Maar Museum, Geological museum in Manderscheid, Germany.
The Maar Museum is a geological institution in this Eifel town devoted to the volcanic craters scattered across the region and how they formed. Its collections feature fossilized remains and explain the forces that shaped the landscape through hands-on displays.
The building opened in 1930 as a gymnasium and event hall, showcasing early 20th-century design influenced by Expressionism. It later became a museum to share the geological story of the Eifel maars with the public.
The maars hold special meaning in this region as more than just natural lakes, shaping how locals relate to their landscape. Exhibitions reveal how these volcanic formations have influenced daily life and regional identity.
The site sits in the town center and is easy to reach by car, with parking readily available nearby. Plan for around 90 minutes to two hours for a thorough visit, especially if you want to explore the interactive displays.
The museum houses a Terranaut simulator that lets visitors step into the role of a scientist exploring underground processes firsthand. On display is a 45-million-year-old skeleton of a pregnant ancient horse, a remarkable example of how volcanic sediments preserved organic remains.
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