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Now that's what I call solid construction!

The oldest part of Bürresheim Castle is the imposing keep, a 12th-century tower that clearly reflects the castle's defensive origins. Over time, the castle developed into a complex double complex, consisting of the so-called Cologne Castle and the Trier Castle, which underwent different construction and expansion phases. While the Cologne Castle formed the older part and primarily served economic purposes—leading to its eventual decline—the Trier Castle was transformed into a prestigious residential palace, which continues to shape the character of the entire complex to this day.

On asphalt through the forest, what more could you want? Fantastic.

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!

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

The Ulmen Maar lies 420 meters above sea level today, covers an area of 5.5 hectares, and is 36 meters deep. The bubbles at the maar's edge demonstrate that volcanism is still active. They bear witness to a turbulent past—but rest assured, there's no eruption in sight! A wall of various rocks and ash, up to 20 meters thick, surrounds the cone. For those interested, these testimonies to this explosive past are beautifully displayed in St. Matthias Church. This unique wall, with its different colored layers and rounded inclusions, is worth seeing for more than just geologists. The slopes of the maar basin are covered with a beautiful forest, which can be explored on a circular walk. A detour to the medieval castle ruins, from which the Crusaders once launched their campaigns, is recommended. The view from the crater rim over the maar and the Eifel beyond will take your breath away. Whether after a sweaty hike or a long drive, the blue of the Ulmer Eifel lake is all too tempting in summer. However, bathing in the maar is prohibited because it is designated as a nature and water protection area.

The castle belongs to the municipality of Sankt Johann in Rhineland-Palatinate and is located northwest of Mayen on a rocky outcrop at the confluence of the Nitzbach and Nette rivers. Along with Eltz Castle and Lissingen Castle, Bürresheim Castle is one of the few aristocratic residences in the Eifel region that was never conquered or destroyed, surviving unscathed both the wars of the 17th and 18th centuries and the social upheavals resulting from the French Revolution. Its history was largely shaped by its location on the border between the two ecclesiastical electorates of Cologne and Trier.

It's a really beautiful lake