Vulkaneifel (German pronunciation: [vʊlˈkaːnʔaɪfl̩]) 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.

Landkreis Vulkaneifel
Flag of Landkreis Vulkaneifel
Coat of arms of Landkreis Vulkaneifel
Map
CountryGermany
StateRhineland-Palatinate
CapitalDaun
Government
 • District admin.Julia Gieseking (SPD)
Area
 • Total911.01 km2 (351.74 sq mi)
Population
 (31 December 2022)[1]
 • Total61,769
 • Density68/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Vehicle registrationDAU
Websitevulkaneifel.de

Location

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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 mineral springs (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

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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 infrastructural 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

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The district is located in the Eifel mountains, containing volcanic lakes called maars. 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

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Places of interest in the Vulkaneifel include the maar lakes around Daun, and Manderscheid, as well as the caldera lake of Laacher See at the abbey of Maria Laach, which is the largest, and the youngest within the region. Hiking and cycling trails dot the region.

Museums 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 geological parks (2004,45 km2), the Vulkanpark Brohltal/Laacher See, the Vulkanpark Osteifel, and the Vulkaneifel European Geopark.

 
Courtyard of the Castle of Lissingen

The Castle of Eltz and the Castle of Lissingen are well preserved castles in the Vulkaneifel.

Coat of arms

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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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Verbandsgemeinden
  1. Betteldorf
  2. Bleckhausen
  3. Brockscheid
  4. Darscheid
  5. Daun1, 2
  6. Demerath
  7. Deudesfeld
  8. Dockweiler
  9. Dreis-Brück
  10. Ellscheid
  11. Gefell
  12. Gillenfeld
  13. Hinterweiler
  14. Hörscheid
  15. Immerath
  16. Kirchweiler
  17. Kradenbach
  18. Mehren
  19. Meisburg
  20. Mückeln
  21. Nerdlen
  22. Niederstadtfeld
  23. Oberstadtfeld
  24. Sarmersbach
  25. Saxler
  26. Schalkenmehren
  27. Schönbach
  28. Schutz
  29. Steineberg
  30. Steiningen
  31. Strohn
  32. Strotzbüsch
  33. Udler
  34. Üdersdorf
  35. Utzerath
  36. Wallenborn
  37. Weidenbach
  38. Winkel
  1. Basberg
  2. Berlingen
  3. Berndorf
  4. Birgel
  5. Birresborn
  6. Densborn
  7. Dohm-Lammersdorf
  8. Duppach
  9. Esch
  10. Feusdorf
  11. Gerolstein1, 2
  12. Gönnersdorf
  13. Hallschlag
  14. Hillesheim
  15. Hohenfels-Essingen
  16. Jünkerath
  17. Kalenborn-Scheuern
  18. Kerpen
  19. Kerschenbach
  20. Kopp
  21. Lissendorf
  22. Mürlenbach
  23. Neroth
  24. Nohn
  25. Oberbettingen
  26. Oberehe-Stroheich
  27. Ormont
  28. Pelm
  29. Reuth
  30. Rockeskyll
  31. Salm
  32. Scheid
  33. Schüller
  34. Stadtkyll
  35. Steffeln
  36. Üxheim
  37. Walsdorf
  38. Wiesbaum
  1. Arbach
  2. Beinhausen
  3. Bereborn
  4. Berenbach
  5. Bodenbach
  6. Bongard
  7. Borler
  8. Boxberg
  9. Brücktal
  10. Drees
  11. Gelenberg
  12. Gunderath
  13. Höchstberg
  14. Horperath
  15. Hörschhausen
  16. Kaperich
  17. Katzwinkel
  18. Kelberg1
  19. Kirsbach
  20. Kolverath
  21. Kötterichen
  22. Lirstal
  23. Mannebach
  24. Mosbruch
  25. Neichen
  26. Nitz
  27. Oberelz
  28. Reimerath
  29. Retterath
  30. Sassen
  31. Uersfeld
  32. Ueß
  33. Welcherath
1seat of the Verbandsgemeinde; 2town

References

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  1. ^ "Bevölkerungsstand 2022, Kreise, Gemeinden, Verbandsgemeinden" (PDF) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt Rheinland-Pfalz. 2023.
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50°15′N 6°45′E / 50.25°N 6.75°E / 50.25; 6.75