Castles in the region

Welcome to Burgenland Eifel. The Eifel region was an early populated landscape, so you can visit some ruins, castles and palaces. Here are a few examples for you.

Ruins Nürburg Castle

Situated within the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring, you will find the ruins of the "Nürburg"summit castle. The castle was first mentioned in 1166 as "Noureberg". However, it is believed that some parts of the castle already existed in Roman times.

With its 678 metres of altitude, Nürburg is the highest castle in Rhineland-Palatinate. The castle got its name from the basalt rock on which it was built. The basalt rock was already mentioned in 954 AD as "Mons nore" - Black Mountain.

Today you can visit the ruins of the castle, a car park is located at the end of the castle rock and from there it is a 10 minute walk to the ruins.

Distance from hotel approx. 1,5 km

Opening hours:
January + February + December = closed
March = Saturday & Sunday from 11.00 - 17.00
April - October = Monday - Friday from 11.00 - 18.00, Saturday & Sunday from 10.00 - 18.00
November = Saturday & Sunday from 11.00 - 17.00

Tuesdays = closed

The Ruins of the castle Virneburg

In the 10th century, the ruins of the castle were the ancestral seat of a wealthy noble family and were mainly used for surveillance of the road from Mayen via Adenau to Aachen. It is particularly interesting that the castle was built on a slate peak with a total height of 430 meters and is surrounded by the Nitzbach stream.

The castle ruins can be visited all year round, depending on weather conditions

Distance from hotel approx. 12 km

Genoveva Castle and Eifel Museum

Built in 1280 by Archbishop Heinrich von Fistingen, the castle is located in the heart of Mayen. Here you can climb the Golotower, visit the rose garden and visit the partly remaining passages of the castle wall.

In summer, the castle's inner courtyard hosts various performances of the so-called castle festivals.

The castle also houses the German Slate Mine and the Eifel Museum.

The Eifel Museum

The museum presents many interesting facts and stories from the region, divided into 5 multimedia levels:

EifelTotal - Get to know the most important facts about the Eifel, e. g. from where to where the region extends
Landscape - Here you will be shown how the Eifel looked before the first human settlements
People & Landscape - Learn what the Eifeler used the landscape for and how he lived.
Belief & Superstition - How superstition is rooted in agriculture you can find out here
Geology - How the Eifel changed over the centuries

The German Slate Mine

Beneath the Genovevaburg there are several hundred metres of slate galleries in which you will learn how the slate miners used to work and live. Enjoy an interactive adventure underground.

Distance from hotel approx. 25 km

Opening hours:
The current opening hours can be found at www.mayen.de/Tourismus-und-Events/Museen/Eifelmuseum_Deutsches-Schieferbergwerk/

Castle Olbrück

All medieval fans can immerse themselves in the age of their heroes here, because there is the Middle Ages "to touch"at Olbrück Castle.

The mediaeval life in the castle and its history are conveyed to you through audio-visual stations. The castle ruin is located on a 460 m high mountain of phonolithic rock from the interior of a volcano, which was exposed by the weather of the years.

In particularly good weather, you can even see the tops of Cologne Cathedral from the Castle Tower.
Look forward to a journey through time from volcanism to the Middle Ages.

Distance from hotel approx. 30 km

Opening hours:
April - October daily from 11.00 to 18.00

Benedictine abbey Maria Laach

Visit the heart of the monastery complex Maria Laach - the Benedictine Abbey Church, one of the best preserved Romanesque monuments in our country. Here you can take part in a classical church service or visit the monastery library and the nursery.

We also recommend a walk around Lake Laacher See. The Laacher lake area originates from volcanic origin and about 10,000 years ago the volcanoes became inactive. Today, Laacher See is the largest lake in Rhineland-Palatinate with approx. 3.3 km² and a water depth of approx. 50 meters.