The best traffic-free bike rides around Steineberg

First mention (1810/1811) In 1817, the facility was officially recorded as a so-called "Fullmühle" (fulling mill). In such a mill, fabrics, wool, or leather were mechanically beaten and compressed by the power of the Ueßbach stream to make them more durable for further processing.

It was erected as a memorial to the first German emperor in 1897 and is known far and wide as the Kaiserstein in the Lehwald.

The Kreuzberg has been prepared for a grazing concept in order to let goats graze here afterwards.

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memorial is integrated into the region's hiking trails, such as the Biodiversity Trail in Darscheid, and serves as a historical reference point in the volcanic landscape of the Eifel.

A well-maintained cycle path runs around the maar, and beautiful views are guaranteed.

A true paradise stretches out on the edge of the village of Ulmen on a plateau beneath the Steimelskopf, where a volcano once erupted with a tremendous bang, forming a deep crater with a maar lake, which now serves as a renowned bird sanctuary. The exact age of the Jungferweiher lake cannot be determined, but its morphological shape suggests it is several hundred thousand years old. In early modern times, the Lords of Ulmen used the lake as a fishpond for carp breeding, until it gradually silted up over time, and the residents of Ulmen harvested peat from the former maar for heating purposes. However, in 1942, the decision was made to flood the area again by damming the Ulmener Bach to secure the drinking water supply for the Cochem-Zell district. Today, the Jungferweiher lake, located at an altitude of 428 meters above sea level, covers an area of approximately 170,000 square meters with a depth of 0.8 meters. The pond, along with the Ulmener Maar, is protected for its rare flora and fauna. Many endangered species, such as the snipe and the meadow pipit, breed in the reed-rich banks, while ospreys have been observed hunting. Migratory birds such as cranes, teals, and great grey shrikes roost in the meadows near the Ulmener Jungferweiher every year. Therefore, a walk along the approximately 3-kilometer loop is a must, especially during the migration periods in spring and autumn. At the bird observatory on the western bank, you can observe the birds in their natural habitat. Nowadays, a wide variety of fish species thrive in the shallow waters of the Ulmener Weiher, which can be fished from a fishing pier on the southern bank. Swimming and other water sports are prohibited, however. Fishing permits are issued by the local municipal administration in Ulmen. Since 2023, the Ulmener Maar Tunnel has connected the Jungferweiher underground to the Ulmener Maar. A visit to the 126-metre-long tunnel is highly recommended!

1 million years of geology. Worth putting your bike aside for a moment.

The fairy-tale fountain at the Alten Postplatz tells a story. Here, on this spot, it is at its most beautiful.