At the modern Kellerwald National Park Center, you can learn in depth about the flora and fauna, as well as the history of the region and the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park. The multimedia interactive exhibition and the 4D sensory cinema will inspire you to explore the realm of the ancient beech trees on your own.Afterward, the guest room awaits you with regional cuisine. The National Park Center is open year-round. It is closed on Mondays from November to March.Further information can be found here: nationalpark-kellerwald-edersee.de/besuchen/nationalparkzentrum-kellerwald.

The "Hoher Knüll" Fable Trail is the ideal introduction to the Knüll Nature Park if you'd like to get an overview of the tranquil low mountain range. The starting point is at the highest point of the tour at 634 meters, below the August Franke Tower on the Knüllköpfchen. From there, the trail leads you through tranquil forests, across open land, and through idyllic stream valleys.Characterized by peace and space, you hike along the "Schwärzwiesen bei Hülsa" nature reserve, where you'll discover wet meadows full of rare animal and plant species. In the picturesque stream valley, the babbling Hergertsbach stream accompanies you on your walk. The entire route is approximately nine kilometers long.The Knüll is a fabulously diverse area – both in terms of landscape and biodiversity. Here, you'll find a home for many animal and plant species. Particularly noteworthy are the red kite and black stork, the wildcat and the meadow pipit, as well as numerous orchid species. The orchid meadows in particular are cared for with great volunteer dedication, for example by the Neuenstein Mountain Rescue Service. Especially on the heights of the Knüll, you can still discover remnants of species-rich meadows, and occasionally you can also find calcareous grasslands.

The Sababurg Primeval Forest in the Reinhardswald Nature Park is one of the most beautiful destinations in northern Hesse! Three different circular trails, two of which can be easily combined, lead through the primeval forest. Strictly speaking, the primeval forest is not a primeval forest, but rather a former grazing forest. The approximately 300-year-old grazing oaks and beeches acquired their current gnarled shape through intensive grazing. Partly over footbridges, you walk through this primeval forest and encounter one special tree after another. Definitely worth a visit! Parking is available right next to the primeval forest. There is also a well-serviced bus stop.

Hesse's second-largest nature park is an ideal local recreation area with a wealth of cultural and natural landscapes. Here, you'll find the Pletgebirge (Pult Mountains) of the eastern Taunus, which stretch between the Wetterau and Idstein Depressions in the east, and between the Lahn River in the west and the Main River in the south.In the Hochtaunus, the Feldberg (Feldberg) is the highest elevation – a wooded mountain ridge, approximately 40 kilometers long and 10 kilometers deep. Coniferous forest dominates here, while in the Hintertaunus, you'll find mainly deciduous forest. The extensive orchards are typical of the Taunus and its undulating to mountainous terrain.If you enjoy canoeing, the Lahn River is particularly interesting. The Limes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, runs through the nature park from west to east. Particularly worth seeing are the reconstructed Saalburg Fortress and the Celtic ring walls. Around the nature park, you'll find numerous special natural and healing springs. In the Taunus Nature Park, you can enjoy many nature-based recreational activities: hiking, canoeing, cycling, and mountain biking are all supported by appropriate facilities. There are barbecue areas and a youth campsite. In winter, cross-country ski trails are groomed throughout the nature park.

The UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley is part of the RheinTaunus Nature Park. This romantic, vibrant, and densely forested region is one of Germany's most beautiful low mountain ranges.The UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley stretches from Rüdesheim and Bingen in the south to Koblenz in the north. At 67 kilometers, it only accounts for about five percent of the entire course of the river, but is often described as the most beautiful stretch of the entire Rhine between the Alps and the North Sea.Here you will find an incomparable wealth of cultural assets and more than two thousand years of history concentrated in this stretch of the river. The Rhine's special importance as a transport route, a source of income, and a repeatedly contested border; its landscape as a witness to Germany's exciting history; and its tradition of winemaking and shipping – all this demonstrates the multifaceted nature of this unique region.

You are in the Frau-Holle-Land Geo-Nature Park, the legendary home of Frau Holle. Here, you can expect extraordinary nature, surprising culture, and diverse geology. Large parts of the park are part of one of Germany's most important biodiversity hotspots and the second-largest FFH area in the country.Between the Kaufunger Forest, the Hoher Meißner, and the Werra Valley, you'll experience a truly spectacular landscape. Over 120 geosites ensure the region's diversity. Frau Holle, the well-known fairytale figure, gives the park its name – numerous legends and myths surround the Hoher Meißner.The choice is yours: Explore the geological, natural, and cultural highlights on 25 certified premium hiking trails, the Werra-Burgen-Steig Hessen, the Werra Valley Cycle Path, or numerous cycling tours. Discover the legendary sites of Mother Holle, the Green Belt, valuable nature reserves, the famous opium poppy blossom, the Witzenhausen cherry country, castles, palaces, and mining history.Over 35 percent of the area in the Werra-Meißner district is designated as a nature reserve. Whether you prefer hiking, cycling, canoeing, or exploring nature and adventure with your family – you'll find your perfect vacation week here. Be inspired and tailor your stay to your wishes.

