Maria Laach Abbey: a favourite day out in the Eifel

All about Maria Laach Abbey: history, architecture and what makes it special

One of the great highlights of the Osteifel is Maria Laach Abbey. It has stood for 900 years and draws visitors from all over the world. After it was founded by Count Palatine Henry II of Luxembourg, it was first inhabited and used by an order of Benedictine monks. At the beginning of the 19th century the abbey was closed, and Maria Laach then passed into French ownership. In 1855 a fire destroyed most of the abbey buildings. It was not until 1892 that the monks returned.

For Maria Laach Abbey, its builder chose Romanesque architecture, the style that defined the Middle Ages in Europe. Its hallmark was the semicircular arch, which can still be seen in many other churches today. Other things worth seeing right on the abbey’s doorstep include the Laacher See and the circular path that runs all the way around the lake. As a walker and nature lover you will get your money’s worth here. Explore the area at leisure, and treat yourself to specialities from the Eifel at one of the places to eat by the abbey.

The Osteifel is a well-known holiday destination because the area has so many different sides to it. Spring, summer, autumn or winter, this is where you can walk to your heart’s content and explore unspoilt countryside on any number of paths. If you are a keen cyclist, all you need to do is get in the saddle and start pedalling, over hill and dale. Where you go is entirely up to you. Or you might simply treat yourself to a lovely weekend of being spoilt. Take your time and discover the Benedictine abbey of Maria Laach and the countryside around the Waldsee Rieden. You will almost certainly say afterwards that you would love to come back.

Maria Laach Abbey: a day out that draws visitors from all over the world

Maria Laach Abbey is a day out that delights visitors from all over the world. Inside the church, look for the great mosaic of Jesus Christ the Redeemer. This is where the monks who live at the abbey today gather every day at set hours. The centrepiece of the church is the three-aisled pillared basilica, built with six towers and two transepts. For this historic monument the builder used white limestone from the Lorraine area and local calcareous sandstone. On your visit, do not miss the underground crypt and the porch either. The crypt is regarded as the oldest part of the basilica. The Count Palatine began building it in his day, but by the time he died only half of it was finished. Close to the Benedictine abbey you will find Rieden am Waldsee. It is well worth stopping here too. Superb walking trails and the local restaurants invite you to linger a while. Explore the unspoilt countryside and enjoy some unique experiences and a thoroughly good time.

What monastery businesses and places to eat will you find on site?

A visit to Maria Laach Abbey brings you a number of monastery businesses and a good choice of places to eat. Watch metal being worked in the Laacher art forge, or use the service to have a canopy, a fence or a gate made for you. The sculpture workshop on the abbey grounds is fascinating, and its handmade pieces are sold at fixed prices. Take a look at the orchards afterwards, then let the abbey kitchen prepare a treat to your own taste. The kitchen is open daily from 11:00 to 18:00. Alongside plenty of good food you can also try the well-known Klosterbier, an excellent beer brewed to the monks’ own recipe and served in clay cups made by hand at the abbey. And if you would rather cater for yourself in your holiday home in the Osteifel, the monastery shop has much of what you need.

Plan a walk on the path around the Laacher See

If you like being on your feet and rough ground does not put you off, the circular path around the Laacher See will win you over. It is a little over 8 kilometres long and takes you the whole way round the lake. The Laacher See is known as the largest volcanic lake in the Eifel. From the far side you have a lovely view of Maria Laach Abbey and the whole surrounding area. In places the lake bubbles. But there is nothing to fear: it is an extremely long time since the volcano last erupted. If you would like a short break on your way round the water, the Seehotel is there for refreshments, and it will serve you everything to please the palate. If you want to see more than Maria Laach Abbey on your holiday, do get to know the other Eifel lakes as well. Right next to the abbey grounds, tucked into the forest, lies a small reservoir of four hectares that will delight anyone who enjoys a walk. If you are planning to swim in it, that is no problem, because bathing is allowed. At its deepest point the lake is up to eight metres deep. To explore more Eifel lakes you do not have to drive far either, because the Heilbachsee is very close by. The circular path there is fairly short, but you can extend it into a walk of around 20 kilometres through woods and fields. Remember to bring good footwear.

The Osteifel: a paradise for walkers and nature lovers

Discover your appetite for a holiday in the Osteifel and choose a varied break that you will thoroughly enjoy. This is the region the maars, the volcanic crater lakes, and the volcanoes call home. The volcano beneath the Laacher See is one of the best known anywhere in the area. Beyond that you can explore the countryside around the Eichholzer Maar, the Pulvermaar, the Schalkenmehrener Maar, the Holzmaar, the Ulmener Maar and the Gemünder Maar, and see nature in a new light on long walks.

