Maar Landscape, Nature and Hiking

Meerfelder Maar covers only part of the 1,700-metre-long crater, the largest maar crater in the Eifel. Meerfeld lies on the steep southern slopes of the part of the crater not occupied by the lake.

The maar and its surroundings are protected. Wet meadows, sedge stands and a wide reed zone in the south provide protected habitats for numerous animals.

Meerfeld has more than 40 kilometres of signposted hiking trails. The local network includes short, easy routes as well as long, challenging ones. This lets you assess the planned hike by its length and difficulty, rather than treating all the trails as alike.

One specific example is the first stage of the VulkaMaar Trail: it leads from Manderscheid via Bettenfeld to Meerfeld and ends at Meerfelder Maar beside Meerfeld. The stage is 12.2 kilometres long and takes 5.5 hours. As trail conditions can change, check the latest trail information before setting out.

Swimming and Other Activities

Meerfeld offers guided hikes and mountain biking; fishing is also possible at Meerfelder Maar. These activities complement the signposted hiking routes with a guided hiking option, an activity on a mountain bike and something to do by the water.

There is a clear rule for swimming: swimming is permitted only in the marked area. Check the current signs about swimming rules on site. The car park is close to the swimming area.

The Wider Bernkastel-Wittlich Destination

The wider destination of Bernkastel-Wittlich brings together the volcanic Eifel, the romantic Moselle Valley and the Hunsrück, rich in forests and meadows. The 816-metre-high Erbeskopf invites visitors to hike and offers a variety of winter sports. At the National Park Gate on the Erbeskopf, an interactive multimedia exhibition provides information about nature and the environment, with a focus on forests and moors.

The hiking information for the wider destination also makes it possible to compare routes for different time budgets: the Manderscheid Castle Trail is a moderately difficult 5.4-kilometre circular route around Manderscheid’s castles, with a stated duration of two hours. The first stage of the VulkaMaar Trail is longer, at 12.2 kilometres and 5.5 hours, and leads from one place to another rather than returning to the starting point as a circular route.

For culture enthusiasts, the pilgrimage church of Maria Heimsuchung in Klausen is another regional highlight: it was consecrated in 1502, and Klausen remains a destination for pilgrims every year. In Kues, the Cusanus Birthplace is used as a museum and event venue; a permanent exhibition about Nicholas of Cusa is on display there.

Another way to explore the wider destination is to visit the Vinothek in the historic vaulted cellars of St. Nicholas Hospital. It offers tastings of wines from the Moselle, Saar and Ruwer. The selection includes 100 wines, from quality wines to ice wine.

Discover more destinations: Großlittgen, Eckfeld, Hasborn, Bettenfeld, Niederscheidweiler, Eisenschmitt, Oberscheidweiler, Karl.

View the wider travel guide: Manderscheid.