Vulkangarten Steffeln

The volcanic cone of the Steffelberg originally had a summit height of 609 metres above sea level. The mining of cinders in the last century led to the lowering of the mountain peak by 60 metres and created a deep hole in the landscape. This exposed the former eruption layers and today's visitors can look into the crater and recognise the volcanic processes. The eastern part of the crater fill has been preserved in the volcano garden. Large areas of slaggy lapilli and ash can be seen in the interior. Very finely crushed and layered material is also clearly visible at the edge of the path. Then again, there are areas where coarser material has already been partially redeposited on top of the normal layers. A special feature of the Steffelnkopf are two intersecting basalt veins in the vent area. After the actual eruption of the volcano, hot material once again surged upwards, forming a lava lake in the upper area. After the Second World War, the volcanic cone was heavily hollowed out by the exploitation of the economically usable materia

Following the economic utilisation and removal of the volcanic material, the local community of Steffeln pushed ahead with the touristic valorisation of the volcano. The old excavation layers were uncovered, an artificial cinder cone (with original cinder cone material) was heaped up and an artificial maar was created (also with original maar sediment material). A tour of the site was then organised with 15 information stations. In order to preserve the interesting geological outcrops in the volcano garden and to prevent the site from being completely overgrown by vegetation, a herd of goats is used as ‘landscape conservationists’ in the volcano garden as part of an ecological grazing project. The local Eifel Association, Steffeln branch, acts as the carer. Dates of the regular guided tours: April to October on Wednesdays from 2.00 pm (meeting point parish church).

The landscape hike starts at the Steffeln parish hall with a view of the Steffeln lava tuff ring on which the village church with the old vicarage stands and ends at the Eifelblick at the highest point of the Steffelberg. The Gerolsteiner Land tourist information centre has contact addresses for scientific guides for special geological excursions.

A new feature of the volcano garden is a large-scale grazing project to keep the geological outcrops in the area free of vegetation. A mixed herd of goats and sheep is on the move here as four-legged ‘landscape conservationists’. The Pfersch is equipped with self-locking doors so that the site can be entered.

Opening times

The volcanic garden is open year-round, 24/7, and admission is free.

Guided tours: From April to October every Wednesday at 2:00 PM (Meeting point Parish Church)