Dickeren

Dickeren is a municipality in the district of Vulkaneifel in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It lies west of the Eifel’s central volcanic plateau, roughly 25 km southeast of Gerolstein and 15 km north of Mayen, and is part of the Verbandsgemeinde Gerolstein. The village sits at an elevation of around 440 meters above sea level and spans an area of approximately 8.5 square kilometres.

The earliest recorded mention of Dickeren dates back to 1232 under the name “Dickerne”, when the settlement was part of the enfeoffment of the Electorate of Cologne. Over subsequent centuries it passed through several feudal lords, including the counts of Sayn and the House of Isenburg. In the early 20th century, the village was incorporated into the administrative district of Mayen, and after the Second World War it became part of the newly established state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Today Dickeren has a population of about 650 inhabitants. The local economy is predominantly agricultural, with a focus on dairy farming and crop cultivation, although many residents commute to nearby urban centers for employment. The community is served by the regional road B258, which connects it to major routes, and a branch of the AVA railway line offers limited commuter service. Public transport to Gerolstein and Mayen is available via bus lines operated by the Tagischeverkehr.

Main attractions in Dickeren include the Saint Martin Church, a Neo-Romanesque building erected in 1907, and the surrounding forested hills that offer hiking routes to the volcanic crater Lake Kottenheide. The village hosts an annual spring festival that showcases local cuisine, crafts, and traditional music, attracting visitors from neighboring municipalities. Dickeren has no widely recognised notable figures, but the village’s charm lies in its preservation of rustic Eifel culture and its picturesque landscape.