Strohn combines a geological landmark with hiking trails that differ considerably in the time they take. The Volcano House explores volcanism through interactive exhibits; the Strohn Lava Bomb also tells both a geological and a local story. For planning purposes, it is especially important to distinguish between the Strohner Schweiz circular trail and the longer HeimatSpuren Lavaweg Strohn.

Volcanism in the museum and local history

The Volcano House is an interactive volcano museum with small experiments and walk-through experience rooms. One of its special exhibits is a lava fissure wall, around 30,000 years old, six metres long and four metres high. It gives a concrete scale to a geological phenomenon and complements the experiments and walk-through rooms with a striking example of volcanic formation.

The Strohn Lava Bomb is made of basalt, weighs 120 tonnes and is almost five metres in diameter. As a geological record, it points to past volcanic activity in the Eifel. It formed as lava repeatedly accumulated on a fragment of a crater rim during successive eruptions. Its local history dates back to 1969: the lava bomb came loose during blasting work at the Wartgesberg lava quarry, and residents of Strohn brought it to its present location. This object thus illustrates both the formation process and the later history of the village.

Hiking: a short loop or a longer tour

The Strohner Schweiz circular trail leads into the deeply incised Alfbach Valley; large boulders and narrow paths characterize the landscape. Because there are few elevation changes and the route is a manageable length, it is considered suitable for hikes with children. Free parking for the circular trail is available at the church and at the lava bomb. Check local parking conditions before your arrival. The lava bomb is also next to a hiking trail that follows the Alfbach towards Strohner Schweiz.

For those planning a longer hike, the HeimatSpuren Lavaweg Strohn offers a clearly specified option: the moderately difficult route is 20.5 kilometres long, takes about 5.5 hours and has 293 metres of elevation gain and loss. It passes the Trautzberger Maar and Strohner Schweiz. The two hiking options therefore differ both in their described character and in the level of detail provided for planning: the Strohner Schweiz route is characterized by few elevation changes and a manageable length, while the Lavaweg is specified by distance, approximate duration and elevation gain and loss. Check the latest route information before setting out.

Exploring by bike, too

The Vulkaneifel Challenge is a road cycling route that leads from Strohn via the lava bomb into Strohner Schweiz. From Strohn, it continues via Mückeln and Oberscheidweiler to the Maare-Mosel Cycle Route in the direction of Eckfeld. The named routes thus show different ways to explore the landscape: on foot along the trails around Strohner Schweiz, or by road bike on a route linking Strohn with other villages and the cycle route towards Eckfeld. Check the latest route information before setting off, as route connections may change.

Architectural history in the village

The buildings in Strohn also reflect different periods. The Catholic parish church of St. John the Baptist has a west tower dating from 1760, a choir from 1867 and a two-aisled hall from 1909. Numerous half-timbered houses and the Catholic church shape the village. A sandstone shaft cross from 1716 and a wayside shrine made of red sandstone from 1791 add to the historic landmarks.

At Hauptstraße 45, there is a farmstead with a half-timbered house in Bock style from the early 19th century and an agricultural building from the late 19th century. Together with the church’s construction phases and the two sandstone works, this presents a range of building types: religious buildings and wayside markers, as well as a farmstead shaped by agriculture. These details add a glimpse of the village’s history to Strohn’s geological focus.

Discover more destinations: Tettscheid, Udler, Immerath, Ellscheid, Kradenbach, Dockweiler, Meisburg, Bleckhausen

For the main travel overview: Daun.