The Ulmener Maar has since been chosen by the Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) as one of the first 100 geological heritage sites. The IUGS is one of the largest scientific institutions in the world. The Ulmener Maar came out ahead of 181 candidates from 56 countries, making it one of only 3 sites in Germany on that worldwide list. Other significant places on it include the Grand Canyon (USA) and Uluru in Australia. Your activity holiday has plenty more surprises in store. You can walk, stroll, cycle to your heart’s content, or simply do whatever you enjoy most on holiday.

Eating out at the Waldsee Rieden: not just ideal for dog lovers

The places to eat at the Waldsee Rieden welcome you in some of the loveliest spots in the Osteifel. Stop at the Eifeler Seehütte and you can recover from a long walk over a cup of coffee and a generous slice of cake. Or go for a freshly baked waffle, or treat yourself to a proper meal in the restaurant at the Eifeler Seehütte. One thing that is particularly welcome if you have a dog with you: there is a veterinary clinic in the immediate area, close to both Maria Laach Abbey and the Waldsee Rieden.

Where can you stay near Maria Laach Abbey or the Waldsee Rieden?

More on the area and days out, including with children

One special highlight is a day out in Eifel National Park, around an hour away by car. Here the beautiful nature of the region is laid out for you and your children on a grand stage. Wander along winding paths and spot all kinds of animals together with the children. You can also join a guided group walk led by a volunteer forest guide. On a tour of your own the choice is yours: you can walk, cycle or let a horse carry you through the national park. How you do it is entirely up to you. What matters is that you enjoy yourselves and are already planning your next holiday in the Osteifel.

Incidentally, the historic little town of Mayen, very close by, is home to Tollipark Mayen. It is an indoor play park with an outdoor area and any number of stations and highlights, and children love it. Mayen is also known for its Burgfestspiele castle theatre festival, which draws crowds of visitors every year. The Genovevaburg, where it is staged, makes the perfect backdrop for unforgettable performances. A visit to the Eifelmuseum in Mayen or the Deutsches Schieferbergwerk slate mine belongs on any good holiday too. Riding the mine train into the tunnels is a real experience, and the museum has plenty worth knowing about the region, its customs and, of course, its volcanoes. It is a very fine museum, by the way, with a wealth of interactive things to discover.

The region’s top days out undoubtedly include the following:

• The city of Koblenz with Ehrenbreitstein Fortress and the Deutsches Eck (where the Rhine and the Moselle meet)
• The historic little towns of Bernkastel-Kues and Monreal with their beautiful lanes and half-timbered houses
• Eltz Castle, hidden away in the forest and an enchanting place
• The fairy-tale Bürresheim Castle, where more than one film has been shot
• The tallest cold-water geyser in the world, at Andernach
• The Nürburgring, host to countless races and probably the best-known Formula 1 circuit in the world
• The little town of Cochem with Cochem Castle, which draws visitors from all over the world every year
• The Vulkan Brauerei in Mendig with the deepest beer cellar in the world, or the world-famous Bitburger Brewery

If you are exploring the area in the autumn months, do not miss one of the cheerful wine festivals on the Rhine or the Moselle. If you have your children with you, Klotten Wildlife and Adventure Park is worth considering as well. There are rides, plenty of animals and, of course, somewhere to eat and drink along the way. Daun Wildlife Park is another excellent idea, with a day built around a car safari across an enormous site. Wild boar, falcons, roe deer, red deer and birds of prey are all there to admire. A free-range enclosure with Barbary macaques is one of the absolute highlights. The monkeys roam freely and you can watch them at very close quarters. More than one of these characters has already tried to sneak off for a piggyback ride.

The Teufelsschlucht dinosaur park and Neuwied Zoo are also worth recommending for a lovely family day out.

The abbey complex of Maria Laach was built between 1093 and 1216 as a foundation of Henry II of Laach. The abbey was given the name Maria Laach in 1863.

Maria Laach Abbey was founded in 1093 by Count Palatine Henry II of Luxembourg. In its early years it was settled by an order of Benedictine monks from Trier.

The exact age of the Laacher See cannot be given. The volcano beneath the lake last erupted in 10930 or 11056 BC.

The path around the Laacher See is roughly 8.2 kilometres long. As a circular route it is perfect for a short walk.