Beneath Mendig lies a network of underground lava cellars; on a former quarry site, Museumslay displays evidence of stone extraction, and the Sculpture Trail runs through both parts of the town. In this way, the town combines cultural history with walking routes that vary in theme and length. If you are looking for accommodation in Mendig, you can first consider whether the history of basalt and mining or exploring the landscape on foot should shape your stay.
Lava Cellars and Basalt Quarrying
Beneath the town of Mendig, a network of underground lava cellars extends across nearly three square kilometres, at a depth of 32 metres. The cellars were created by quarrying basalt lava, which had formed in the late Middle Ages and was used as building stone. Here, the volcanic rock and its use as a building material take centre stage together.
Museumslay is an open-air museum on a former quarry site in Mendig. It features a faithfully reconstructed horse-powered whim and the Schläsch Express, an old quarry railway with skips. Historical working methods are also explained: visitors can, for example, learn about splitting a basalt block, step by step. The tools on display and explanations of the work link the physical side of stone quarrying with the methods used.
Routes Through Stoneworking and Landscape
The nine-kilometre-long Sculpture Trail starts at Museumslay and runs through both parts of Mendig. More than 40 objects bear witness to the history of the stonecutters and the people of Lay. This gives the trail its own cultural-historical focus and connects it with the theme of the former quarry site.
The Four Mountains Tour offers a different perspective: this circular hike, which starts in Mendig, is 12.9 kilometres long in total and leads through idyllic valleys and deep forests, as well as over mountain ridges with far-reaching views across the Pellenz. The Millstone Hiking Trail, in turn, links production and quarrying sites in the millstone district between Mayen and Mendig. The routes therefore differ both in theme and in their stated lengths; the Millstone Hiking Trail focuses on the sites where millstones were made and quarried.
Experience Volcanism and Check Access
At the German Volcano Museum “Lava-Dome,” the Volcano Workshop offers a mix of games and experiments on volcanism at ten interactive stations. Simulated volcanic eruptions show how the region around Mendig has been shaped over the centuries. This provides a different focus from Museumslay: there, quarrying equipment and historical stoneworking are at the forefront; here, volcanism and its impact on the region take centre stage.
The up to 50-metre-high Wingertsbergwand is located in the vicinity of Mendig. Its information trail explains how the landscape was formed. Access to the wall is currently not possible; check the latest access information before your trip.
Mayen-Koblenz as a Regional Setting
Within the wider destination of Mayen-Koblenz, the 33-kilometre-long Vulkanpark Cycle Route runs from Mayen through Mendig, Kretz and Plaidt to Andernach. It offers a broader regional setting than the routes connected with Mendig and its surroundings here. When planning, it is therefore helpful to distinguish the cycle route as a separate, longer route option from the local cultural and walking trails.
Choose Accommodation Based on Your Interests
When looking for a hotel in Mendig, you can start with what interests you most: Would you like to focus mainly on basalt quarrying and craftsmanship, or would you prefer your stay to revolve around hiking? The lava cellars, Museumslay and Sculpture Trail offer different ways to explore the history of quarrying; the Four Mountains Tour is a clearly described circular hike with its own stated length and landscape.
Discover more destinations: Bell, Rieden, Polch, Spay, Welling, Nickenich, Brodenbach, Bermel.
For the wider travel overview: Mayen-Koblenz.
