Glamping, mystery walks and the Dark Sky Park – Hessen’s special experiences for night owls and nature lovers
© Holger Leue© Holger LeueThe extraordinary tour in the Taunus lets you experience the familiar and well known from new perspectives. The “Blind Walk” on 2nd and 23rd September 2017 takes visitors on a tour of Oberursel that requires them to rely wholly on their intuition – because their eyes are blindfolded. Participants discover the meadows and forests with their ears, noses and hands alone. Walking in pairs, the adventurers lead each other along the trails and in doing so discover how they can solve certain tasks without the use of their eyes. Participants can also look forward to a blind tasting event, in which they’ll have to rely on their senses of smell and taste. To participate in the Blind Walk, participants are required to wear weatherproof clothing and all-terrain shoes and to bring a mat and drinks.
https://taunus.info/veranstaltungskalender/wanderungen/vollmond-wanderung/7375/
Animal lovers will love the “WILD CAT forest experience” tour in the Upper Taunus. With its ten stations, the adventure trail takes you on a journey of discovery spanning some seven kilometres and a climb of 190 metres. Visitors can use their own mobile phones as an audio guide and can learn all about the protected species at the individual points along the route. The walk takes you over a beaten track and lasts around four hours. It starts and ends at the Winterstein walkers’ car park, which can be accessed via the Ober-Mörlen motorway exit. You need rainproof clothing and sturdy footwear to take part in the WILD CAT forest experience. Children must be accompanied by adults. The trail is well marked. The trail is free and open all-year-round. Participants embark at their own risk. http://www.bund-hessen.de/themen_und_projekte/natur_und_artenschutz/rettungsnetz_wildkatze/wildkatzen_walderlebnis/
As the largest basalt mountain range in Central Europe, the volcanic VOGELSBERG region has plenty to offer visitors, especially as dusk approaches. It’s an impressive sight with hexagonal basalt columns and blocks, enchanted forests, former volcanic vents and castle ruins. Trained guides from the volcanic Vogelsberg nature reserve offer fascinating night walks: On 6th September, night owls can visit old sites used for rituals and ceremonial gatherings as part of a full moon walk. The two-hour walk takes you along the treetop path at Hoherodskopf in the moonlight. The moonlight brings out nocturnal animals that hide in their burrows during the day. You might be lucky enough to catch sight of them, particularly after sunset. Costs 9.90 EUR per adult. The walk costs 5.90 EUR for children up to 16 years. The three-hour ghost walk for adults on 27th October 2017 takes nature lovers to the home of the “white woman”, the mystical celebrity who features in a renowned Vogelsberg legend. The walk begins at 7:45pm. The ghost walk costs 5 EUR per adult and begins at 7pm. www.bit.ly/NaturparkVogelsberg
The Weather Park in Offenbach, near Frankfurt am Main, invites children between the ages of six and twelve to enjoy an especially scary experience at dusk. The ghost walk on 28th October 2017 sees guides from the Weather Park don eerie costumes and take the children around the 20,000 sq metre educational park, teaching visitors all about the interaction between the sun, wind and water at various stations during the day. At dusk, it transforms into a mystical trail: Scary characters wait at various “magical places” around the park and explain scary stories with a meteorological background. The tour begins at 6pm and ends at 8:30pm. It costs 5 EUR for children. www.wetterpark-offenbach.de
A visit to the Wurzeltrapp Wilderness School in Jossgrund in the Hessian Main-Kinzig region is a real must for nature lovers: Alex Trapp is a survivalist expert and totally at home in nature. Heteaches visitors all about tracking animals, survival in the forest and how to train your own senses. If you want to find out more about the forest and its secrets, you can head out into nature to test your newly acquired skills. Various courses are offered to all age groups throughout the year. The “Basic tracking course” is available all-year-round for participants aged ten and over and lasts up to three days. Participants learn to sharpen their senses and pick up on the smallest clues in the wild. They also learn how to deal with animals and plants at close quarters. Prices and availability available on request. http://www.wurzeltrapp.de/
