Upper Kyll And Kalkmulden

On the Rhineland-Palatinate side of the Kalkeifel, the Dollendorfer and Hillesheimer Kalkmulde adjoin the large nature reserves Lampertstal and Alendorfer Kalktriften in North Rhine-Westphalia to the south.

Facts

Size: 1326 hectares
Area: Hillesheim and Jünkerath
Districts and independent cities: Vulkaneifel
Associated municipalities and unaffiliated municipalities: Daun, Gerolstein, Kelberg

Here too, characteristic biotope populations of the old, agricultural cultural landscape with its grazed limestone semi-dry grasslands and juniper heaths were preserved. In view of the biodiversity of its flora and fauna, the Dollendorfer Kalkmulde in particular is one of the most important landscape areas in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Insect paradise

The abundance of flowers in its over 60 different plant communities, some of which are highly endangered, has become a magnet for insects. Many endangered butterfly species such as the Miracle Clover Blue, which is threatened with extinction in Rhineland-Palatinate, occur in the limestone hollows.

A special feature are the lime spring swamps near the town of Feusdorf. Also noteworthy are the woodruff and especially the orchid beech forests in the edge heights and on the tops of the limestone grasslands of Hillesheimer and Dollendorfer Kalkmulde.

River streams such as Kyll, Selbach and Werft play an important role in connecting the different biotope types and offer good living conditions for rare bird species such as kingfishers, dippers and black storks.