Explore the mystical, enchanting world of Germany’s ancient forests in these five magical locations.
Spreewald
Spreewald is a unique forest not far from Berlin of 484 km². It is unique for its network of over 200 streams and canals that remain from the ice age. You can explore these by punt or by rowing boat.
Jasmund National Park
Located on a small island in the Baltic sea called Rügen, an ancient beech forest over 2 million years old, dates back to the time of the last ice age. These primeval beech trees are some of the last beech forests in Europe.
The Black Forest
No list of Germany’s woodland would be complete without the Black Forest. Famous the world over, you can embark on epic hikes through towering mountains and quaint villages, or adventure through the fairytale mystique of the forest’s valleys.
Teutoburg
This magical forest features over 4000km of hiking paths and viewing platforms. Home to beautifully carved sandstone rock formations and pine groves, this forest was a sacred location for the pagan Saxons and early German Christians. Summer solstice festivals continue to be carried out here today.
Gespensterwald
Perhaps one of Germany’s best kept secrets, the Gespensterwald (or, the Ghost forest) is to be found nestled within a region of rugged landscapes, windswept coastlines and fishing villages. Known for its eerie atmosphere of bare trunks and gnarled branches, the area is not well-known among non-German tourists and so is not overcrowded in the summer months.
