Määrchen-Naturwaldpfad am Holzmaar

The Fairy Tale Nature Trail, located right next to the Holzmaar, whisks young hikers in particular away into the world of the Hetsche Queen—a little adventure filled with exciting stories.

Before you set out…

From time to time, sections of the trail may need to be rerouted or closed temporarily. Just check www.gesundland-vulkaneifel.de/info/wege-info/.

The 4.2-kilometer hike is easy enough for kids to manage and, with its story about the Hetsche Queen, is aimed primarily at young explorers of the Eifel.

After the start, the trail leads along small paths and narrow bridges into a sparse little forest. Along the way, large display boards invite children to immerse themselves in the world of the “Hetsche Queen” (Toad Queen) and learn all sorts of things about the flora and fauna around the Holzmaar. Through fairy tales, legends, and myths, the Queen shares interesting facts about the area surrounding the Sammetbach, which flows into the Holzmaar here. The trail leads to the “Hetsche Maar,” the smallest maar in the world—if you don’t look closely, you might even miss it—and to the Dürren Maar, a bog-like dry maar.

Finally, the trail circles the small Holzmaar, which lies peacefully in the countryside between Gillenfeld and Eckfeld. When ducks glide across the water’s surface, the natural idyll is complete.