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The Vulkaneifel in Germany 283

swimming, fishing or enjoying other water sports
(Rieder, 1998). According to a survey mentioned
by Schüller (2007) 29 per cent of visitors are on
the second and third visit, 24 per cent are frequent
visitors and 47 per cent, less than half, are on their
first visit.
The Vulkaneifel draws many visitors to the
volcanic landscape either with maars or with
remnants of volcanoes such in the ‘Vulkangarten’
near Steffeln (Figures CS16.3 and CS16.4),
Figure CS16.3 The Vulkangarten (Volcano garden) in which was created to revitalize the former
Steffeln is popular with interpretive walking tours quarries near the Steffelnkopf volcano (Frey et
starting at the community hall in Steffeln and leading al, 2006), where interpretive walking tours are
through the rural landscape with views of the dry offered by volunteers from the local community.
Laacher Maar into the Vulkangarten
Other interesting volcanic heritage sites are
Note: An old quarry has been opened to the public with walkways and found throughout the Eifel with many of them
signage for people who are not on a guided tour. described by Schmincke (2009) in his latest
book. A tourist programme has been developed
for the Vulkaneifel Geopark to raise awareness of
geological heritage for residents and visitors
through interpretation, excursions and visits to a
number of geo-museum facilities, for example,
Eifel-Volcano Museum Daun, Maar-Museum
Manderscheid and Vulkanhaus Strohn
(Vulkaneifel European Geopark, 2006; Schüller,
2007). Mountain biking activities around the
volcanoes such as ‘VulkanBike Eifel Marathon’,
‘VulkanBike Cross-country’ and ‘Vulkan Bike
TrailPark’ (VulkanBike, 2009) and other sports
events such as the ‘Five-Maar-Run’ are part of
Figure CS16.4 Tuff layers from former eruptions of the the recreational offers in this dormant volcanic
Steffelnkopf are one of the attractions in the environment. Geology and classical music is a
Vulkangarten combination here that is used in other parts
of the world as well, for example, in Australia
exhibitions and open-air classical concerts are all in the Undara Volcanic National Park, where
set against the backdrop of an ancient volcanic annual opera and theatre events take place (see
landscape. Chapter 21).
The Vulkaneifel is one of the major holiday Guided interpretive hiking and walking tours
destinations in Germany and appears to be one of with a touch of adventure (Vulkaneifel European
the most successful. The Eifel maars (Augen der Geopark, 2007) are promoted for visitors to get in
Eifel – Eyes of the Eifel) are probably the best touch with the surrounding landscape. The local
known landscape feature having first been used as media (Eifel Gäste Journal, 2010) provide
unique selling points (USP) for tourism marketing information about all current events of interest for
in 1975 (Schüller, 2007), and are commonly visitors, with most of them linked to the geological
known for their attraction as leisure and recreation heritage of the region. Special magazines report
destinations. They present a wide range of about what is happening at the geo-museums and
recreational attractions and activities and many let the public know about upcoming events such
people choose the Vulkaneifel for their holidays to as presentations by volcanologists who talk about
enjoy the ‘maar atmosphere’ while camping, the Vulkaneifel.

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