Vulkaneifel () is a district ( Kreis) in the northwest of the state Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the least densely populated district in the state and the fourth most sparsely populated district in Germany. The administrative centre of the district is in Daun. Neighboring districts are Euskirchen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Ahrweiler, Mayen-Koblenz, Cochem-Zell, Bernkastel-Wittlich, and Bitburg-Prüm.
Location
The county of Vulkaneifel lies in the western part of the eponymous region which lies at heights between 150 and 700 metres above sea level.
As a result of former
volcanism numerous
(
Sauerbrunnen) have formed. The
Kyll flows through the county from north to south. The German Wildlife Route and the German Volcano Route also cross the county as does the
Eifelsteig hiking trail.
History
The district was created in 1815 when the Eifel became part of
Prussia. As most of the local industries had their traditional markets in
France, the district fell into a severe
economic crisis. The construction of a
railroad in the second half of the 19th century helped it to recover. The construction of the Nürburgring in 1927 was also an
infrastructure project that helped the local economy. The district was enlarged significantly in 1970–1971, when the districts
Mayen and Prüm were dissolved and parts were added to the Daun district.
On January 1, 2007, the district Daun was renamed Vulkaneifel, the name of the landscape.
Geography
The district is located in the
Eifel mountains, containing volcanic lakes called
. The largest river in the district is the
Kyll.
The Vulkaneifel consists of three regions: Vulkanische Osteifel (municipalities of Brohltal, Vordereifel, Mendig, Pellenz), Vulkanische Hocheifel (municipalities of Kelberg, Ulmen, and the village of Nohn), and Vulkanische Westeifel (remainder of the municipality of Hillesheim, and municipalities Obere Kyll, Gerolstein, Manderscheid, Daun).
Tourism
Places of interest in the Vulkaneifel include the
maar lakes around Daun, and Manderscheid, as well as the
volcanic caldera lake of
Laacher See at the
abbey of
Maria Laach, which is the largest, and the youngest within the region.
Hiking and
bicycle trails dot the region.
in the Vulkaneifel include the Lava-Dome (the German volcanic museum) in Mendig, the Vulkanhaus in Strohn, and the Eifel-Vulkanmuseum in Daun.
The Vulkaneifel contains three Geopark (2004,45 km2), the Vulkanpark Brohltal/Laacher See, the Vulkanpark Osteifel, and the Vulkaneifel European Geopark.
The Eltz Castle and the Castle of Lissingen are well preserved castles in the Vulkaneifel.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms show the symbols of three territories which historically made up the district. In the left is the cross of
Trier, the lion in the right represents the Counts of Blankenheim-Gerolstein. The escutcheon in the middle show the arms of the Counts of Daun.
Towns and municipalities
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| 1seat of the Verbandsgemeinde; 2town |
External links