As a certified Dark Sky Park, the Rhön is dedicated to protecting the night and all its plants and nocturnal animals: Guided tours give visitors the chance to observe the moon, stars and even shooting stars at special star-gazing sites where light pollution is especially low. There are various night walks available, including the “star-gazing walk”, the “moonlight walk” and the “Celt tours” along the “Hochrhöner” premium hiking trail. Participants can learn all about celestial processes and the origin of the seasons, as well as interesting facts about the history of the stars, constellations and planets. Space fans will get their money’s worth at the Galaxos concerts by Frank Tischer in the Radom on the Wasserkuppe: The artist enchants spectators and takes them on a journey through space with his “Music from space and time” concert on 10th September and 1st October 2017, featuring virtuoso, celestial compositions. Concert tickets are available from 8 EUR for adults and include access to the viewing platform and entry into the museum.https://www.rhoen.de/urlaub-kultur-ferien-wellness/wandern-natur/nachtwandern/index.html
http://www.radom-wasserkuppe.de/allgemein/galaxos-konzertreihe-mit-frank-tischer/
The Kellerwald-Edersee National Park entices thousands of nature lovers into the wilderness each year with its copper beech forests, which are some of the largest in Central Europe. The 5,700 sq metre UNESCO World Heritage Site includes ancient forests on mountain peaks, gorges, rocks and boulders, natural springs and streams, and peaceful meadowed valleys and glades. It offers numerous routes for walks and bike rides. Various tours and events in the Kellerwald National Park Centre and in the Edersee Wildlife Park attract visitors throughout the year. One example is the theme day entitled “King of the forest – the red deer” on 13th September 2017, which is a great experience for families with children. From 7pm to 9pm, adults and children over seven years old can learn all about the red deer in its natural habitat. The event costs 5 EUR per person. The Bat Evening with the German Youth Association for the Protection of Nature (NAJU) offers participants a tour through the National Park Centre between 7pm and 9:30pm on 15th September 2017. During this tour, visitors can see the nocturnal flying mammals at close quarters and can see what they get up to at dusk. https://www.nationalpark-kellerwald-edersee.de/de/veranstaltungen/
This Shepherd Experience is something quite different. Holidaymakers can enjoy a truly special natural experience in one of the smallest “hotels” in Hessen: The cosy shepherd’s wagons belonging to the Schöneweiß holiday home complex in the Kellerwald-Edersee National Park are set amidst scattered fruit orchards, meaning you can sleep under the apple and pear trees. These wagons are ideal for families, honeymooners and young and young-at-heart adventurers. The small wagons have been lovingly decorated and provide a cosy country-house style with a romantic ambience. They feature a combined living and sleeping area, a table with two chairs, a shelf and a double bed. Spend some quality time here with your partner and enjoy some peace on the edge of the national park. The shepherd’s wagons can only be booked in conjunction with a holiday house as they do not offer electricity or water. They can be booked all year round and cost 60 EUR per night for two people. http://www.ferienhaus-edersee.de
Fans of mysteries and thrillers can look forward to a quite special experience in the Habichtswald nature reserve: The directors of the Elmshagen Theatre Barns have created a thrilling mystery for guests to solve as part of a walking tour. Wannabe detectives and fans of crime thrillers can let their creativity run free during the three-hour thriller tours. They include: “The Body on the Habichtswaldsteig”, “Bloody Water” and “The Treasure of the Dead Horses”. Participants are invited to solve these local, fictional cases and, once the walk has finished, they can enjoy an evening meal together with other detectives from the group. The thriller walks begin at 6pm. Tickets to the public events cost 19 EUR per person. The next event, “The Treasure of the Dead Horse”, takes place on 15th September 2017 and starts at the Hirtenhaus in Edermünde-Haldorf. https://www.urlaub-habichtswald.de/urlaubsideen/gruppenangebote/krimiwanderung
On 20th October 2017, the whole family can look forward to a treasure hunt in the Old Pheasantry in Hanau Klein-Auheim. As part of the night walk, adults and children can look for treasure and solve thrilling tasks and puzzles. During the adventure, you can look forward to spotting some nocturnal animals, including lynx, wild boar and wolves. The event concludes with a communal bonfire and barbecue. The tour starts at 5:30pm and ends at 9pm. It includes entrance to the wildlife park and costs 9 EUR for children between the ages of 7 and 12. Tickets for adults cost 11 EUR. Advanced booking by telephone required.
