16 Highlight natural landscapes

Boasting forests, idyllic lakes and untamed rivers, the Barnim Nature Park is a stunning natural paradise and a relaxing haven just outside of Berlin.

Stunning mountain scenery, picturesque lakes and lush green forests are the hallmarks of the Berchtesgaden National Park, one of the oldest conservation areas in the Alps.

The untamed beauty of the vast Black Forest National Park attracts visitors in their swathes. The lush green forests in this nature reserve are just waiting to be explored, showing off the wild side of nature and offering views way into the distance.

The Bliesgau UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, situated in the south-east of the Saarland on the border with France, charms visitors with its orchid meadows, beech forests, endangered wildlife and stunning riverside landscape.

The Hainich is considered to be the largest contiguous area of deciduous forest in Germany. The mountain range is centrally located in Germany, in the west of Thuringia in the triangle formed by the towns of Mühlhausen, Eisenach and Bad Langensalza. Its southern half is occupied by the Hainich National Park.

This national park is located in Germany's most northerly low mountain range. With its mixture of ancient myths and rugged terrain, it is a popular travel destination in Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony all year round.

This nature park near the border between Germany and Belgium enchants visitors with its picturesque castles, splendid palaces and beautifully blooming wild daffodils.

Germany's youngest national park is located in the middle of the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park. Rustic forests and a rich variety of flora and fauna characterize this protected area, which stretches across the high altitudes of the Hunsrück.

Natural beauty awaits visitors on the island of Rügen. The chalk cliffs on Rügen's Jasmund peninsula were enough to inspire painter Caspar David Friedrich around 200 years ago.

The Kellerwald-Edersee National Park, home to vast beech forests, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Water babies and nature lovers are sure to be in their element thanks to Lake Edersee and the beautiful mountain scenery.

The ultimate rugged, rocky landscape awaits keen hikers, mountain climbers and nature lovers just a short train ride south from Dresden, on the border with the Czech Republic.

Anyone looking to get away from it all and enjoy some peace and quiet will be in their element in this naturally beautiful holiday destination in the north of Germany, thanks to its traditional villages, sprawling meadows, idyllic lakes and pleasant hiking trails.