The best running trails around Darscheid

The Kaiserstein near Mehren in the Volcanic Eifel is a regionally well-known memorial located in the heart of the Lehwald forest and commemorating the first German emperor, Wilhelm I. The monument, a basalt stone, was erected in 1897 and marks a memorial service held on the occasion of the emperor's 100th birthday, although Wilhelm I himself had died nine years earlier in 1888. The inscription on the front of the stone reads: W.I. 1797 - 1897 March 22. This ceremony on March 22, 1897, was a significant event attended by royal foresters, the Mehren War Veterans Association, five schools, and numerous residents of the surrounding villages, underscoring the veneration for the emperor at that time. The Kaiserstein is located in the Lehwald forest, west of the path leading from Darscheid to the Weinfelder Maar, also known as the Totenmaar. Today, it is a cultural monument from the Historicist and Art Nouveau periods and is located within the municipality of Mehren. The memorial is integrated into the region's hiking trails, such as the Biodiversity Trail in Darscheid, and serves as a historical reference point in the volcanic landscape of the Eifel.

Fun fact: when the festivities took place on March 22, 1897, Kaiser Wilhelm had already been dead for nine years. Wilhelm I, whose full name was Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig of Prussia, had already died in 1888. He had been King of Prussia from 1861 until his death and the first German emperor since the founding of the empire in 1871.

Somewhat unnoticed, surrounded by shrubs and covered in moss, it stands in the heart of the Lehwald forest between Darscheid and Mehren: the Kaiserstein. Many hikers and visitors pass by. Triangular in shape and somewhat forgotten, stands the monument in honor of the first German Emperor, Wilhelm I. It is a basalt stone, erected in 1897 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the emperor's birth, in the presence of royal forest rangers, the Mehren Veterans Association, five schools, and numerous visitors from the two neighboring towns. The inscription engraved on the gray stone reads: "WI, 1797-1897, March 22."

In the wooded section between the Lieser and Gemünden Maar lakes, hikers and walkers encounter a war memorial. The complex is constructed of stone in a comparatively large semicircle, but the overall appearance leaves me somewhat perplexed: Only the middle of the seven sections created by the vertical structure of the memorial bears a plaque. On the others—three on each side, which, like a window, offer a view of the treetops behind—I would have expected similar plaques, mostly listing the names of the victims who lost their lives in the two terrible world wars in the first half of the last century.

A real photo opportunity: The viaduct in Daun impresses with its imposing architecture and blends perfectly into the nature of the Volcanic Eifel. The view from below is particularly beautiful - ideal for a short break or a snapshot. If you take your time, you can enjoy the atmosphere. Perfect as a stopover for hikers and cyclists!

The Donatus Chapel in the Gemünden district of Daun was built in 1713, even if the sign or other publications claim 1731. At that time, from an ecclesiastical perspective, Gemünden was entirely part of the Archdiocese of Cologne. And as is still customary today, the episcopal authorities sent clerical administrative officers (visitors) to the parishes at regular intervals to check and inspect what was going on. A report was then written about it. And in. Cologne Diocesan Archives contain a note under the year 1716 that an oratory (=place of worship) was built in Gemünden under Pastor Faber before 1716 with the help of the neighbors. This confirms the assumption that the chapel was built in 1713.

For me, the most beautiful view of Daun is directly behind the Dronketurm from the swing.

From the viaduct you have a very nice view over Daun