The “Kletterwald Neroberg” climbing park is situated on the edge of the municipal forest, directly on the Wiesbaden Neroberg. It features 18 climbing courses at various heights and with various difficulty levels, so athletes of all abilities can enjoy a challenge in the heart of a natural idyll. Visitors can enjoy impressive views over the treetops of Wiesbaden between the ancient oak and beech trees. As one of the largest high-rope courses in Germany, the climbing park is very popular among children and young adults. A three-hour climbing tour, including instruction and climbing equipment, costs 19 EUR per adult and 13 EUR per child. There is also a special children’s climbing course for 7 EUR. The climbing park is open until November. It is open daily from Wednesday to Friday from 10am and from 9am on weekends and public holidays. The climbing park is open daily at 10am during school holidays and opens at 9am for school classes and private groups. http://www.kletterwald-neroberg.de/
If your heart longs for an active yet peaceful experience amongst nature, you should consider staying overnight in one of the cosy yurts in the Odenwald. The handcrafted round tents have been used as traditional housing by Mongolian and Kyrgyz nomads for centuries. They’re open throughout the year, giving guests the chance to stargaze through the domed roof or relax on the yurt terrace,. The yurts are comfortably furnished and have a large double bed, wooden flooring and an open outdoor kitchen. They also feature numerous lovely details to create a cosy atmosphere. The birds will sing as you look at the yurts’ green surroundings or cook some breakfast. There is a toilet block and a washing station. You can also enjoy walks on the excellent hiking trails and bike rides on the diverse mountain bike routes in the region to fully appreciate the beauty of the surroundings. One night’s stay in a yurt costs from 60 EUR for a minimum of two people. Guests can choose between large and small yurts. They all come with a double bed, cosy rugs and a small table. http://www.jurtenkurt.de/
The Rhön Star Wagons in the Grüne Kutte country inn in Bernshausen bring a whole new meaning to the word “glamping”. Guests can experience nature with all their senses without having to compromise on comfort. The luxurious apartment on wheels features a glass roof above the sleeping area so that visitors can enjoy a clear view of the starry night sky. You can see thousands of stars in the Rhön Dark Sky Park, including the Milky Way, the Zodiacal light and other celestial objects. The spacious Star Wagons are located in the heart of the Dark Sky Park. They measure 20 sq metres and come with their own bathroom with rain shower and starry sky panelling, a small living area, kitchenette and flat-screen television. The integrated underfloor heating and cosy wood-burning stove make sure you stay warm and cosy. It costs 150 EUR per night for two people. Price includes the use of the wagon as well as all heating and water costs, towels and a basket of firewood for the stove. The Star Wagons can be booked all-year-round. https://www.gruene-kutte.de/wohnen/sternenwagen/
Situated in the centre of Germany, Hessen’s regions and cities offer attractive holiday destinations and leisure activities for walkers, cyclists, culture vultures, nature lovers, families and those looking to relax and unwind. Idyllic timber-framed towns and big city flair, over 3,300 kilometres of long-distance cycle routes, numerous cultural events, 31 spas and health resorts, over 3,000 kilometres of certified hiking trails, a large selection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and an abundance of castles, palaces and museums − Hessen is a land full of contrasts.
For more information, please visit: www.hessen-tourismus.de
HA Hessen Agentur GmbH is responsible for marketing tourism and conventions on behalf of the Hessen State Government.