Vulkaneifel

Landkreis Vulkaneifel
District

Coat of arms
Country  Germany
State Rhineland-Palatinate
Capital Daun
Area
  Total 911.01 km2 (351.74 sq mi)
Population (31 December 2015)[1]
  Total 60,794
  Density 67/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Vehicle registration DAU
Website vulkaneifel.de

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.

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 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

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

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

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

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. Berlingen
  2. Birresborn
  3. Densborn
  4. Duppach
  5. Gerolstein1, 2
  6. Hohenfels-Essingen
  7. Kalenborn-Scheuern
  8. Kopp
  9. Mürlenbach
  10. Neroth
  11. Pelm
  12. Rockeskyll
  13. Salm
  1. Basberg
  2. Berndorf
  3. Dohm-Lammersdorf
  4. Hillesheim1, 2
  5. Kerpen
  6. Nohn
  7. Oberbettingen
  8. Oberehe-Stroheich
  9. Üxheim
  10. Walsdorf
  11. 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
  1. Birgel
  2. Esch
  3. Feusdorf
  4. Gönnersdorf
  5. Hallschlag
  6. Jünkerath1
  7. Kerschenbach
  8. Lissendorf
  9. Ormont
  10. Reuth
  11. Scheid
  12. Schüller
  13. Stadtkyll
  14. Steffeln
1seat of the Verbandsgemeinde; 2town

References

Coordinates: 50°15′N 6°45′E / 50.25°N 6.75°E / 50.25; 6.75

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