The Kölschhäuser Koppe is part of the Lahn-Dill-Bergland Nature Park. A hike through the Hörre River to the Kölschhäuser Koppe is always a wonderful experience. Partly along the Landhege (land reserve), you can hike through the forest to the Koppe on beautiful forest paths and enjoy the nature.The Koppe itself and its surroundings became the first nature reserve in the old Wetzlar district in the 1930s. Otherwise, it would probably no longer exist due to continued basalt mining. Basalt cones up to 20 meters high can be admired there.They probably formed when a magma chamber opened and lava, heated to up to 1,200 degrees Celsius, flowed out and quickly cooled. Basalt has been popular as a building material for centuries. In the Westerwald region, basalt mining was a very important economic factor in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Here, you'll be invited on a journey through the earth's history, to a time when the Vogelsberg volcanoes were still active. The Vulkaneum in Schotten offers an interactive exhibition that explains the topic of volcanism in a vivid and entertaining way. Across several floors, you'll experience how volcanoes shaped the Vogelsberg, how they still influence it today, and what role the climate, the forces of nature, and humans play in this. Beyond the science, you'll also be introduced to the myths and legends that volcanoes have given rise to. Experimental stations, interactive exhibits, and multimedia installations guide you through the exhibition. This combination of knowledge and entertainment presents the fiery past of the Vogelsberg in a way that is equally interesting for children and adults.tourist-schotten.de/fileadmin/user_upload/tourist-schotten.de/Dateien/Pdf/D_Schotten_Gastgeber-Pocketguide-2020.pdf

The Spessart Trail Jossgrund Loop is a real highlight for hiking enthusiasts. Over approximately twelve kilometers, you'll experience a varied tour through open slopes, idyllic meadow valleys, and sparse forests in the Jossgrund region. The trail starts at the imposing moated castle in Burgjoss and leads you through the Burgwiesenpark, along the picturesque banks of the Jossa River, and over the rocky mountain, where magnificent views await you. Along the way, you'll pass rare juniper heaths, perhaps even encounter a beaver, and repeatedly enjoy stunning views of the wooded peaks of the Spessart.The Hessian Spessart Nature Park, where you'll hike, is one of the largest contiguous forest areas in Germany. Mighty oak and beech forests, colorful mixed forests, and rare plants characterize the landscape. The park is home to many animals, including red deer, wildcats, and beavers. Numerous circular hiking trails and nature experiences make the Spessart a paradise for nature lovers like you.

At 950 meters, the Wasserkuppe is the highest mountain in Hesse and the symbol of the Rhön Mountains. Up here, you can feel the freedom, as the Wasserkuppe is considered the cradle of gliding – pilots have been taking to the skies here for over 100 years. But it's not just aviators who enjoy it: In summer, you can hike or cycle across vast plateaus with magnificent views, while in winter, ski lifts, cross-country ski trails, and toboggan runs beckon. Around the summit, you'll find the Aviation Memorial, the Gliding Museum, and numerous places to stop for refreshments. The Wasserkuppe is located in the heart of the Hessian Rhön Nature Park, which, with its open highlands, beech forests, and species-rich meadows, is a paradise for nature lovers. Here, you can explore the unique landscape on premium hiking trails like the Hochrhöner or on nature trails. The nature park also boasts star parks, rare animals like the red kite and the wildcat, and botanical treasures like gentian and orchids.

With its striking shape, the Hoher Dörnberg is the landmark of the Habichtswald Nature Park, where archaeological finds confirm settlement during the Ice Age. Its geology and cultural history, as well as its unique flora and fauna, have long attracted many people. Species-rich juniper heaths, the treeless plateau, and the striking Helfensteine rocks offer a diverse range of hiking opportunities.

The perfect day at the natural jewel Diemelsee begins in the interactive experience exhibition Visionarium Diemelsee. There, you can discover everything the Diemelsee Nature Park has to offer in a playful way. The exhibition extends over two floors and shows you the living environments around Diemelsee: water, people, and nature. At numerous hands-on stations, you can touch and move objects and learn a lot about the dam, the landscape, and the wildlife. A nature park game invites you to "roll the dice" through the exhibition and find a solution at the end. The exhibition is modern, barrier-free, and bilingual, making it exciting and accessible for all visitors. Afterward, you can explore the diverse low mountain landscape around Diemelsee, located on the edge of the Sauerland region on the border between North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse. Numerous quality cycling and hiking trails await you here, leading you through valleys, mountain heaths, and montane forests.

It's fascinating to take a journey back 47 million years, 60 meters down into a former volcanic crater, a planned landfill, one of the world's most important fossil discovery and storage sites, an old oil shale and lignite mining pit, and a growing nature reserve. On the tour, you can marvel at the detailed nature of real fossils and even touch them. My tip: Be sure to take a guided tour and visit the visitor center, which is a concrete block for good reason.So, in addition to natural science and industrial history, there's also art and architecture. While the pumps are running, a lake awaits its formation, many fossils await daylight, and many new findings from millions of years await publication and presentation.What more could you expect? Perhaps even the insight that we ourselves are only a tiny part of nature.

The Haus der Schwarzen Berge (House of the Black Mountains) is a must-see for every hiker and nature lover in the Bavarian Rhön Nature Park.From its own shop to freshly prepared coffee and cake, the Haus der Schwarzen Berge (House of the Black Mountains) also offers a wealth of information about Oberbach, the community of Wildflecken, and their history, and is also the tourist information center for the Rhön region. It offers a truly fun and engaging experience for children. Even as a little boy, I loved coming here; there was always so much to discover! You can find more information at: biosphaerenreservat-rhoen.de/wissen/biosphaeren-informationszentren/biosphaerenzentrum-rhoen-haus-der-schwarzen-berge.Right next to the Rhön Biosphere Center is a large hiking parking lot, from where you can start many hikes.