1. Beaches and forests – Western-Pomeranian Boddenlandschaft National Park

The Western-Pomeranian Boddenlandschaft National Park is the largest nature reserve on the Baltic coast. A landscape of cliffs and dunes, spits and lagoons stretching from the Darss-Zingst peninsula up towards the west coast of Rügen, and the perfect destination for anyone who loves beaches or woodland.Situated in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in the far north-east of Germany, the Western-Pomeranian Boddenlandschaft National Park is a remarkable landscape consisting of cliffs and dunes, spits and lagoons. It gets its name from the 'Bodden' – shallow bays cut off from the Baltic containing a mixture of salt water and fresh water – that can be explored on boat tours. A variety of guided and independent walks introduce visitors to the national park's fascinating coastline and woodland, which includes Osterwald Forest on the Zingst peninsula and Darss Forest, the largest unbroken area of woodland in the park. The trails through Osterwald Forest lead to splendid vantage points, such as Pramort and Hohe Düne, and across important historical salt marshes. There is also a wealth of flora and fauna. Visitors may be able to spot wildlife such as red deer and wild boar. The Western-Pomeranian Boddenlandschaft National Park is a crane roost of international importance, the largest in Europe. Every autumn, around 30,000 cranes arrive here, creating an unforgettable spectacle for any holiday maker.Other attractions of the region include the Ahrenshoop artists' colony, the lighthouse and Natureum on Darsser Ort, the national park centre on Hiddensee (the largest island in the national park and car-free) and Stralsund Museum with its gold treasure. The dune heathland and the Dornbusch area with its headland are also worth a look.

2. Germany's most beautiful riverside meadows – Lower Oder Valley National Park

The Lower Oder Valley National Park is Germany's first riverbank meadow national park. It covers 60km of meadowland on both the German and the Polish banks of the river Oder, offering visitors picturesque scenery and flowering dry grassland.The Lower Oder Valley National Park, located in Brandenburg in the north-east of Germany, is home to many species of wildlife. In addition to scarce and protected birds such as the white-tailed eagle, black stork and aquatic warbler, visitors may also be able to spot the rare beaver building dams. More than 40 types of fish and 50 different species of mammal complete this diverse range of wildlife. Due to its special significance as a resting and wintering ground for many bird species, the national park attracts hordes of visitors every year. The sight of more than 13,000 cranes descending to their migration roosts in the Oder Valley is an unforgettable experience. Besides these remarkable natural spectacles the national park offers visitors a wide range of other attractions, including the medieval tower of Stolpe Castle, the historical tobacco barns near Friedrichsthal, the castle near Zitzen, the medieval town fortifications and St. Stephen's Church in Grats and the late-Gothic church in Criewen. Frequent river cruises through the Lower Oder Valley and weekly cycle and walking tours along the river are a great way to experience the beautiful natural scenery.

3. The largest mudflats in the world – Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park

The Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park is the largest national park in central Europe. Only one third of its area is not permanently under water. The Wattenmeer as a whole is the largest unbroken area of mudflats in the world and extends from the North Sea coast of the Netherlands all the way to Denmark. Located in Schleswig-Holstein, in the far north of Germany, the coastal mudflats are one of the most fascinating natural habitats in the world. These wetlands consist of a strip of land between the high and low water marks that is covered at high tide and accessible when the tide recedes, creating a pristine coastal landscape of dunes, beaches and salt marshes. Of special interest are the 'Halligen', small islands unprotected by dykes that disappear beneath the waves during storms and spring tides. The mudflats provide a habitat for around 3,200 animal species. Starfish, crabs, snails, mussels and mudflat worms can be found along the water's edge. The national park provides nesting grounds and resting areas for a large number of migratory birds, making it a popular attraction with visitors. In the autumn, they can watch the massed arrival of many different bird species – an unforgettable natural spectacle. The salt marshes are home to diverse flora, which include sea lavender, red fescue and sea plantain. Experienced mudflat guides are on hand to explain the ebb and flow of the tides, as the sea returns after six hours and the tideways – deep channels in the mudflats – begin to fill up with water. With everything from walks on the beach, swimming in the sea, mudflat tours and boat cruises to bird watching in the salt marshes, a holiday in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park is sure to offer rest and relaxation for body and soul. There are many other attractions waiting to be discovered in the national park and the region as a whole, including the Multimar Wattforum National Park Centre and Whale House in Tönning and the beautiful town of Husum with its old inland harbour and museums. A horse-drawn carriage ride to the Hallig island of Südfall or a visit to the Friedrichskoog seal centre with a boat trip to the seal banks are highly recommended, as are excursions to the small fishing villages within the national park.

