In the construction phase: The 124 meter long connecting tunnel between Jungferweiher and Ulmener Maar will be opened to the public in 2023 - and implemented as a barrier-free project.
A 124 meter long, 1.5 to 4 meter high tunnel connects an old maar, the Jungferweiher, and the Ulmener Maar, the youngest maar in Central Europe. Originally built as a rare large-scale water management facility in a high medieval expansion phase of Ulmen Castle, this building is now to be open to the public.
The tunnel runs under the A1 motorway and offersa direct footpath connection for visitors. Geologically, the various deposits of both maars can be seen in the tunnel, the contact of which can be found approximately in the middle of the tunnel. Despite safety measures, this special geological situation should be preserved on site and presented clearly for visitors.
The idea of expanding the connecting tunnel between the maar and the pond arose a good two decades ago, but for a variety of reasons it could not be implemented until this year. But now the time had come in mid-March: on March 17th. The construction phase began with the groundbreaking ceremony. After four years of preparation, the step into the execution phase has begun, which will be completed this year. The Vulkaneifel Nature Park and UNESCO Global Geopark has had the project from the start accompanied.
Planned expansion
For people with limited mobility, the tunnel will be barrier-free accessible from the Jungferweiher side up to a depth of 23 meters. There will then be a barrier-free showroom in the tunnel with information about the inside of the tunnel. In addition to the expansion in the tunnel, the circular path around the Jungferweiher, the pump house viewing platform on the Ulmener Maar and the city center will also be made barrier-free. In addition, the viewing platform will receive new information boards that are written in simple language and can be accessed by wheelchair users. The project in Ulmen is the pilot project in the region and enables many people with disabilities to experience the Vulkaneifel landscape /p>
The tourist exploitation of the tunnel and other individual measures in the city center and around the two maars pursue the goals of “Tourism for All”, i.e. those of barrier-free tourism.
Project start: since winter 2021, groundbreaking in March 2022
Project end: End of 2022
The grant amounts to 1,342,610 euros from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and FAG funds.
