Untouched nature, a refuge for native animals and rare plants. Nature reserves are nowadays essential and an integral part of climate and environmental protection. 

What do you think: When did the first national park exist? As early as 1872! The Yellowstone National Park in the United States of America became the first park to be established in the nineteenth century. In fact, there was the very first protected area nearly ten years earlier: 1864 in today’s Yosemite National Park. 

Widespread nowadays, after a hesitant start

Soon after, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand joined in and founded national parks to preserve their indigenous nature.

In Europe, this nature conservation trend didn’t arrive until the following century. Which country started it all? In 1909, it was Sweden. Switzerland followed in 1914. 

The idea caught on this side of the Atlantic, especially after World War II, leading today to more than 2,200 National Parks in some 120 countries, which are coordinated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources worldwide. Moreover, there are also smaller nature conservation sites under the jurisdiction of the individual countries. Did you know that?

In order for you not to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of options, we have compiled a small selection of vacation destinations in or at a nature reserve. 

Nature parks in the mountains

The HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu lies right in the middle of the Nagelfluh Nature Park. It covers 24,700 hectares with a mountain range of 24 kilometers and 13 peaks across two countries. The National Park is one of the cultural landscapes full of species, and it has its own unique rock outcrops made of boulders. If you want to shine on the site with your insider knowledge: In the Allgäu, it is also called “Herrgottsbeton”. 

In case you wonder when you should travel here: The Nature Park has much to offer during all seasons. From hikes to mountain bikes in summer up to ski touring, snowshoeing and cross county skiing in winter. Should you get the chance, visiting in the off-season is especially recommended. 

Naturhotel Aufatmen has been in a nature park since 2022. Why is that? The municipality of Leutasch was included in the largest Nature Park in Austria as late this year – Karwendel Nature Park.

Particularly worth seeing in this area is Gleierschklamm gorge. A trail leads up close by the water, letting you immerse into nature.  You can explore Karwendel and discover its beautiful places and alpine pastures also by bike.

Not to forget is the origin of the Isar. There, the Isar rises from a small spring, and you can hike or bike along the river through the entire valley. 

High up to the glaciers

Finally, if you’re interested in glaciers and the high alpine life, then you might want to visit the Ötztal valley. Sölden and with it The Peak and the LENI MOUNTAIN are perfectly located as starting point for these ventures.

The NATURE PARK ÖTZTAL includes a whole range of nature protection areas in the Ötztal valley. The park stretches from the valley floor up to alpine and high alpine landscapes shaped by glaciers. 

In this natural park, you can go high up: The highest point is the Ötztaler Wildspitze with 3.774 m. Vent and Obergurgl (Tyrol’s highest church village) as well as Niederthai/Umhausen and Gries/Längenfeld are located in the heart of the NATURPARK ÖTZTAL and are ideal starting points for exploring the area.

There’s also a lot to explore in one of the largest national parks in Germany—the Harz Mountains. The Harz is also the first transnational National Park in Germany. Ninety-seven percent of the National Park area is covered with forest. Explore it from the Schlosshotel Blankenburg or from the Naturresort Schindelbruch. You can discover some landmarks here. Around the Devil’s Wall, for example, there is a special myth. 

Exciting habitats on the coast

Exceptional National Parks can also be discovered at the coast. Close to Gut Nisdorf is the National Park Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft – Germany’s third-largest national park.

Gut Nisdorf is located directly at the Grabow, which is a lagoon at the Baltic Sea. There you can uniquely observe the dynamics of the coastline. The energy of wind and waves carries away the sand at one place and redeposits it elsewhere. Thus wind mudflats and sand hooks, dunes and beach lakes are created. As a result, the landscape looks different every year. 

Protected White-tailed eagles make their circles and raise their young here. Several pairs live in the area, and you can even watch them from the terrace at Nisdorf Manor. 

A great attraction is the crane rest in autumn. Up to 80,000 cranes rest in the Rügen-Bock region. Every morning and every evening, the birds fly loudly calling from their roosts in the shallow water to the fields and back. You should definitely experience this once!

Rare animals in the Wadden Sea

But the German seascape has even more to offer: the Wadden Sea, for example. And that is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island of Juist is right in the middle of it. Certain parts of the island, for example the east end, may only be accessed outside the breeding season of the local birds. 

The mudflats themselves boast a wide variety of species: Lug worms, cockles, shore crabs, mudflat snails and North Sea shrimp—to name just a few. Seals, of course, are particularly popular. And quite honestly, how can you resist those big beady eyes? 

An incredible natural scenery has been created by the Wadden Sea, and between tidal creeks and salt marshes, flat land and sandstone, the island of Juist offers a lot to discover.

In between two nature reserves

Eco-Aparthotel The Dreamers Club is located near two nature reserves: Kocje Reserve Park and Mljet National Park. 

Kocje Reserve Park stretches across an area of about 10 hectares, which includes unusual large rock formations. That protected area is home to a small canyon with several unexpected features such as dolomite rocks, cave, moss and a small spring.

The moss-covered rocks and trees create an exceptional, magical atmosphere here: a perfect place to practice energy healing—if that’s what you’re interested in.

The National Park Mljet is not far from Korcula either. It is one of eight National Parks in Croatia and located on the island of Mljet, which is one of the largest islands in southern Dalmatia. The Mljet National Park covers an area of 5300 hectares in the Northwestern part of the island of Mljet. Ninety percent of the Park area is covered by forest. You can feel like a dwarf in a fairy tale wood because most of the forest consists of Aleppo pines—which can reach up to twenty meters in height.

Is there any national park you have always wanted to visit? Tell us!

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