4. Magnificent natural monuments going back 100 million years – the Saxon Switzerland National Park

Situated in the far eastern corner of Germany, south-east of Dresden, Saxon Switzerland National Park protects more than 36,000 hectares of the Elbe Sandstone Massif, sculpted over the course of millennia by the Elbe river – the perfect place for a journey of discovery all the way back to the Cretaceous period.Located in Saxony, Germany's most easterly federal state, Saxon Switzerland National Park offers bizarre eroded rock formations dating from the Cretaceous period, a fascinating landscape that is the only one of its kind in central Europe. The park is characterised by sandstone cliffs, deeply carved valleys, table mountains and gorges – a truly remarkable landscape. Visitors can catch a glimpse of rare animals such as eagle owls, otters and dormice. The presence of a number of different habitats in a relatively small area has given rise to a diverse flora of ferns, lichen and mosses. Rock climbing in the national park is an excellent way to see Saxon Switzerland in all its glory, but there are also more leisurely ways to enjoy the breathtaking scenery, such as a trip to the Bastei rocks, which provide stunning panoramic views across the Elbe. Other options for exploring this amazing landscape include hiring a rowing boat or taking a boat excursion to admire the scenery from the river. Additional attractions of the national park region are the national park centre, Königstein Fortress, Felsenbühne Rathen outdoor theatre, the Flössersteig robber baron's castle, the historical postal milestone in the town of Pirna with its Canaletto associations and of course the magnificent city of Dresden.Back in the national park you can take a walk led by a national park ranger or go on an exciting boat trip through the gorges. Recommended excursions include an enchanting tour on the river Elbe on one of the world's oldest paddle-steamers and a trip to Lichtenhain waterfall on the old-fashioned Kirnitzsch valley tram.

5. A wealth of discoveries on the North Sea coast – Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park

The Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park on Germany's North Sea coast provides protection for the Wadden Sea, the coastal area of mudflats between the Ems and Elbe rivers, as well as to the offshore East Frisian islands.Situated in Lower Saxony, in the top north-western corner of Germany, the national park invites visitors on a journey to explore the remarkable wetlands along the North Sea coast. Visitors can experience magnificent natural spectacles and amazing landscapes, such as the region's characteristic salt marshes, the steep sandy dunes near Dangast and the 'floating bog' near Sehestedt, Germany's last remaining outer dyke bog. A great diversity of flora and fauna flourishes in the temperate environment of the mudflats. The common shelduck, one of this coastal region's most attractive birds, is a particularly impressive resident. Between August and September, visitors can watch these magnificent seabirds flying in and settling on the mudflats. The Norddeich seal centre is also well worth a visit. In addition to the many ways of experiencing nature and interacting with animals the region also offers a number of other attractions that represent its history and culture, for example the Wattenmeerhaus information centre in Wilhelmshaven, a lightship and the whalebone fence on Borkum, the fisherman's house museum on Norderney, House Dornumsiel with its moat, the German Maritime Museum in Bremerhaven and the old lighthouse on Wangerooge. A visit to the East Frisian islands is also worthwhile. From swimming in the sea and enjoying the wide expanses of beach, to horse-drawn carriage rides across the islands and walks through the salt marsh – the national park's leisure activities promise ample rest and relaxation.

6. Lakes as far as the eye can see – Müritz National Park

Müritz National Park hugs the long eastern shoreline of Lake Müritz, which is by far the largest of the Mecklenburg Lakes in north-east Germany. A 660-kilometre network of trails leads through an enchanting landscape characterised by ancient beech forests, mysterious marshes and huge expanses of water – including more than 130 lakes.Müritz National Park in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is a stunningly beautiful region with countless lakes. It is also an important breeding ground for rare and endangered large birds – ideal for nature lovers and ornithologists. The chance of seeing rare animals close up, such as the endangered white-tailed eagle, pairs of ospreys in Federow and cranes, makes any excursion along the numerous cycle and walking trails a voyage of discovery. In the eastern part of the national park near Serrahn there are even specially constructed hides where visitors can watch the wildlife. Swedish hornless cattle have been grazing near Müritzhof since 1969 as part of a trial, with Gotland sheep being added in the 1980s. There are a large number of cycle trails on which to explore the region, and the national park office regularly conducts guided walks. But visitors are not restricted to cycling or walking when it comes to discovering the new and unexpected, as boats and canoes provide excellent alternatives. Larger pleasure boats are often able to accommodate bicycles on board. Canoeing trips on the Havel river and the 'Alte Fahrt' circular route are an excellent way to get to know this rich and varied landscape. The Heinrich Schliemann Museum in Ankershagen is dedicated to the life and work of this 19th-century archaeologist who first discovered the ancient city of Troy. The town of Waren with its old quarter and steamboat cruises is also well worth a visit.

