Volcanicity for touching
Nature which is fascinating at every time of the year
Arrival before 9.30 a.m. You are most welcome! Meet at Infozentrum Brohltal/Laacher See (Visitor Centre Brohl Valley/Lake Laach), Kapellenstrasse 12, 56651 Niederzissen. Group will be welcomed by an expert Volcano Park tour guide. Drive to Mendig.
10.00 a.m. - 12.00 noon Experience the world of volcanicity. Gain exciting impressions in the Mendig Lava Dome and then descend into the world’s only basalt column vault in the Mendig mine. Drive to the Wingertsbergvulkan (Volcano Wingertsberg), in whose lava flow you have just been able to gain some fascinating and lasting impressions.
Approx. 12.20 p.m. 'A window onto the volcanic past'. Walk along the Wingertsbergwand, with information about Laacher See (Lake Laach) volcanicity.
Approx. 1.10 p.m. After volcanicity comes a culinary experience: Break for lunch, e.g. in the Vulkan Waldfrieden restaurant or in Blockhaus Laacher See. Short walk to the Lydiaturm (Lydia Tower) with an idyllic view over the Laacher See. Drive to the Brohltal railway viaduct with its seven arches (near the inn 'Gasthaus Jägerheim' in the Brohltal).
Approx. 3 p.m. 'Devastating currents of hot gases and rock fragments - and profitable mining'. Join a guided walk through the Trasshöhlen (Trass Caves) and the wild and romantic Wolfschlucht (Wolf's Gorge) to the Römerbrunnen (Roman Fountain) near Wassenach.
6 p.m. Group to be picked up by coach at the entrance to the village of Wassenach. Closing the day together. If desired, you can choose from a variety of local restaurants and inns to retire to at the end of the day.
Contact
Vulkanregion Laacher See
10.00 a.m. Arrival at Infozentrum Rauschermühle (Visitor Centre Rauschermühle) in Plaidt /Saffig. 25 min. film: 'The Exciting Story of the East Eifel Volcanoes'.
10.30 a.m. Tour of the Infozentrum. The Infozentrum Rauschermühle is the main visitor centre of the Volcano Park in the Mayen-Koblenz District. It is one of the suggested stops on the Deutsche Vulkanstraße (German Volcano Route). As regards the geology, cultural history and industrial history of the area, it is here where visitors can find out about all the places of interest.
Films, computer animations, illuminated images, extra-large photographs, and original objects from both ancient and mediaeval times together form a unique presentation of volcanicity in the East Eifel. The 7,000-year history of extraction, and how people have lived from - and with - the volcanic rocks are vividly portrayed.
The archaeology exhibition at Infozentrum Rauschermühle also links with the 17 sites within the Vulkanpark that present the geological, archaeological and industrial heritage of the area. It is possible to go round Infozentrum Rauschermühle with an audio guide. Group tours can be arranged on request. Tour of the neighbouring Rauscher Park, which is located just behind the Infozentrum Rauschermühle.
This is where the River Nette has been noisily cutting its way through the lava flow of the Wannen group of volcanoes for more than 200,000 years. Now it cascades over the blocks of basalt which it has cut free in the course of all these thousands of years. Marks which are visible in the rocks are evidence of extraction by the Romans.
- Lunch break -
2.00 p.m. Tour of the Römerbergwerk Meurin (Meurin Roman Mine) near Kretz. The 1,700-year-old mine with its excavation chambers, mine galleries and steps is protected by a modern hall construction. The Roman mining operations are vividly described and explained using large illuminated images. It is possible to go round the Römerbergwerk Meurin with an audio guide. Group tours can be arranged on request.
3.00 p.m. Drive to the Ettringer Lay, which is located on the Deutsche Vulkanstraße near Ettringen. With its numerous remnants of early 20th century technology, Ettringer Lay is a unique monument to the history of quarrying.
When you stand on the edge of the basalt quarry and look across it at the huge quarry face, you can imagine how deep the former valley must have been before the volcano erupted, and what enormous quantities of lava must have flowed out of the side of the Bellerberg Volcano at Ettringen. Life-size steel figures along a circular walk depict everyday scenes from the working life of the quarrymen.
Contact
Vulkanpark GmbH
Natur- & Geopark Vulkaneifel (Volcanic Eifel Nature Park and Geopark)
Together with our certified Natur- und Geopark Vulkaneifel guides and our certified Vulkaneifel tour guides, we offer our guests a varied and exciting nature discovery programme with events throughout the year, which take participants to the treasures of this fascinating landscape.
Bring family and friends to join the nature discovery tours and events offered by our specially trained guides, e.g
- Wild flowers in a volcano
- An evening visit to the Birresborner Eishöhlen (Birresborn Ice Caves)
- Discover birds, bats, raised bogs and maar lakes by bicycle
- Inside the territory of the Eifel’s small predators: martens and wildcats
- Volcanic district and Glauber’s salt mineral water spring at Bad Bertrich