The municipality lies in the Vulkaneifel, a part of the Eifel known for its volcanic history, geographical and geological features, and even ongoing activity today, including gases that sometimes well up from the earth.

There is a volcanic lake in Gillenfeld, the Pulvermaar, and the Maare-Moselle Cycleway runs through the municipality on the old railway trackbed from Wittlich to Daun.

In 1016, Gillenfeld was first documented when Emperor Henry II granted Saint Florian's Foundation in Koblenz market, minting and toll rights at Gilliveld.

This, though, shortly thereafter changed when war broke out between the allied powers of Austria and Prussia on the one hand and France on the other and Gillenfeld began suffering the attendant troop movements.

Then, the 1970s brought administrative reform, which led to the dissolution of the Mayoralty of Gillenfeld and the village's assignment to the Verbandsgemeinde of Daun.

The municipality's arms might in English heraldic language be described thus: Per fess wavy, argent an Imperial crown gules and azure a wine jug of the first.

The wavy line of partition and the tincture azure below refer to Gillenfeld's maars – lakes that form in volcanic craters – which characterize the local geography.

The wine jug below the line of partition refers to Saint Florian, who here stands for the monastic foundation that held rights at Gillenfeld for centuries.