The tour starts at the Walberhof parking lot. Formerly a farm, a partly agricultural and partly gastronomic operation, it became part of the British military training area Vogelsang after the war – like the entire surrounding area of the high plateau. Today, the Walberhof lies quietly in the national park and serves as a historically significant starting point.

From here, the path leads over the Dreiborner high plateau to the Creation Path. The path is guided by the motto "On the trail of life." Various stations invite for pausing, perceiving, and reflecting. Thus, the Creation Path provides a conscious counterpoint to the history of Wollseifen: Here, it’s about life, dignity, and hope – just a few kilometers away from a place that stands for loss and destruction. On our way lies the area of the former Sauermühle, which was an important supply location in the valley for centuries. During the war, it was within the influence of the military installations around Vogelsang. Today, little remains of the mill, but its history exemplifies the changes in the region.

Wollseifen – a village that had to disappear
In the afternoon, Wollseifen is reached, the well-known deserted village on the high plateau. The village was evacuated by the British military administration in 1946; the residents had only three weeks to leave their home. Today, only the church, school, transformer house, and chapel remain – silent witnesses of a village that no longer exists.

Firsthand memories
At 3:00 PM, there will be a conversation in the Wollseifen church with Gisela Mey, née Zöll, one of the last still-living former inhabitants of the village. She will talk about: life in the village during World War II the destructions of 1944/45 the evacuation in 1946 flight, expulsion, and new beginnings Moderation: Andreas Züll, writer and local historian. This conversation represents the emotional highlight of the tour.

Return journey after the interview via open paths back to the Walberhof.

Route: 09:00 AM
Costs: free
Location: Schleiden, Walberhof parking lot on B266
Info-Tel.: 0177. 4698001
ww.dav-eifel.de

Registration required by Courses & Tours | Eifel section of the German Alpine Club e. V.