Eifel Germany Aqueduct Adventure! - Camping and Trekking

Are you ready for an Eifel Aqueduct adventure through history? The Eifel Aqueduct was the main source of water for the city of Cologne in Germany. Aqueduct construction began around 80 A.D. It was used for hundreds of years until it fell into disrepair. Today, you can follow an official route from the start to Cologne and see where it’s been excavated and rises above ground. I even made it to the very start at Grüner Pütz. Here’s what to expect on your next hike through history!

Useful links

The Eifel Aqueduct History

Before the building of the Eifel Aqueduct, Cologne got its water from the Vorgebirge aqueduct, which had its source in the springs and streams from the Ville region to the west of the city. As the city grew, this aqueduct was no longer able to provide enough water of sufficient quality: the springs contained a small amount of silt in the summer, and sometimes even ran dry. A new aqueduct was built to bring water from the springs of the Eifel into the city.

The Locations

Breitenbenden Excavation

looking directly into the eifel aqueduct with a stone arch, walls, and floor with calcium build up on each side — The cross section of the Eifel Aqueduct.

an info plaque explaining the history of the eifel aqueduct in this area and station 16 — The cross section of the Eifel Aqueduct.

The aqueduct near Breitenbenden was our first stop. Here you can see where old buildings stood and there is an excavated cross section of the tunnel. Manhole covers and entryways dot the aqueduct so men can crawl into the aqueduct for maintenance. The hike was easy from the small neighborhood nearby and there is a tiny parking area right on the highway that you might be able to make it into if you’re willing to enter and exit the highway right next to the ruins.

Roman Aqueduct Bridge – Vussem

a reconstructed brick aqueduct bridge with grass and forest around about 50 feet tall — The reconstructed Eifel Aqueduct Bridge near Vussem Germany.

The reconstructed Eifel Aqueduct Bridge near Vussem Germany.

There is a rebuilt aqueduct bridge near Vussem. It was built in the 60s to showcase what it might have looked like. There is a small info plaque near the bridge and it shows what it used to look like – piles of rubble where the legs are now. It’s an easy walk up the stairs to the top and you can see part of the old aqueduct emerging from the ground towards where the bridge is now. Very interesting!

Collection Basin – Eiserfey

an octogonal shaped building over a collection cistern along the eifel aqueduct on its way to cologne — The building built around the collection point of the Eifel Aqueduct.

a bricked up aqueduct outlet in the eifel germany region — The building built around the collection point of the Eifel Aqueduct.

There is a collection basin in Eiserfey and a small park and building to show off what was under the ground there. Two aqueducts bring water into the cistern and then exit as one to Cologne. It was a junction point. Park on the road and then walk to this small park which has some informational plaques and excavation remains.

Aqueduct – Vollem

a stone archway of an exposed aqueduct in germany — The exposed archway of the Eifel Aqueduct near Vollem Germany.

a plaque with german writing on the history of the aqueduct near vollem germany — The exposed archway of the Eifel Aqueduct near Vollem Germany.

There is a small parking area and excavation area where you can see just a small portion of the tunnel. There is a small building and some information but little else apart from the old stones.

Klaus Spring

a stone water cistern from the roman times with pebbles on the bottom and bricks up the side — The collecting basin for the Klaus Spring along the Eifel Aqueduct in Germany.

The Klaus Spring or Klausbrunnen is only a few hundred meters up the road from the Vollem aqueduct and this is one of the main water sources for the aqueduct. There is a building built over all the original Roman infrastructure. You can see the cistern that collected the water and sent it down the hill. It’s very deep and there are several aqueduct tunnels all around this cistern and one that came from the Grüner Pütz spring.

The actual spring area unfortunately is located under the parking area and is hard to view. You can see bowls, holding areas, and other spring infrastructure under there but I wish I could see more of it and it wasn’t under a parking area! There are lots of things to see and it’s awesome to know people made this 2000 years ago!

Grüner Pütz Spring

a stone monument about 4 feet tall by 4 feet wide of stone with a small canal on the left and an arched aqueduct exiting on the right which starts the eifel aqueduct the romans built to take water to cologne germany — The area around the Grüner Pütz monument has the collecting canal on the left and the start of the Eifel Aqueduct on the right. The monument is built on the “puddle” which is the collection basin.

a hillside in the eifel forest that seeps water into the eifel aqueduct that goes to cologne germany — The area around the Grüner Pütz monument has the collecting canal on the left and the start of the Eifel Aqueduct on the right. The monument is built on the “puddle” which is the collection basin.

This is the start and highest area of the Eifel Aqueduct is at Grüner Pütz or green puddle. This is an awesome area and it is truly walking in the footsteps of Romans 2000 years ago! The area is located on the bottom of a grassy hill about 75 feet tall and the aqueduct collects the seepage from the side of the hill. There are very small stone channels for about 30 meters on one side of the Grüner Pütz that flow into the large collection basin then they travel out an exit tunnel into the aqueduct.

an info board explaining how the spring collects water seeping out of the hill near Grüner Pütz — Information board on how the spring collects water from the side of the hill near Grüner Pütz.

an informational plaque in german explaining how the train construction impacted the roman eifel aqueduct — Information board on how the spring collects water from the side of the hill near Grüner Pütz.

The water still flows consistently even today! It is diverted into a drain about 100 meters from the start but it still flows very strongly! I could see how this spring and several others along its path could provide thousands of Romans daily water! It is a cool area to see how it all began! Now I need to make it to Cologne to see how it all ended!

Where is the start of the Eifel Aqueduct?

Grüner Pütz spring is the start of the main Eifel Aqueduct to Cologne Germany.

How long is the Eifel Aqueduct?

The main arm of the aqueduct from Grüner Pütz to Cologne is approximately 81 miles.

Is there a lot of hiking involved to follow the Eifel Aqueduct?

No! The path of most of the trail is road, trail, or gravel. Anyone should be able to manage most of the path along the aqueduct.

Oberstaufen Germany Trip Report