The Eifel Museum reopens as experimental museum

The Eifel Museum in Mayen recently reopened with three newly created exhibition areas.

Visitors will now be sent on adventure trips to experience the Eifel area known as a land of myths and stories, mysterious ritual places, monasteries, churches, castles and atmospheric sceneries.

Why is the Eifel called Eifel? How does it smell? How does it sound? These are questions visitors will now find an answer to.

The museum is located on three levels in one wing of Genoveva Castle in Mayen. It is now a museum to experience and touch – a place where visitors learn about things worth knowing the easy way.

The first floor exhibits the Eifel territory and shows how it came into existence. Tree wood samples give evidence of the creation of areas to live in and forest landscapes. Animals living here can be touched and with the means of clay and light installations, visitors can experience the daily routine of primitive times.

On the second floor, visitors can learn how locals cultivated the area and how they lived and worked. At a plough station they can measure how close they come to the power of horses. They can also learn about table manners, eating habits and dishes from Celtic and Roman times until modern times.

A large bell under the roof welcomes visitors to the “Faith and Superstition” department, where it’s demonstrated how religious perceptions changed throughout the centuries from the temples of Roman times to Christian monasteries and churches.

The German schist mine with underground tunnels is another museum 16 meters under Genoveva Castle. In a 430-meter-long tunnel maze, visitors can get to know the daily life of mine workers.

The Eifel museum and schist mine are open all year long from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Fridays and German holidays, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission fee is €6 for adults and €3.50 for children. Children shorter than one meter are admitted free. Family tickets are available at reduced prices.

Groups can schedule guided tours and times outside the regular opening hours.

For more information, visit www.mayenzeit.de.