The last volcanic eruption in the Eifel region was a mere 10,000 years ago and traces of the Eifel's fiery history can be discovered today: The landscape is dotted with the cones of extinct volcanoes and blue crater lakes or maars. The natural beauty of the countryside between the Moselle and Ahr valleys is best explored either on foot or by bike. Make a hiking tour along the long-distance trail Eifelsteig: A string of small historical places line your route through the valleys and hills, some gently rolling, others more precipitous, as you pass hedges of yellow gorse set against the wide, blue sky. The Nürburgring, famous motor-racing circuit and scene of legendary car races past and present, is a beast of a quite different nature.
There are 313 richly varied kilometres to explore on the Eifelsteig. Where the landscape changes all the time and sensational views follow one after another. "Just you, the water and the rocks" is the slogan for the trail and perfectly captures the Eifelsteig experience. The further you venture, the more you see. It begins with flat countryside in the north near Aachen, heads across the Hohe Venn moorlands and into secluded Rurtal valley passing vast reservoirs on its way. Then comes the volcanic region and the southern Eifel before the sandstone cliffs above the Moselle mark the Eifelsteig's end at Trier, Germany's oldest city.
The Genoveva Cave in the Kylltal on the Eifelsteig, Eifel
This time, Martin Seidler heads off to the stony eastern Eifel, shaped thousands of years ago by the ancient power of volcanoes that shook up huge quantities of stone and lava and completely redesigned the landscape. Today, you can go for a walk in the Mendig nearly 32 metres below ground and explore a petrified lava flow made of hexagonal basalt columns. These cool lava vaults are the perfect habitat for bats and, according to the local brewers, also provide ideal conditions for storing beer.
