Nerdlen can be understood through its distinctive contrasts: a history of settlement dating back to around 1400, and hiking trails with different routes. The Struth Circular Trail runs through the village; the HeimatSpur Kleeland Loop starts and ends at the community centre in Sarmersbach. St. Anthony’s Chapel stands in the village centre. For a broader perspective on local topics, the Volcanic Eifel provides geological and landscape context.

Village History and St. Anthony’s Chapel

Settlement in Nerdlen can be traced back to around 1400. At that time, farmers settled at the confluence of the Sarmersbach and the Lieser. The village name also changed over several stages: “Zu den Erlen” first became “Nerlen” and eventually “Nerdlen”. Two perspectives on the village’s history therefore come together: the early settlement site at the confluence and the succession of older forms of the name.

St. Anthony’s Chapel stands in the village centre. After a village fire in 1893, it was rebuilt and consecrated in 1898. It is still used for Mass, services of the Word, and rosary prayers. As service arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the latest dates in advance.

Hiking Trails and Choosing a Route

The Struth Circular Trail passes through Neichen, Beinhausen, Afelskreuz, Sarmersbach, Nerdlen and Kradenbach. The shorter loop is about 16 kilometres long and runs through woods and fields, mostly on well-maintained paths. Panoramic views are part of the route, as is a rest stop with a distant view of Hilgerath parish church. The route can also be explored by mountain or trekking bike. Nerdlen is also close to the start of the Lieser Trail.

The start and finish of the HeimatSpur Kleeland Loop are at the community centre, Bergstraße 1, in Sarmersbach. The route passes through woods near the Hörscheider Chapel, returns to Nerdlen and continues across the Eulenbrücke outside the municipality. The route descriptions therefore differ not only in length but also in course: the Struth Circular Trail passes through several villages, while the Kleeland Loop has a specific starting and finishing point in Sarmersbach. Check access to the starting point before travelling, as local access arrangements may change.

Maars and the Volcanic Eifel

The maars around Nerdlen are considered water-filled volcanic craters; natural bathing areas and boat trips are among the outdoor activities available. A total of 77 maars have so far been documented in the wider Volcanic Eifel destination. In addition, 350 eruption centres have been counted there, around 270 of them from the more recent phase. The Ulmen Maar marks the most recent volcanic eruption in the Volcanic Eifel, which occurred about 10,900 years ago.

The landscape of the Volcanic Eifel includes forests, bogs, dry habitats, bodies of water and distinctive volcanic habitats. The Eifel maars are designated European Fauna-Flora-Habitat sites, with biologically diverse habitats for rare animals and plants. In Daun, the Eifel Volcano Museum displays three-dimensional landscape models of cinder cones, maars and mineral springs, as well as exhibits on West Eifel volcanism.

Regional hiking options also cater to different time budgets: the Volcanic Eifel Trails are waymarked and signposted, and offer half-day hikes, full-day hikes and multi-day treks. They lead to scenic highlights on both sides of the Eifelsteig. When planning your stay, you can thus distinguish Nerdlen’s local trails from the wider hiking and landscape attractions of the Volcanic Eifel.

Discover more destinations: Utzerath, Saxler, Steiningen, Kradenbach, Wallenborn, Schönbach, Deudesfeld, Mehren.

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