7. In the green heart of Germany – Kellerwald-Edersee National Park

Kellerwald-Edersee National Park is located right in the lush, verdant heart of Germany, on the southern shore of Lake Edersee, barely half an hour's drive from Kassel. Covering around 5,700 hectares, the national park contains one of the last remaining unbroken expanses of pristine deciduous forest in central Europe.The Kellerwald-Edersee National Park in Hessen offers nature at its very best, an unspoilt paradise created through decades of dedicated conservation and forestry work. Here, there are no roads, settlements or railway lines. Instead, the region has more than 50 hills covered in a 'sea of beeches', interspersed with idyllic valley glades and meandering crystal-clear streams. Rock and boulder fields left over from the last ice age, surrounded by large-leaved limes and oaks, some of which are almost 1,000 years old, dank gorges with ash and mountain elm, orchid-filled meadows and carpets of cheddar pinks all combine to make up the national park's remarkable scenery. A wide range of fascinating guided tours, walks and cycle routes through the national park are available. Visitors are invited to watch animals, explore the forest, take photos, ask questions and enjoy the woodland air. At Kellerwald-Edersee National Park they can learn to observe and understand nature at its most unspoilt.

8. Magnificent chalk cliffs – Jasmund National Park

Visitors to Jasmund National Park on Rügen Island in north-eastern Germany can expect a glorious chalk landscape with marshes, wetlands and dry grassland.Jasmund National Park is situated in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in the far north-east of Germany. Its most spectacular feature is without doubt the Königsstuhl chalk cliffs, immortalised by the painter Caspar David Friedrich. The national park also contains beech forests dating back to the 13th century, which grow on the chalky Stubnitz plateau, formed during the ice age. The impressive chalk cliffs, ten kilometres long and up to 117 metres high, are made up of a combination of active and inactive cliffs that illustrate the dynamics of the coastal erosion typical of this region. As well as white chalk for writing, observant visitors can spot ice-age sediments and fossils on the beach. A range of walks, cycle routes, excursions and seminars offer a variety of ways to explore the region's beautiful woodlands, such as the South-East Rügen Biosphere Reserve. The park's rich flora and fauna include house martins, which breed in the chalk reefs, and the rare sea eagle. But it's not only the stunning chalk cliffs that make the Stubnitz region well worth a visit. Shifting the focus away from nature for once, the park rangers run regular tours based on characters from myth and legend, such as the Germanic goddess Hertha and the famous pirate Klaus Störtebecker, who is said to have buried treasure on the island. Granitz Hunting Lodge south of Binz and the Racing Roland, Rügen's narrow-gauge steam railway, are just two examples of the region's many cultural attractions. Others include Cape Arkona with the small village of Vitt, Sassnitz fishing harbour and fishing museum, the Pirate Gorge in Sassnitz, Greifswald municipal museum with its Caspar David Friedrich exhibition, the historical artisan's workshops in Gingst and the Grümbke observation tower near Neukirchen.

9. Mountains steeped in legend – Harz National Park

A mountainous region shrouded in mist or brightly lit by the sun, with water and woodland, tales of witches and a sense of wellbeing – you can find all this and more at the Harz National Park. Located within Germany's most northerly mountain range, the national park is a popular area for walking and skiing. Extending across two northern federal states, Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, the Harz National Park offers unforgettable scenery and exciting leisure activities. Since 1990, the national park has been protecting Mount Brocken along with other central parts of the Harz mountains – from Altenau in the west to Bad Harzburg and Ilsenburg in the north, Drei-Annen-Hohne in the east and Herzberg in the south. The Goethe Trail and the Witches' Trail take you through legendary forests, across mysterious moors and along unspoilt streams. The region's undisputed highlight is Mount Brocken, northern Germany's highest mountain at 1,142 metres. Its peak is often only visible in outline as it is frequently shrouded in mist, a natural spectacle that gave rise to legends of witches – and to the annual Walpurgis Night celebrations. Other attractions include the Brockenbahn steam railway, the 100-year-old Brocken garden and guided walks with a park ranger. The network of the Harz narrow-gauge railway covers a total of 130km, which includes Germany's highest train station on top of Mount Brocken. During a walk you may well encounter the local wildlife, such as red deer, roe deer and wild boar. There are always plenty of birds, including black woodpeckers, ring ouzels and wrens. With a bit of luck you might even spot a wildcat or a lynx. In future, although still accessible, these habitats will be developing without human interference. In addition to the diverse local fauna, the region also offers many other attractions, for example the magnificent medieval towns of Goslar and Quedlinburg, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can go below ground in visitor mines or marvel at the Rübeland dripstone cave and the Unicorn Cave.

