Less than 10 minutes away from the Grafenwoehr Training Area is a quaint little village located on a hill — smack in the middle of a dormant volcano.

Still, few Americans in the area seem aware of the existence of the unique site just waiting for visitors.

The village of Parkstein is just about six miles from the post’s main gate, through the Manteler Forest. But once you get past the trees, you’ll see the volcanic village looming in the distance, jutting out from the flat grounds like a miniature Minas Tirith.

There’s plenty to see and do there as you wind your way up. The base of the town is mainly a residential area, but the town’s church is there and it has an impressive baroque interior considering Parkstein’s small size. It’s worth a quick look.

Once you get about midlevel, you’ll find a handful of restaurants, a geology museum about the volcano and a really nice coffee shop called Markt and Cafe Parkstein, which serves a great cappuccino.

I highly advise you to grab a coffee to go and make your way around the volcano to admire the fascinating basalt columns on one side. There’s also a little shrine to the Virgin Mary carved into one corner.

If you hike up the volcano, you’ll find the ruins of a medieval castle. The thick curtain walls now have bright- green moss growing all over, and some of the towers are still mostly intact.

If you keep going up, you’ll find a grandiose seat carved out of a tree that looks like it belongs on the set of “Game of Thrones,” near a small chapel. All around you are sweeping views of the town and surrounding forests.

The hike to the top isn’t challenging if you’re relatively fit. But if you’d like to get a workout, you can do as the locals do and hike up and down it a few times, which only takes a few minutes, then grab a beer at one of the gasthauses near the bottom.

egnash.martin@stripes.com Twitter: @Marty_Stripes

DIRECTIONS: Parkstein is about six miles from the main gate of the Grafenwoehr Training Area, easily reached via B470.TIMES: Most restaurants in Parkstein are closed Sundays. The volcano is accessible daily.COSTS: Volcano access is free.FOOD: Several cafes and restaurants that serve primarily German cuisine, a bakery and coffee shop.INFORMATION: Online: parkstein.de

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