Experience Germany’s hiking trails
When you get away from Germany‘s cosmopolitan cities, you’ll quickly find out that Germans are passionate about the great outdoors and sports activities all year round. The country is home to breathtaking hiking trails, and diverse landscapes, offering an opportunity to experience unspoiled nature’s beauty while immersing yourself in local culture.
One of the must-experience routes is the Harz Witches’ Trail, a 61-mile route through Harz National Park that leads to the historic mines of Rammelsberg and the charming old town of Goslar. Other trail options include the 66 Lakes Trail surrounding Berlin, the picturesque Baltic Sea Coast Hiking Trail, and the scenic Bergisch Panorama Trail.
Some of the fascinating natural retreats are Germany’s dense forests, which cover about a third of the country, which is a remarkable proportion considering its population density. The Bavarian Forest National Park stands out as having been left to grow naturally without any human interference for decades. After a storm in the 1980s, it was decided to leave fallen trees untouched, resulting in a forest where nature reigns supreme.
Amidst these lush landscapes, you’ll find one of Germany’s 25,000 historic palaces. Discover the Wernigerode Castle in Saxony-Anhalt, the picturesque Moritzburg Castle near Dresden, or the magnificent Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam. Saxony is a “castle hotspot”, and striking fortresses line the Swabian Alb in southwest Germany. In the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, you can explore 40 well-preserved castles lining a breathtaking 37-mile stretch between Bingen and Koblenz.