10. A fascinating coastal landscape – Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park

Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park is located in the north of Germany. It surrounds a small group of islands on the North Sea coast off Cuxhaven, just beyond the Elbe estuary, and protects around 12,000 hectares of coastal mudflats.Three islands on the coast of Lower Saxony, off Cuxhaven and just beyond the Elbe estuary, are the focal points of the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park, the smallest of the three Wadden Sea parks. They are the lush, green island of Neuwerk (population approx. 40), the dune island of Scharhörn and the artificial island of Nigehörn. On fascinating excursions through the mudflats, visitors can search for amber and see large colonies of little, common, sandwich and Arctic terns. In addition to the natural sights of the wetlands, the region also offers many cultural attractions. The history of Neuwerk Island is particularly intriguing, with records linking it to the city of Hamburg going back as far as 1299. The island paths lead through verdant scenery to a fortified tower in the Elbe estuary, a relic from the days of the Hanseatic League. This bastion was an outpost in the battle against piracy. Feature attractions include horse-drawn carriage rides through the mudflats from Sahlenburg to the car-free island of Neuwerk and cruises from Cuxhaven to Neuwerk, which offers guided bird-watching tours and excursions through the salt marshes and the coastal mudflats. There is also a delightful exhibition of amber. The mudflats are again much in evidence on the trip from Neuwerk to Scharhörn. Originally a sandbank, Scharhörn is popular with visitors for its colonies of sea birds. Just like the artificial bird island of Nigehörn, which is closed to the public, Scharhörn has impressive expanses of unspoilt natural scenery.

11. An unspoilt wilderness in the heart of Germany – Hainich National Park

The former military exclusion zone of Hainich forest in western Thuringia has become a national park. It is Europe's largest unbroken area of mixed deciduous forest, dominated by the common beech.Add to travel planner Hainich National Park– the largest unbroken area of mixed deciduous forest in Europe – lies in Thuringia, in the eastern part of central Germany, between the spa resort of Bad Langensalza and Eisenach, home of Wartburg Castle. The biodiverse woodland habitat features an unusually high proportion of dead wood, ideal conditions for numerous organisms such as fungi, mosses, lichen and insects. On forest walks and guided tours visitors may well encounter rare animals such as wildcats, black storks and protected bat species, such as Bechstein's bat. The Wildcat Children's Forest is an attraction aimed specially at younger guests. A treetop trail, several hundred metres long, takes visitors across the 'roof' of the forest at a height of 44 metres. Themed trails, for example in Brunstal, circular walks and ridge trails like the Rennsteig are great ways to explore the region's stunning landscapes. Historical towns with a rich heritage, such as the spa resort Bad Langensalza, Mühlhausen, which is associated with the reformer Thomas Müntzer, and Eisenach, linked to Martin Luther and home of Wartburg Castle, are not just of interest to the culturally-minded. The Rennsteig trail features attractions of cultural and historical significance, for example the 1,000-year-old Mendicants' Oak and some ancient stone crosses. Hainich National Park offers a perfect blend of nature, culture and leisure activities, with other attractions that include medieval houses and a town wall that you can walk along in Mühlhausen, a rose garden and the delightful Friederike Villa in Bad Langensalza, Anrode convent near Bickenriede and the monastery village of Volkenroda.

