Wandern: Deutschlands schönsten Routen | ARD Reisen

Das Wandern ist des Deutschen Lust und die perfekte Kombination aus Bewegung, Naturerlebnis und Entschleunigung. Kein Wunder, dass diese Freizeitbeschäftigung immer beliebter wird. Jeder zweite Deutsche wandert laut einer Umfrage gern. Rund 300.000 Kilometer Wanderwege ziehen sich über das Land und bieten ein riesiges Potenzial für Abenteuer in der Natur. Doch welcher Wanderweg lohnt sich wirklich? Wo lässt es sich am besten entspannen, die Landschaft genießen und vielleicht auch ein Stückchen Geschichte entdecken? Welche Strecke lohnt sich kulinarisch und welche Route ist voller Sagen und Mythen?

In unserer unterhaltsamen Fernsehsendung „Wanderwege, die Sie kennen sollten“ nehmen wir Sie mit auf eine Reise zu den schönsten, spektakulärsten und spannendsten Wanderungen in Deutschland. Die Sendung bietet nicht nur Einblicke in bekannte und beliebte Wanderwege, sondern auch Geheimtipps abseits der ausgetretenen Pfade. Ob für erfahrene Wanderer oder Einsteiger – diese Sendung bietet Inspiration für jeden, der das Wandern liebt oder es noch entdecken möchte. Machen Sie sich bereit, neue Wege zu gehen und vielleicht sogar Ihren nächsten Lieblingspfad zu finden.

Noch mehr lohnenswerte deutsche Reiseziele gibt es in der ARD Mediathek:
https://1.ard.de/reisen-ziele-deutschland?yt=d

00:00 Intro
00:53 Der Auenlandweg im Westerwald
03:20 Eine Wattwenderung auf die Hallig Oland
06:50 FKK-Wanderung für Naturisten
09:35 Die Bierwanderung in Schwarzenholz im Saarland
12:28 Witziges Wandern durch Franken
16:50 Zu den Wasserfällen der Eifel wandern
18.40 Rotweinwanderung durch das Ahrtal
22.39 Auf den Spuren der Hexen im Harz
28.16 Der Mega-Marsch – 100 Kilometer in 24 Stunden
31:45 Der Malerweg durch die Sächsische Schweiz
39:04 Der Schluchtensteig im südlichen Schwarzwald
45:19 Durch das Rothaargebirge im Sauerland wandern
53:24 Der älteste Wanderweg Deutschlands – Der Rennsteig im Thüringer Wald
57:34 Auf dem Hochrhöner durch drei Bundesländer
01:01:50 Der Heidschnuckenweg durch die Lüneburger Heide
01:06:09 Am Rhein entlang auf dem Rheinsteig
01:11:50 Der Hünenweg durch das Emsland bis nach Groningen
01:16:43 Der Moselsteig von Koblenz bis Trier
01:22:36 Der Goldsteig durch den Bayrischen Wald
01:27:56 Outro

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#wandern #deutschland #ardreisen #wanderlust #wanderer #abenteuer

“Wanderwege, die Sie kennen sollten” ist ein Film von Sylvia Berndt. Redaktion: Ralf Kosack.
Dieser Film wurde 2025 im Auftrag des NDR produziert. Alle Aussagen und Fakten entsprechen dem damaligen Stand und wurden seitdem nicht aktualisiert.

