Volcanic Eifel scenic drive
A 77 km loop through the Volcanic Eifel past the maars (crater lakes), the two castles of Manderscheid and the Gerolstein Dolomites, from Daun. Under two hours from Maastricht and Aachen. For convertibles, ordinary cars, motorbikes and campervans.
For Garmin, Komoot or TomTom: download the GPX.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Weinfelder Maar by Wolkenkratzer (CC BY-SA 4.0), the castles of Manderscheid by Iris Reiff / U.S. Air Force (public domain).
Along the eyes of the Eifel
The Volcanic Eifel is called the land of the maars for good reason: around the town of Daun lie dozens of round crater lakes, formed when rising magma met groundwater and the ground exploded. What remained are deep, still lakes, known locally as the "eyes of the Eifel". This loop strings the finest together, from Daun past the three Daun maars to the deep Pulvermaar, the castles of Manderscheid, the broad Meerfelder Maar and the rocks of Gerolstein, and back again. About 77 kilometres on quiet country roads, a full but relaxed day without a single metre of motorway.
What makes it special is the variety: one moment you look down from a tower onto a blue crater lake, the next you drive through dense forest, past a medieval castle or between the strange limestone crags of the Gerolstein Dolomites. And it is close: from Maastricht or Aachen you are there in one and a half to two hours, which makes the Volcanic Eifel one of the finest day trips just across the border.
The route on the map
A schematic overview by Touren.app, not a navigation map. The exact route opens under “Drive this route” or in Google Maps. Map orientation: north is up.
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The places along the route
1. Daun
Daun is the little spa town at the centre of the Volcanic Eifel and the gateway to the Daun maars. Right by the town lies the Gemündener Maar, the "blue eye", a round crater lake where you can swim in summer. A good starting point with car parks, terraces and the Geopark information centre.
Practical: parking in the centre and at the Gemündener Maar; the swimming maar is open in season.
2. Schalkenmehren
At Schalkenmehren two of the three Daun maars lie side by side: the Weinfelder Maar or Totenmaar, with a lonely chapel on its shore, and the Schalkenmehrener Maar. On the ridge between them stands the Dronketurm, a lookout tower from which you see the maars lying like dark mirrors in the land. The finest panorama of the route.
Practical: parking at the Dronketurm or in Schalkenmehren; a short climb to the tower, swimming in the Schalkenmehrener Maar.
3. Pulvermaar (Gillenfeld)
The Pulvermaar near Gillenfeld is the finest and most perfect maar of all: an almost perfect circle, over seventy metres deep and ringed by forest. From above it looks like a drop of dark blue water in the green. There is a small lido and a walk around the shore; nearby lies the smaller Holzmaar.
Practical: parking at the lido; swimming in season, the walk around the maar takes about three quarters of an hour.
4. Manderscheid
Manderscheid sits above the deeply cut Lieser valley, with two medieval castles facing each other: the Oberburg and the Niederburg, once held by rival lords. The ruin of the Niederburg can be visited and gives a wide view over the valley. In the village the Maar Museum tells the volcanic story of the region.
Practical: parking in the village; the Niederburg is reached on foot, the Maar Museum is in the centre.
5. Meerfelder Maar
The Meerfelder Maar near Meerfeld is the largest of the Eifel maars, a broad and shallow basin with the village on its rim. Unlike the deep round maars this feels like a wide, open landscape; from the edge you look out over the reeds and the water. A calm contrast after the forests and the castles.
Practical: parking on the edge of Meerfeld; a path around the maar, a lookout on the crater rim.
6. Gerolstein
Gerolstein closes the loop, known for its mineral water and for the Gerolstein Dolomites: pale limestone crags from a tropical reef 400 million years old, high above the town. You can climb to the Buchenloch cave or to the Munterley viewpoint. From Gerolstein you drive the country road back to Daun.
Practical: parking in the centre; the Dolomites and the cave are reached on foot, the springs lie by the town.
Practical: for convertible, motorbike and camper
From the Netherlands and Belgium: the Volcanic Eifel is close. From Maastricht or Aachen you drive to Daun in one and a half to two hours. To start the loop from your holiday base or from the border, type your start town into the planner and Touren.app rebuilds the same route from Monschau, Bitburg, Cochem or wherever you are.
Swimming along the way: in season you can swim in the Gemündener Maar, the Schalkenmehrener Maar and the Pulvermaar. Bring swimming things when it is warm; the water is surprisingly clear but also deep and cool.
Which vehicle: the country roads are winding and quiet, so a fine scenic drive for convertible and motorbike. It works well in a campervan too; the roads are wide enough, just mind the narrow descent into the Lieser valley at Manderscheid.
How we keep it honest: we have measured this loop and curated the stops; the label is 'measured and checked'; driving it comes next. The distance was set via Google Maps with motorways avoided.
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Email this route to yourselfFrequently asked questions
What are the maars of the Volcanic Eifel?
Maars are round crater lakes. They formed when rising magma met groundwater and the ground broke open in a huge explosion; the funnel that remained filled with water. The Volcanic Eifel is Germany's youngest volcanic landscape, and the maars are known as the "eyes of the Eifel".
How long is the Volcanic Eifel scenic drive?
About 77 kilometres, with around 1 hour and 28 minutes of pure driving, measured via Google Maps with motorways avoided. With stops at the maars, the Dronketurm tower, Manderscheid and Gerolstein it is a full, relaxed day.
How far is the Volcanic Eifel from the Netherlands?
Close. From Maastricht or Aachen you drive to Daun, the start of the loop, in one and a half to two hours. That makes the Volcanic Eifel one of the finest day trips just across the German border.
Can you swim in the maars?
Yes, in season. The Gemündener Maar, the Schalkenmehrener Maar and the Pulvermaar have a lido. The water is deep, clear and cool; bring swimming things when it is warm.
Is the route suitable for convertible, motorbike and camper?
Yes. The winding country roads are ideal for convertible and motorbike. The route works well in a campervan too; mind the narrow descent into the Lieser valley at Manderscheid and park on the edge of the villages.
Are the exports really free?
Yes, free with a Touren.app credit on them. You never pay us for exports; those who want to drive without ads and offline choose Plus.
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