The best MTB trails around Darscheid

The Kaiserstein near Mehren in the Volcanic Eifel is a regionally well-known memorial located in the heart of the Lehwald forest and commemorating the first German emperor, Wilhelm I. The monument, a basalt stone, was erected in 1897 and marks a memorial service held on the occasion of the emperor's 100th birthday, although Wilhelm I himself had died nine years earlier in 1888. The inscription on the front of the stone reads: W.I. 1797 - 1897 March 22. This ceremony on March 22, 1897, was a significant event attended by royal foresters, the Mehren War Veterans Association, five schools, and numerous residents of the surrounding villages, underscoring the veneration for the emperor at that time. The Kaiserstein is located in the Lehwald forest, west of the path leading from Darscheid to the Weinfelder Maar, also known as the Totenmaar. Today, it is a cultural monument from the Historicist and Art Nouveau periods and is located within the municipality of Mehren. The memorial is integrated into the region's hiking trails, such as the Biodiversity Trail in Darscheid, and serves as a historical reference point in the volcanic landscape of the Eifel.

Wide forest paths lead from the Alfbachtal to the Notkreuz. Here, too, in the Rudebuhrwald forest, an information board informs us that during the war years of 1944-1945, the residents of Darscheid had to seek refuge in the forest to escape the constant air raids. The wooden Notkreuz, erected here, serves to remind future generations of the horrors of war and to call for peace. Wide forest paths lead from the Notkreuz, via the adjacent HeimatSpur valleys and the Höhenweg (Heimat Trail), up to the Thommener Höhe. Here, you'll be treated to breathtaking panoramas of the Volcanic Eifel.

Fun fact: when the festivities took place on March 22, 1897, Kaiser Wilhelm had already been dead for nine years. Wilhelm I, whose full name was Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig of Prussia, had already died in 1888. He had been King of Prussia from 1861 until his death and the first German emperor since the founding of the empire in 1871.

Somewhat unnoticed, surrounded by shrubs and covered in moss, it stands in the heart of the Lehwald forest between Darscheid and Mehren: the Kaiserstein. Many hikers and visitors pass by. Triangular in shape and somewhat forgotten, stands the monument in honor of the first German Emperor, Wilhelm I. It is a basalt stone, erected in 1897 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the emperor's birth, in the presence of royal forest rangers, the Mehren Veterans Association, five schools, and numerous visitors from the two neighboring towns. The inscription engraved on the gray stone reads: "WI, 1797-1897, March 22."

The Sarmersbach XXL or panoramic bench was built in November 2020 and is the largest bench in Rhineland-Palatinate. At 3.25 meters high and 6.27 meters long, it is unique. Over 6 cubic meters of Douglas fir wood were used. You can easily reach the bench via a wooden walkway – no climbing required! However, enter at your own risk. Anyone who takes a break here will be rewarded with a magnificent view.

Weinfelder Maar - Impressive Evidence of Explosive Geological History The Weinfelder Maar – also known as Totenmaar – is one of the three so-called Daun Maars. It is located about 2 kilometers from our district town of Daun, near the municipality of Schalkenmehren, between the Gemünden and Schalkenmehren Maars. It has a diameter of approximately 525 meters and a depth of 51 meters, making it the deepest of the three Daun Maars. It is the youngest and, at 487 meters above sea level, the highest of the three closely adjacent maars, which formed between 20,000 and 30,000 years ago. Text / Source: Natur- und Geopark Vulkaneifel GmbH, Mainzer Str. 25, Daun https://www.geopark-vulkaneifel.de/eifel/landschaft/maare-und-kraterseen/weinfelder-maar.html

Weinfelder Maar The Weinfelder Maar, formed by volcanic activity around 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, is the highest of the three Daun Maars at 487 meters above sea level. The lake is 51 meters deep and has a diameter of 396 to 429 meters. An almost melancholic atmosphere surrounds the maar. Many legends surround the tranquil Eifel eye. A castle is said to have once stood on the site of the crater, where a count lived with his wife and only child. After returning home from a hunt, the castle had sunk as punishment for the woman's nastiness, and he found only a lake where a cradle miraculously floated his child safely to the shore. If you look at the dark surface of the water long enough, it is said that you can make out the outline of the castle. The German landscape painter Fritz von Wille was so fascinated by the Weinfelder Maar that he repeatedly immortalized it in his paintings. Among his favorite motifs was the small chapel on the north bank, dedicated to Saint Martin. It was once the parish church of the village of Weinfeld, which was ravaged by the plague in the 16th century. Anyone who rings the bells inside by pulling the ropes can make a wish. To this day, the associated cemetery is maintained and used by the local community of Schalkenmehren. This is also where its second name, Totenmaar, comes from. Donkeys and goats have been introduced to the Weinfelder Maar to regulate vegetation. The maar's unique flora and fauna are protected. Swimming and other water sports are prohibited in the Weinfelder Maar, but a nearly two-kilometer-long path makes it a wonderful place to explore on foot. Parking: Guests can park along the L64 either in the parking lot at the Weinfelder Maar or on the Maarsattel between the Weinfelder Maar and the Schalkenmehrener Maar. Text / Source: GesundLand Vulkaneifel GmbH, Leopoldstr. 9 A, 54550 Daun https://www.eifel.info/a-weinfelder-maar

The disused Daun train station was located on the Eifelquerbahn (Eifel Cross Railway) and the Wengerohr–Daun railway line, which was converted into the beautiful Maare-Mosel cycle path. The main building was completed in 1895 and now houses a youth center.