Touristik-Büro Vordereifel

Ettringer Lay - Vulkanparkstation

About 150 years ago in the " Ettringer Lay " ( Lay= stone quarry ) the deepest stone beeches around the Bellerberg volcano were formed. Not without danger the mighty stone columns of its western lava flow were broken here in order to extract building material or paving stones from it . Today a signposted trail lead direct to the lava flow.

Kottenheimer Winfeld, © Vulkanpark, Martin Christ

Kottenheimer Winfeld - Vulkanparkstation

The Kottenheimer Winfeld is a former quarry area in the area of the municipality of Kottenheim and owes its origin to the eruption of the Bellerberg volcano about 200,000 years ago. Today, the idyllic pit landscape with its bizarre rock formations and relics from bygone times, such as crane bases and pit cranes, is part of the volcano park as a landscape monument.

Vulkanparkstation Mayener Grubenfeld, Felswand, © Rheinland-Pfalz Tourismus GmbH, D. Ketz

Vulkanparkstation Grubenfeld

Mayen´s pit field is oner of the oldest and most important mines of basalt lava. This porous stone is perfectly suitable for grain grindings am millstones. A tour leads through the mine landscape, in the depth of the petrified lava river of the Bellerberg volvano with ist bizzare pillars. Roman mining traces can be found near a modern crane from the 20 th century. The sculpture park "LAPIDEA" is also on this area which is used for all kinds of events an by arches as training camp.

Hetsche Maar

The Hetsche maar is the smallest mar in the Eifel and about 40.000 - 70.000 years old.

Arensberg (Arnulphusberg)

The volcanic crater Arensberg (also called Arnulphusberg).

Guest survey

Are you currently spending a vacation in the Eifel or have you spent a vacation in the Eifel in the last 6 months? We would be delighted if you take part in our guest survey. As a thank you, you can win an Apple iPad.

Take part