At the edge of Kalenborn-Scheuern, the ancient volcanic spur Rossbüsch rises directly to 539 metres. Near an extinct volcano lies a prehistoric quarry for millstones and mill-wheel stones. There is also an extensive network of hiking trails and two protected chapels. The landscape, hiking and local history therefore shape the area’s main themes when choosing a destination.
Volcanic traces and local history
Rossbüsch is an ancient volcanic spur whose ascent begins directly at the edge of the settlement. The prehistoric quarry for millstones and mill-wheel stones adds evidence of the extraction of stone for millstones and mill wheels to this landform. The two features offer different perspectives: the spur represents the volcanic landscape, while the quarry reflects its former use. Two protected chapels also contribute to the historic character of Kalenborn-Scheuern, adding an architectural element to the landscape.
Hiking through hills and forests
The municipality promotes an extensive network of hiking trails through the surrounding hills and forests, offering views across the Eifel landscape. Hiking is therefore a distinct part of the area’s appeal for travellers who enjoy spending time outdoors. The trails’ expansive landscape theme differs from the quarry’s specific historical connection: one draws attention to hills and forests, the other to a particular site of stone extraction.
The Volcanic Eifel as a wider destination
Beyond its local features, the Volcanic Eifel offers geological points of interest on a regional scale. To date, 77 maars have been identified in the Volcanic Eifel, and 350 volcanic centres have been counted, about 270 of them from a more recent phase. Ulmen Maar marks the most recent volcanic eruption in the Volcanic Eifel, which occurred about 10,900 years ago. Maars, volcanic centres and the eruption’s place in geological time each represent different geological points of interest.
Hiking and cycling trails in the Volcanic Eifel
The Volcanic Eifel trails lead to scenic highlights on both sides of the Eifelsteig. They are marked and signposted and include half-day hikes, day hikes and multi-day hikes. Specific examples vary in route type and course: the 26.2-kilometre Vulcano Trail is a circular route east of Schalkenmehren; the eleventh stage of the Eifelsteig runs from Daun to Manderscheid and is 23.4 kilometres long. Trail conditions can change; check them before setting out.
For mountain biking, the Trailpark Vulkaneifel offers a network of trails about 750 kilometres long, with more than 17,500 metres of elevation gain. This is a different scale and activity from the hiking trails mentioned above. Trail conditions can change here too, so checking them before setting out helps with planning.
Museums and other places in the Volcanic Eifel
The Eifel Volcano Museum in Daun displays three-dimensional landscape models of cinder cones, maars and mineral springs, as well as exhibits on volcanism in the Western Eifel. The Strohn Volcano House is an interactive museum featuring a lava fissure wall about 30,000 years old, roughly six metres long and four metres high. The Natural History Museum in Gerolstein, described as the Eifel’s largest and oldest geological museum, displays stone evidence of the region’s geological history across three floors.
Castles and lakes also feature among the Volcanic Eifel’s attractions. Ulmen Castle Ruins rise above the steep shore of Ulmen Maar; parts of the upper castle remain. The two Manderscheid castles are separated by the narrow Lieser Valley, creating a combination of nature and culture. Windsborn Crater Lake near Bettenfeld is the only natural crater lake north of the Alps. Gemünden Maar has a water surface of about seven hectares and is the smallest of the three famous “eyes of the Eifel”.
At the Strohn Lava Bomb, visitors can explore how it formed and experience the effects of volcanism in the Eifel. Access conditions on site may vary.
Discover more destinations: Oos, Birresborn, Pelm, Berlingen, Hinterhausen, Gees, Duppach, Hohenfels-Essingen.
For the broader travel overview: Gerolstein.
