Discover Steffeln: Volcanic Garden and Volcanic Landscape

Steffeln brings together volcanic landscapes and architectural heritage. The Volcanic Garden focuses on crater formations and eruption layers; St. Michael showcases the use of palagonite tuff.

Volcanic Garden and Views into the Crater

The Steffeln Volcanic Garden features a circular trail of about one hour, with 24 stations explaining volcanic phenomena. Eruption layers are exposed in the crater of Steffelberg. The garden is part of a geotope described as unique in Central Europe. A viewpoint offers panoramic views across the Vulkaneifel. The loop thus combines views of geological details in the crater with an overview of the region.

The multilingual information concept, with signs in German, English and Dutch, was presented on November 5, 2024. The Eifelverein offers groups guided walks in the Volcanic Garden by prior arrangement. Since arrangements may change, it is best to confirm the details before your visit.

Volcanic Landforms in Steffeln

The geological setting extends beyond the Volcanic Garden: The municipality of Steffeln, including the district of Auel, has six dry maars of various sizes, as well as a series of volcanic cones. The Steffelner Drees is classified as an iron-rich calcium-magnesium-bicarbonate acidulous spring. This means that several different landforms can be found alongside the crater geology explored in the Volcanic Garden; the Drees adds a precise classification of the spring.

The Vulkaneifel in Context

So far, 77 maars have been identified in the Vulkaneifel; 350 eruption centers have also been counted, about 270 of them from the more recent phase. Ulmener Maar marks the most recent volcanic eruption in the Vulkaneifel, which took place about 10,900 years ago. These figures give the regional context; the figures for the six dry maars and the volcanic cones, by contrast, refer to the municipality of Steffeln, including Auel.

St. Michael and the Votive Chapel

St. Michael Church stands on the southern slope of a striking tuff cliff at the eastern edge of Steffeln. Its building material is palagonite tuff from a quarry immediately below the site. This quarry has been used since Roman times. Its location and building material connect the church to the geological bedrock; for architecture enthusiasts, the tuff offers a tangible link to the surrounding area.

The Wahlhausen Votive Chapel is located elsewhere: It lies about one kilometre northeast of Steffeln, on a hill 560 metres above sea level. While St. Michael marks the eastern edge of the village, the chapel’s location provides another landmark in the surrounding area.

Plan Your Hike and Journey

For hiking plans, the Volcano Trail includes a stage from Steffeln to Gerolstein. Jünkerath station is a possible starting point for arriving by train. The roughly one-hour loop in the Volcanic Garden and the Volcano Trail stage are two different ways to include Steffeln in your hiking plans. Check transport connections and route details before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Gönnersdorf, Esch, Schüller, Lissendorf, Feusdorf, Ormont, Stadtkyll, Birgel.

Return to the regional travel overview: Obere Kyll.