12. Rugged and teeming with wildlife – Eifel National Park

The Eifel National Park has majestic beech forests interspersed with gnarled oak woods and tumbling brooks ensconced in mysterious ravines. The chance to get close to nature offered by the numerous plant and animal species here is unrivalled anywhere in western Germany.The Eifel National Park is located in North Rhine-Westphalia in the northern part of the Eifel region. Not only does it fill the gap that existed in the network of national parks in western Germany until recently, it is also the first conservation area to protect upland beech forests on acidic soil that are exposed to an Atlantic climate. Forests that once used to produce timber are now being transformed into wild, unspoilt woodland. The park also provides a vital habitat for more than 230 endangered plant and animal species. Wildcats hunt for mice in the large expanses of forest and beavers build their lodges in the clean water of the streams. Numerous types of bat and the kingfisher also enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the national park, as do the yellow wild narcissi that delight nature lovers with their magnificent floral display in the spring. Visitors can discover a remarkable synthesis of woodland and water, and there are plenty of activities and attractions on offer. The national park can be explored independently or by taking a guided tour. On 'ancient woodland days' (every Sunday during school holidays) rangers lead groups through the park and reveal some of nature's secrets. The Forest Experience Centre in the enchanting hydrotherapy resort of Gemünd on the edge of the Eifel National Park offers a wide range of information for all ages in its lovingly designed exhibition rooms. The Eifel National Park Forestry Service organises exclusive group tours, lectures and expert tours on request. A number of special events are listed in the national park's events calendar.

13. Stunning alpine scenery – Berchtesgaden National Park

Berchtesgaden National Park is one of the oldest nature reserves in the Alps. Located in southern Bavaria, this is a particularly beautiful part of the Berchtesgaden Alps, with majestic mountains, fantastic walking trails, scenic lakes and dense forests.Guided or independent walks through the national park region are the best way to discover this magnificent landscape, which includes striking cliffs, scree slopes, Alpine meadows and expanses of mountain pine and green alder. A trip to Lake Königssee is also a definite must. This fjord-like Alpine lake lies between Mount Watzmann, the 'Sea of Rocks' and the Hagen mountains. The lake's excellent water quality is just one example of the unspoilt nature of the national park. The region's varied scenery is complemented by the diverse local wildlife. With a bit of luck, you can encounter Alpine species such as ibex, marmots, eagles, mountain hares and Alpine salamanders in the wild – and you may even catch a glimpse of the increasingly rare golden eagle. Keen botanists will also be in their element, with flowers such as dragon's mouth, rock jasmine and dwarf alpenrose. Berchtesgaden National Park offers a wide variety of tours and activities, including walking, hiking and cross-country skiing. The Jenner cable car, which takes visitors to the edge of the national park at a height of 1,800m, is particularly popular. Other attractions include Berchtesgaden's visitor salt mine, the Watzmann thermal baths, Berchtesgaden Palace, the Marktschellenberg ice cave, the Obersalzberg Documentation Centre and the Eagle's Nest. Anyone in need of some rest and relaxation after an exciting day out will find it, together with hearty local cuisine, in the many welcoming mountain inns and catered cottages.

14. A vast, unspoilt forest wilderness – the Bavarian Forest National Park

Bavaria, located in the south-eastern corner of Germany, is home to the country's first national park, which was founded in 1970 and extended to its present size of 243 square kilometres in 1997.Together with the Bohemian Forest National Park adjoining it to the east, the Bavarian Forest National Park is the largest unbroken area of protected forest in central Europe. The philosophy of the National Park is to 'leave nature be', borne out by giving it free and unrestricted reign and leaving it entirely to its own devices. More than 300km of clearly marked footpaths, almost 200km of cycle routes and some 80km of cross-country ski trails offer visitors plenty of opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the national park for themselves both in summer and in winter. There is such a lot to discover on a journey through this unspoilt highland region, 95 per cent of which is covered by forest, from mysterious moorland and crystal-clear mountain streams to Lake Rachelsee, the national park's only glacial lake. Other attractions include a number of themed trails, such as the 'Watzlik-Hain', 'Schachten & Filze' and 'Seelensteig' trails, trail networks like Lusenwandergebiet and Felswandergebiet, and the ancient woodlands of Rachel-Falkenstein. A rather harsh, continental climate, long, snowy winters and substantial differences in altitude (600m to 1,453m) provide perfect conditions for indigenous species, including eagle owls, Ural owls, ravens, otters, wood grouse, hazel grouse and three-toed woodpeckers. You can see many of these animals in the wildlife enclosure near Neuschönau. The forest play area and the wilderness camp on Mount Falkenstein (the only one of its kind in Europe) offer children and young people unforgettable experiences in an unspoilt wilderness. You can find out more about the history of the Bavarian Forest National Park, including plenty of fascinating facts and figures, at the St. Oswald Museum and the Hans-Eisenmann-Haus information centre near Neuschönau.

National parks – nature in its original state

Here nature is king – protected from development in the extensive landscapes of the 14 national parks, it puts on a stunning show, unfurling in all its glory, and allowing you to experience unspoilt countryside and an amazing diversity of flora and fauna. This is where you discover the power of the natural world.

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