The Most Beautiful National Parks in Germany

In the far west of Germany, bordering Belgium, is this 27,000-acre (11,000ha) sprawl of beech, ash and wild cherry trees, dark blue volcanic lakes and wildflower-speckled plateaus: it is one of few truly wild areas still remaining in Germany. In the south of the park, rare species of orchids bloom in forest clearings, while uncommon birds of prey such as eagle owls and kites can be seen circling in the thermals. Hidden among trees in some parts of the park, “sense benches” invite you to take a moment, stop, lie down and take in the sounds and smells of this extraordinary place.

In north-central Germany, Harz National Park is a virtually uninhabited, nearly 62,000-acre (25,000ha) carpet of forests, rivers and mountain peaks. In some areas, the woodland dates to over 250 years old, and is as intact an example of virgin European forest as you’ll find. Stalking these woods is a small, but stable population of lynx and European wildcat (which looks like a domestic cat, only slightly larger, with a bushy tail), roe and red deer. There are also small populations of capercaillie: gregarious, grouse-like birds that put on a raucous courtship display.

You won’t have seen the Alps like this before: a vast, 52,000-acre (21,000ha) swathe of rugged limestone peaks, towering over a gem-blue glacial lake. All that and not another soul in sight. Not unless, that is, you’re in the architectural glass box of the National Park Centre, or touring the park with one of the on-site rangers. Otherwise, you’ve got jaw-dropping, fairytale views of sparkling lakes, cloud-scraping peaks and a patchwork of Alpine pastures all to yourself. Watch out for golden eagles, horned ibex and many species of butterfly, which pollinate wild orchids.

Over in Germany’s far eastern corner, the Saxon Switzerland National Park extends over more than 89,000 acres (36,000ha) of the Elbe Sandstone Massif, bizarre eroded rock formations dating back to the Cretaceous Period. The landscape is unique, from sandstone cliffs to deeply carved valleys, table mountains and gorges. If you’re a rock climber you’ve got an obvious in – but there are other ways to absorb the scenery. You could wander to the Bastei rocks for stunning panoramic views across the Elbe, or hire a rowing boat or to admire the scenery from the river.

If you’ve admired the works of German artist Caspar David Friedrich, you might have glimpsed the beauty of Jasmund National Park. He painted the spectacular Königsstuhl chalk cliffs – perhaps the most dramatic feature of this wilderness in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in the far north-east of Germany. How best to explore the beautiful woodland? Try a variety of walks and cycle routes. The park rangers also run regular tours based on characters from myth and legend. So, you can learn, as you stroll, all about the Germanic goddess Hertha and the pirate Klaus Störtebeker, who, according to the legend, buried his treasure hereabouts.