Schnee Eifel

The Schnee Eifel, and in particular, the Schneifel, its highest region, is a truncated upland, the stumps of once great mountains that were formed by Hercynian folding during the Devonian period of geological history.

Rougher highlands stand out from this base, especially in the north (Prümer Land) ], owing to the hardness of their rocks, like the quartzite ridge of the Schneifel.

This long, sinewy ridge juts out above the less jagged, old plateau by around 100 metres and is clear evidence of the resistance of the local quartz rock to the forces of weathering.

Due to its remote location the Schnee-Eifel is undeveloped, where rare plants and animals may be found, including the wildcat and, for several years now, the Eurasian lynx.

[citation needed] The hamlet of Winterspelt is the setting for the novel of the same name by Alfred Andersch, which takes place in the final months of the Second World War.