Juniper Slope near Zimmern

Between Pappenheim and Solnhofen lies the village of Zimmern, located on the bend of the Altmühl River, with its famous juniper slope. This is a long, semi-arid grassland, terminating at the shoulder of the slope in a mixed deciduous forest with magnificent beech stands.As part of the landscape conservation program established as part of the Nature Park's promotion program, the overly densely grown juniper and numerous pine trees were removed in the 1980s, and the slope was integrated into a sheep herding system. It is now grazed according to vegetation-friendly guidelines. This has a positive effect on the development of the semi-arid grassland. In addition, the necessary maintenance measures are still being carried out by the Mittelfranken Landscape Conservation Association. The less steep western part of the slope consists of mesophilic, grass-rich semi-dry grassland, grassy meadows in the intermediate areas, and small patches of rock and limestone scree with typical vegetation and the dwindling forest of the upper slope. The rockier, steep middle section consists of the scrubby middle slope with species-rich dry sedge and equally species-rich brome semi-dry grassland, with the calcareous beech forest of the upper slope.
naturpark-altmuehltal.org/sehenswertes/wacholderhang_bei_zimmern-2785

Wonderful for hiking with a beautiful view of the Altmühl valley.