Subtitle: Norddeutscher Rundfunk 2025 Around 300,000 kilometers of hiking trails crisscross our country, across flat plains and through deep gorges. We present challenging and leisurely trails, from very short ones to multi-day adventures. Travel with us through a wonderful and hikeable Germany. We start with a fabulous route in Rhineland-Palatinate. This is how lush and green the author J.R.R. Tolkien must have imagined the Shire to be when he wrote “The Lord of the Rings.” What he didn’t anticipate, however, was that the Shire lies in the northern Westerwald – at least recently. In 2021, a dozen figures from the fantasy saga moved to the Sieg, with the help of woodcarvers from the region. You have to do the rough cutting first. You start with large saws to remove the coarse material before you get to the fine carving. It’s a real workout. Great cinema in the Westerwald. ♪ Gentle flute sounds ♪ The Shire Way, at a good three kilometers , can be completed in an hour. An hour full of discovery. The hiker just needs to keep their eyes open. Do you know him? That’s Legolas. Cool. It turned out great. I find it really interesting. You don’t have to have seen the film or read the books; it really stimulates your imagination. However, not all of the characters inspire enthusiasm. One causes slight to severe reservations. Just a quick look… Don’t you want to? You don’t have to. It’s no problem, it’s really sweet. Oh, come on. One more step. The spider Shelob is obviously not everyone’s cup of tea. Luckily, there’s lots else to discover. For people who don’t want to walk that far, it’s great – it’s not too long. I really liked the path and I think it offers a lot of variety for three kilometers. The path is flat – in the mudflats. Hiking the North German way. Quite currenty. I feel the current. Mudflat hiking is not for cowards. There are no set routes or well-trodden paths with signposts here. Instead, it’s an adventure with guaranteed wildlife sightings. Like on the path between Dagebüll and Hallig Oland, six kilometers between the horizon and the lugworm. There it is. It’s clearly visible. It’s still a small one. Rinse it off a bit in case anyone wants to eat it, so it’s not so sandy… It has bristles at the front to grip the ground. It can extend or retract them. It can go up to three days without water – hold its breath for three days. We can’t do that. Mudflat hiking is always hiking under time pressure: arrive before the water comes. It’s always important to make sure you get through here in time to make it back to Dagebüll safely. From here, you can walk with the water. That’s very important. Here we have safe mudflats , and in an emergency, you can let the tide wash you towards the dike. After two hours, you finally have dry ground beneath your feet again. On the Warft, a man-made hillock. A stopover with some sightseeing. An idyllic Warft, mostly thatched-roof houses. Thatched roofs are roughly four times as expensive as concrete slabs. Fire insurance is twice to four times as expensive. Mudflat hikers don’t need expensive hiking boots. The only danger when hiking barefoot: you could injure yourself on mussels. Sometimes they’re delicacy mussels— or what some people consider a delicacy. If you open them and slurp them out… Who has ever eaten oysters? Who hasn’t eaten oysters? It’s a bit like when you… let’s say, when you have a persistent cough… Are you filming that? No, then I won’t tell you. When the oysters aren’t ending up on your plate, they perform an important job: they filter and purify the water, providing a habitat for other creatures. Mudflat hikes off Juist lead to these oyster beds. It may look like a pile of shells, but it’s actually a biotope and a nursery for small fish. For crabs that lay their eggs there. As educational as a mudflat hike is, the clock is ticking here. So it’s important to set off on time for the trail, which isn’t really a trail at all. Topless and bottomless too: this hiking trail is designed for special needs. Enjoy a hiking trail with all your senses. Naturists have their own idea of ​​how best to do this: without clothes. Nudism in the great outdoors. It’s a natural feeling. It feels right and is the optimal clothing in the sweltering weather. I hate wearing clothes. Feeling nature is wonderful. Especially when it’s warm, I’m happy when I’m not wearing anything, because then the sweat really cools me down. We have a huge organ, the largest organ in the human body – our skin. Perceiving the elements with it is simply a wonderful feeling. And it saves time, for example, when changing clothes. If the path crosses a body of water, nude hikers don’t have to think twice. Currently, there are two official naturist hiking trails in Germany. One is in Lower Saxony, in the municipality of Undeloh. But not everyone seems