The national park offers great hiking trails from the hill country up to the top of the Brocken.
And so South Tyrol not only has the northernmost and one of the smallest wine-growing regions in Italy, but also one of the best. Wine lovers get their money’s worth here – especially when they go on the trail of the fine wines in hiking boots or on a bike. See more about hiking and cycling in the South Tyrolean wine country in our photo show.
Hiking and cycling in the South Tyrolean wine country
Photo series with 14 pictures
Tour from winery to winery
Plump vineyards cover the gentle hills above the Adige, between cypresses, laurel and olive trees, and proud knight castles watch over them: the South Tyrolean wine region exudes sensuality at first glance. Almost on the doorstep of the South Tyrolean capital Bozen, Eppan, Kaltern and Tramin are lined up on a plateau, all places that can be found on the labels of the best plants. A tour from winery to winery is ideal. The best way to do this is to leave your car behind and get on your bike or hike with the help of a bus – it’s not far, from Eppan to Tramin it’s just 16 kilometers.
The first stop is Girlan near Eppan and the Schreckbichl winery there. Treat yourself to a wine from the Cornell range in a hyper-modern ambience: These are the big wines from the top locations like the Pinot Nero "Villa Nigra" and the Gewürztraminer "Atisis". The tasting room of the St. Michael-Eppan winery also shines with modern architecture – and yet harmonizes with the cooperative’s Art Nouveau building. Top wine is that "Südtirol Cabernet Sanct Valentin".
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Good food goes with good wines
Lunch time. One of the most beautiful places for this is the terrace of the stately manor Castel Ringberg. From there, the view sweeps far over the vineyards and the lake Kalterer See glistening in the sun. Fine creations by Stefan Unterkircher such as pikeperch fillet in a lardo with pea cream are served on the table. The wine for this comes from the great lady of the South Tyrolean winemakers, Elena Walch. She owns Castel Ringberg, and Michael Graf Goëss-Enzenberg’s Manincor winery is just a stone’s throw away in the direction of the lake. Here, too, the symbiosis of old and new architecture in the tasting area is impressive. The count’s organic wines regularly win awards.
Kalterer See: the warmest swimming lake in the Alps
A round around Lake Kaltern completes the tour. Anyone who has packed their swimming trunks can jump into the water to cool off. Don’t worry: Despite the name, it doesn’t get too cold, because with summer water temperatures of up to 28 degrees it is the warmest swimming lake in the Alps.
In contrast, the South Tyrolean Archeology Museum in Bolzano is freezing cold. That’s where it lies "Iceman" the more than 5000 year old glacier mummy Ötzi, at a constant minus six degrees behind glass. The exhibition is as exciting as a thriller. With great attention to detail, not only his life and the world of that time are vividly presented. Also the mystery of Ötzi’s violent death, which was initially called "Corpse case Hauslabjoch" the police employed, are described: Who shot Ötzi and why? Why didn’t he defend himself with his ax? And why did the fight take place high up in the mountains, at an altitude of 3,210 meters? A tip for parents: the topadultreview.com special children’s programs.
Mediterranean flair in Bolzano
Southern life prevails right in front of the entrance to the museum, which is located on the edge of the Bolzano pedestrian zone. You can stroll through small alleys and arbors, sit down in the café, admire the elegant Italian fashion shops and stroll through the fruit market. There are two restaurant tips right on the market "Gostner" and "Red eagle" two quaint pubs where market people and tourists feel equally at home. And with dinner there is a glass of Lagrein – after all, the Gries location on the outskirts of Bozen is the best for strong red wine.
Further information:
Südtirol Information, Pfarrplatz 11, I-39100 Bozen, Tel. 0039/0471/999999, www.suedtirol.info Holiday region South Tyrol’s South, Pillhofstr. 1, I-39057 Frangart, Tel. 0039/0471/633488, www.suedtirols-sueden.info Rental bikes via bikemobil Card: The bikes are available at train stations and other locations and can be returned to any of the participating companies at no extra charge. The card costs 24 euros for one day, 30 euros for three days and 34 euros for seven days. Alternatively: a one-day wine safari by bus accompanied by an experienced guide, company tours, tastings, tasting lunches and a city tour in Bolzano, 95 euros per person, every first Thursday of the monthWelleries, events: www.suedtiroler-weinstrasse.itKellerei Schreckbichl: www.colterenzio.itKellerei St. Michael-Eppan: www.stmichael.itCastel Ringberg: www.castel-ringberg.com Winery Manicor: www.manincor .com South Tyrol Museum of Archeology: www.iceman.it, admission 9 euros, children up to 6 years free, schoolchildren / trainees / students 7 euros, families 18 euros, special accommodation tips: family hotels South Tyrol, Pfarrplatz 11, I-39100 Bozen, Tel. 0039 / 0471/999900, www.familienhotels.com; E.g. in the wine country the garden hotel Moser.
