Burgbrohl between volcanic landscapes and history

Burgbrohl is located in the volcanic East Eifel on the left bank of the Rhine, between Bonn and Koblenz. Hiking trails, volcanic landscapes and historic buildings give your trip a variety of focuses. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between route length and walking time: specific details are given for some trails, while guided tours have their own duration.

Hiking trails and tour planning

The Volcano and Panorama Trail includes a steep climb on Teufelsberg and views into the crater of Herchenberg, with panoramic vistas. A short detour of about 50 metres from the route leads to the trass caves. They recall the mining of trass, which began as early as Roman antiquity and reached its peak from the 17th century to the early 20th century.

A 15-kilometre circular route also runs through the hills around Burgbrohl. Guided tours of Burgbrohl last about 1.5 to 2 hours and start at Josefplatz. The length given for the circular route and the time given for guided tours answer different planning questions; they should not be confused. As the programme may change, check the latest dates and start times in advance. A guided hike with a professional geologist can also be booked. Before your trip, check whether a date is available.

The Brohltalbahn serves the stations of Burgbrohl and Weiler. Signposted access trails from both stations lead to the Volcano and Panorama Trail. If you would like to combine train travel with hiking, check the current timetable. For travel by road, Burgbrohl is connected via the B9 along the Rhine, the A61 and the B412 between the Rhine and the Eifel.

Another place to visit is the spa park in Brohltalaue Ost. Its listed features include a water playground and a bubbling geyser. The park and hiking trails add a range of different themes to the options: the facilities in the spa park on one hand, and the volcanic landscape and walking routes on the other.

Historic buildings and townscape

Burgbrohl Castle stands on a rocky outcrop above the town and was the seat of the Lords of Brule from 1093/1112. The trass caves reveal another facet of history through their connection with trass mining. The town’s history thus encompasses both the castle’s former significance and the long period during which trass was extracted.

The Old Church is a historic church building with openings framed in basalt lava. Grave crosses and numerous gravestones have been preserved from a former cemetery; the outdoor area is freely accessible. St. John the Baptist makes a different architectural statement: the church was built between 1907 and 1909 as a three-aisled building in the Neo-Gothic style. A walk through the town’s history therefore offers a contrast between the preserved cemetery remains at the Old Church and the clearly dated Neo-Gothic architecture.

At the centre of Burgbrohl stands the Joseph Column, dating from 1786. It is considered a rare type of image column in the Rhineland. Opposite the Joseph Column and Josefsplatz is the former Hotel zur Krone, one of the town’s most distinctive buildings. Here, the name refers to a former building in the townscape.

The Kaiserhalle is another distinctive architectural feature: it is a domed hall for balls and theatre performances, with an unusual shell made of unreinforced lightweight concrete. It has been available for events since spring 2019.

Discover more destinations: Oberzissen, Niederdürenbach, Schalkenbach, Dedenbach, Wassenach, Spessart, Wehr, Glees

For the broader travel overview: Brohltal.