to be keen on nude hikers: over ten years ago, the sign was secretly stolen. Not once, not twice – it disappeared overnight eight times. The naturists were not only without clothes, but also without direction, and even ended up in the neighboring village. That shouldn’t happen here in the future. Naturists are also campaigning for a dedicated hiking trail in Müritz National Park . You have to have a lot of conversations, because the idea is to create something that makes it clear: Here are the signs, this is the way to go. Anyone who comes to this path knows they might encounter naked people or move around naked. It makes no difference whether I’m a bank manager or a janitor. We’re all the same, whether fat or thin, tall or short – it’s all the same, and we feel different too. We’re no longer the manager or the janitor, but all naked people in nature. Textiles or not: In the end, all hikers are united by the joy of exercise in the countryside. Hops and malt together on the road. Welcome to the beer hike. If you hike, you sweat. If you sweat, you have to drink a lot. Schwarzenholz in Saarland combined the Germans’ favorite drink with exercise. The beer hike was invented. Fewer and fewer people go on traditional hikes. If you want to do or offer something like that, you have to offer people something; it has to be an event. Beer hike, wine hike – something that lures people away from home. But then they come. Cheers! It tastes so much better in the fresh air. Great! The hike is fantastic! We took advantage of it for the Father’s Day hike. We simply postponed Father’s Day by two days and are doing it today. Because all 2,500 liters were gone in the end, the beer hike will be held more often now. Americans also appreciate the German hoppy beverage. This hiker from the States has written a book about it – With 50 tour tips. Beer hiking is a way to combine enjoyment and beer. After a hike, a beer tastes best. Sip by sip, he discovered Bavaria. Sights like the Kofel, Oberammergau’s local mountain, become almost secondary on his enjoyable hike. The real highlights are the stops for beer tastings. Top- or bottom-fermented, light or dark, wheat or bock— Rich Carbonara knows them all. He’s constantly expanding his knowledge. We’re making a top-fermented beer in the style of a pale ale, a bit English-American. With varying hop varieties and perhaps a bit fruitier than the typical Bavarian pale ale. The main thing is to keep your fluid levels in balance. A few per mille makes hiking much more exhilarating. This hiking trail in Franconia proves that hiking isn’t a deadly serious affair. I liked it. Laughter is known to be healthy— and expressly encouraged on the Witzewanderweg. Have you seen the next stop? Yes, over there. Okay. The signposts: Idiots with jokes. To read on wooden boards and listen to via QR code. * What happens to professional footballers when they’re no longer worth it? * * Quite simple: Then they become referees, like me. * Three, two, … … one! Oliver Tissot’s idea: You need stations where the soul can breathe freely again. The simplest, easiest, and most harmless way to do this is with jokes. How did you come up with the idea? I think this joke hiking trail is fantastic. There are fitness trails, but no amusement trails. It’s time Germans had enough to laugh about while hiking. 20 Franconian cabaret artists contributed video jokes. Innovative: Augmented Reality, a computer-aided extension of the perception of reality. Just download the app to your phone, choose an Oliver Tissot, and take a photo. A little bit over there. What’s hanging from the trees in the jungle? Funny, look! Vacation. *Laughter* After a few kilometers and even more idiots, your calves and laughing muscles are really strained. It was exhausting, but a lot of fun. It’s cool that we could… …scan jokes on our phones too. The augmented reality is funny, with Oliver Tissot in the middle of it all. It never gets boring: the comedians are always uploading new videos. This hiking trail in Rhineland-Palatinate leads to the highest waterfall in the Eifel. Bad Bertrich, a cute spa town, is nestled in a valley basin on the edge of the Volcanic Eifel . 2,000 years ago, the Romans discovered the healing powers of the local thermal spring. Today, people enjoy the naturally warm water in Germany’s only Glauber salt thermal spa. This is where a hiking trail starts that the hiking magazine voted the most beautiful in Germany in 2023. Rightly so? Two bloggers are testing it out. It’s going to be a spectacular video. We’re up for it. We’re on the waterfall adventure route. 