The Wadden Sea on the North Sea is characterized by limitless expanse. Neuwerk is right in the middle – the car-free island with only about 40 inhabitants. Peace and relaxation are guaranteed here. And nature anyway. Because the island of Neuwerk, together with the dune islands of Scharhörn and Nigehörn, is part of the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park, which is also a biosphere reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site. A real insider tip for hiking and of course for mudflat hiking in the middle of the untouched expanse of the North Sea.
More information about National Park Germany:
Photo show: Superlatives among the German national parks Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park Bavarian Forest National Park Berchtesgaden National Park
The Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park: background
The Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park is part of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, but the closest city is Cuxhaven. The Hamburgisches Wattenmeer National Park was founded in 1990 and is embedded in the mouth of the Elbe to the North Sea, about 105 kilometers as the crow flies from Hamburg. On a total area of 13,750 hectares, the national park welcomes up to 120,000 visitors annually and presents itself in fairytale natural splendor.
The Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park: Landscape
The extensive sandbanks and dunes of the national park alternate with open tidal flats and salt marshes, creating a picturesque landscape. Due to the location at the mouth of the Elbe, there is a high food supply for young fish and sea birds. The national park is one of the most bird-rich areas in Central Europe – because it is part of the central resting and moulting area on the East Atlantic migratory route for coastal birds. There are also many seals, gray seals and porpoises here that can be observed from a safe distance.
The Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park: hiking trails
The Hamburgisches Wattenmeer National Park offers numerous adventure trails for hiking and a rich program of events with guided hikes and mudflat tours. But even if you want to explore the area on your own, the national park offers a wealth of beautiful hiking trails. In summer you can also go swimming here.
In spring, a hike across the mudflats of the Kleiner Vogelsand is worthwhile. Because here you can find real amber, which is washed free from the nearby Elbrinne. Try your luck as a collector! And while you’re there, don’t miss the seals that call Neuwerk Island home.
In May and June, a hike across the salt marshes in the foreland is also recommended, because this is the time when numerous waders and water birds start breeding. From the end of May the chicks are everywhere in the foreland. Since eggs and chicks are particularly well camouflaged, one should move carefully in the foreland.
Neuwerk and especially Scharhörn are also known for their tern colonies with several thousand breeding pairs. When hiking you can often see the terns in flight shaking over the water to spot small fish that they prey on in a dive. But be careful when watching, because terns defend their offspring against anything that comes too close to them. Depending on the weather, you can also take a tour of the island
The Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park: a special feature
The Wadden Sea is used every year in spring and autumn as a stopover for feeding by waders. On their migration between the southern wintering areas and the northern breeding areas, the resting place to “refuel” is essential for the animals to survive. The flocks of birds are particularly easy to observe on Neuwerk at high tide. Particularly impressive when a troop of geese flies up with a distinctive call.
Another special feature is the carriage ride in the mud flats across the seabed, which dries out at low tide. The approximately twelve kilometer route leads from Cuxhaven to Neuwerk Island and back again. The trip takes about four hours due to the duration of the low tide. About one hour of this remains on the island of Neuwerk. You can of course also walk this route, but don’t forget to pay attention to the flood times!
The Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park: facilities
The National Park House on Neuwerk informs its visitors about the National Park. Interactive exhibitions about the island’s history, the formation of the Wadden Sea and the typical flora and fauna of the national park offer visitors instructive and impressive moments. For example, you can experience the ebb and flow of the tide in the tidal basin, examine the smallest mudflat organisms under a binocular microscope or watch nature films and the two famous Neuwerker crime scene thrillers.
The Neuwerk lighthouse is the most important structure on the island of Neuwerk and offers a unique panoramic view of the entire national park and far beyond. The “Herrengarten” underneath the tower and the “Cemetery of the Nameless” are just like the tower itself impressive evidence of bygone days.
The Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park: Accommodation
The national park offers a wide range of accommodation in holiday homes and apartments. The companies are very familiar.
A very special experience is a rustic overnight stay in a straw warehouse (usually with breakfast). For this purpose, 4 establishments offer a total of around 230 beds. For mudflat hikers, the mudflat car companies offer luggage transport as a special service.
Camping enthusiasts will not miss out on Neuwerk either. 3 companies offer tent sites at the farms.
Further information:
The website of the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park with further information can be found at: www.nationalpark-wattenmeer.de/hh
More information on hiking
More information about active holidays in Germany
The Harz National Park is one of the largest forest national parks in Germany and, with its spruce and beech forests, extends around the Brocken, the highest mountain in northern Germany. The national park offers great hiking trails from the hill country up to the top of the Brocken. With a height difference of more than 900 meters, the hiking trails offer great insights into the vegetation from six different height levels.
Photo show: Superlatives among the German national parks Bavarian Forest National Park Berchtesgaden National Park Kellerwald-Edersee National Park Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park
Harz National Park: Background
The Harz National Park is one of the largest forest national parks in Germany and comprises around ten percent of the total area of the Harz around the Brocken.