The Lava Dome is the German Volcano Museum. On a total exhibition area of 700m², visitors are given an insight into the fascinating world of volcanism. Geological information on volcanology is presented in a vivid way for all age groups. Experience, feel, see, and hear what the Lava Dome has to offer.

The Lava Dome experience also includes the Lava Cavern, the Museum Lay and the Wingert’s Mountain Wall.

The Lava Cavern can only be visited when accompanied by a tour guide. Both a staircase and an elevator lead directly down into the Lava Cavern.

Tickets for the Lava Cavern can only be purchased in the Lava Dome at the box office. Further information can be found here.

Recommended visit sequence: 1 hour in the Lava Dome, then 1 hour in the Lava Cavern, then 1/2 hour in the Museum Lay (freely accessible).

Public guided tours take place from Tuesday to Friday beginning at 1:30 pm.

On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, on so-called “bridge” days and during the RLP (Rhineland Palatinate) and NRW (North Rhine Westphalia) vacations daily (including Mondays) at 12:00pm, 13:30pm and 15:00pm.

A Lava Cavern tour lasts approx. 1 hour.

We offer private groups of 15 people or more the opportunity to visit the Lava Dome and Lava Cavern with a personal tour guide.

Please send your inquiries for private groups by e-mail to info@lavadome.de with a minimum of 1-2 weeks in advance.

The following details are necessary for your reservation: Date, time of the desired tour, number of persons, age of the participating children, disabled visitors, and your address and telephone number.

The temperature in the Lava Cavern is a constantly 8-9° Celsius. Please remember to wear warm clothing and sturdy shoes.

On the weekends, during the public vacations in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, and rainy weather, the so-called “museum weather”. The combination of all three events (Lava Dome, Lava Cavern and the Museum Lay) is the busiest. But please don’t worry, 99.9% of the time we manage to regulate all of our everyday visitors who come to view the Lava Cavern.

Yes, both locations have an elevator.

Unfortunately, not. Dogs are not allowed in the Museum or the Lava Cavern. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are exempt from this rule.

The Wingertsbergwand (Wingert’s Mountain Wall) is Europe’s most important pumice cliff. This wall is combined out of pumice and tuff and reaches up to 60 meters high and several hundred meters long and was uncovered by the extraction of volcanic raw materials. It is located in Mendig, near the Laacher Lake.

The Lava Dome Address for navigation purposes:
Lava-Dome
Brauerstraße 1
56743 Mendig

Arrival by car: There is a free municipal parking lot directly in front of the Museum.

Arriving by motorhome/coach: There is a motorhome parking area not far from the Museum and a large coach parking area for coaches approx. 500m away after passing the Lava Dome Museum, on the righthand side of the road.