1.5 km of walking, a really nice narrow single trail. It’s exactly what you’d want. We’re going uphill the whole way. The Hohenzollern Tower should be coming up soon. The Hohenzollern Tower was built in 1896 in honor of Kaiser Wilhelm I. In his younger years, His Imperial Highness was a guest in Bad Bertrich. We continue at a brisk pace. Proper footwear is an absolute must when hiking. * Splashing * Then you can hear it. We’ve arrived at the waterfall. Next highlight: Klidinger Waterfall. You can only get here from Bad Bertrich; there’s no parking lot for hikers. Wonderful little thing. The Klidinger Waterfall is the highest of its kind in the Eifel. The water plunges 28 meters into the depths. The tour offers another exciting destination: the Falkenlay. A hill formed by a volcanic eruption. Porous lava rock with crevices and caves where Stone Age people are said to have lived. Oh, awesome. An insider tip here. Not many people know about it. You can’t get through here; you really have to go down here and climb through the darkness. It’s nothing wild or anything, no need to be claustrophobic. Then you’re here, you have peace and quiet. Just like us. Where peace reigns today, hard labor was carried out in the past. The basalt stones were quarried and used as building material. In Kennfus, above the Falkenlay, you can find the stones in the walls of houses, farms, and the church. Despite the 500 meters of elevation gain, the downhill force makes the return journey easier. A very beautiful hike. Not particularly strenuous, anyone can do it. A good hike, we can recommend it. Exactly. Step by step and sip by sip, we now make 36 kilometers of progress in the Ahr Valley. ♪ Teddy Swims: “Guilty” ♪ The Ahr Valley with its lush vineyards. The Red Wine Trail winds its way through them. We’re glad that many people are coming back here, hiking here, and seeing it all. It wouldn’t work without tourism. In 2021, a massive flood destroyed large parts of the Ahr Valley. The lack of tourists was the least of our problems back then. Giving up wasn’t an option. While the cleanup work was underway in the valley, the first people returned to the region. Especially to the Red Wine Trail, up at the rugged slate cliffs. Sometimes it stops me from going to the Ahr because I always think everything is destroyed. That sticks with me a bit. But up here, I’m pleasantly surprised, it’s back to how it was. Up here, you have no idea what happened unless you look down . But it’s depressing when you look down. Up here, you can feel good, no question. Solidarity with the Ahr Valley: Winegrowers and restaurateurs joined forces to boost tourism again. “Hiking for Reconstruction”—that resonated. I’d seen the announcement. I knew the two were already here to help. So I asked if we wanted to do it together and combine solidarity with a nice outing. Meanwhile, vacationers are coming in large numbers again. Although the hiking trail is actually about hiking, the stops are especially popular. Incidentally, a relic from the Cold War era stretches for miles beneath the Red Wine Hiking Trail . *Beep* This bunker was supposed to provide shelter for the then Bonn government in the event of a nuclear attack. The nuclear bunker was in operation for almost 30 years from 1971. Today it’s a museum. The Federal President, Chancellor, and 3,000 government officials could have continued government business here. There was a command center and even a WDR television studio for addressing the public. Heike Hollunder has directed the museum and documentation center since 2008. It was a complete parallel world hidden beneath the Red Wine Hiking Trail. An entire city beneath the mountain, five self-sufficient buildings, each accommodating 600 people. The outside world knew nothing about it. This bunker was one of the most expensive structures in the history of the Federal Republic. It cost three billion Deutschmarks to build. Up here, it costs nothing, at most a glass of wine. This mystical and wild hiking trail runs between Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt in the Harz Mountains. According to legend, witches from near and far would always meet on May 1st at the summit of the Brocken, the highest mountain in the Harz Mountains. A hiking trail is named after them, leading 100 km through Northern Germany’s highest mountain range: the Harz Witches’ Trail. This medieval flash mob is demonstrably the stuff of myth. But wild nature still exists in the Harz Mountains. It can also be life-threatening if you’re unfamiliar with it. A survival course could be vital. So, if a hiker gets lost: Don’t panic, they just need to know how to help themselves. We’ve always had cotton grass along the trail. You can easily pull this cotton grass off. It’s excellent tinder for getting a fire going. Very important: Before you start lighting a fire, make sure you have all the necessary materials. When the first flame appears and you start running, it’s out again. Then let’s move on. The Harz Mountains offer ideal conditions for survival training. Away from the tourist crowds, there’s still wild nature. ♪ Konstantine Pope: “Unbreakable” ♪ So, there we are. Did you make it? To survive in the wilderness, you have to be able to make fire, get drinking water, and build a place to sleep. The whole thing is designed like a training course. The course isn’t aimed at wearing participants down. Rather, it’s aimed at giving them the practical skills they need when it really matters. Okay, so: the topic of fire. A completely normal fire steel, available at outdoor retailers. Depending on its size and condition, it can reach temperatures of up to 9000 degrees Celsius. Then it burns for a long time and with great intensity. You can also do a little… Well, who would have thought it?! The fire is burning, and nature provides protein-rich food. Jungle camp in the middle of Germany. The anticipation of the meal is limited. But being able to overcome disgust in an emergency is the goal of this exercise. Tastes like chicken. We are in the middle of the wilderness— at least as much wilderness as we have in Germany. This is tamed wilderness, but it is a wild place. There are so many corners and opportunities in the Harz Mountains to experience this cultural and natural landscape in a completely different way. To travel away from the tourist crowds so that you can internalize the mysticism of this mountain range. There are many mountains, but the Harz is unique. ♪ Konstantine Pope: “Unbreakable” ♪ This mysticism is conveyed particularly vividly on the Harz Witches’ Trail. Fairytale forests, the legendary Bode Valley, past charming villages all the way to Thale. From the Devil’s Bridge, a narrow serpentine path leads up to the Rosstrappen rock. A 200-meter climb is required to get there. According to legend, the horse of the king’s daughter Brunhilde left its hoofprint on the Rosstrappe. She fled from the evil knight Bodo. Legends and myths aside, the view is magical. Those who want to hike must suffer—at least during the Megamarch. ♪ Aerosmith: “Walk this way” ♪ The Megamarch is only for the truly hardy: 50 kilometers in twelve hours or 100 kilometers in 24 hours. The question arises: Why do you do it? A challenge against yourself, I think. It’s not about placing, but about beating yourself. At some point, your head takes over, not your legs. I have a score to settle with Hamburg. This is my fifth start, and my best mileage so far is 60. At some point, it has to work. We paid full price and are willing to suffer for the full 24 hours. The mega marches take place all over Germany — from Hamburg to Bavaria. Across the country, people seem to enjoy torturing themselves, even if every muscle eventually gives up. ♪ Lou Reed: “Take a walk on the wild side” ♪ Kilometer 31.5. Two blisters. Fitness is good, except that the soles of my feet burn and I’m struggling with circulation. Even the toughest people need help sometimes. The top three typical incidents at a mega march are blisters, blisters, blisters, exhaustion, and overtiredness. From a medical perspective, this is an extreme sport. People walk over 100 kilometers, which is beyond normal limits. But as painful as it is, exhaustion is no reason to give up. Not even at night. Short breaks replenish energy reserves. Motivation is welcome, but it doesn’t really help. It just doesn’t stop. You walk and you don’t run, but it’s just… I don’t understand why you do it. It’s torture. Even if you give it your all, sometimes it’s not enough to reach the finish line. In a 50k event, around 80 to 90 percent make it. “Hamburg by Night” is a 50k march. In 100k events, we’re at around 30 to 40. 130,000 steps later. ♪ Puddle of Mudd: Blurry ♪ Those who make it in the end, despite blisters and injuries, are sometimes too exhausted to be happy. ♪ Puddle of Mudd: Blurry ♪ Incredibly proud of myself for having stuck it out, for my body holding up so well. Dear children, please don’t try this. Without training, only a doctor or pharmacist can help. This hiking trail served as a muse and inspiration for Romantic artists . ♪ Quiet acoustic guitar ♪ Saxon Switzerland. No longer an insider tip among nature lovers. 200 years ago, painters were already traveling here with sketchpads and easels. There are motifs in abundance here. A hiking trail is named after them, leading 115 kilometers across the Elbe Sandstone Mountains: The Painters’ Trail. Wonderful. We picked a good day. It was a good decision. Yes. Here are the signposts. What you usually get aren’t kilometer indications, but rather time indications, how long it takes. The “M” is always the Painters’ Trail? Exactly. It goes both ways, we can choose. Exactly. Moss and lichen give it away: Down in the valley in the Uttewalder Grund, it’s damp and cold, like a cellar. Experts call it a cellar climate. Although the area is certainly more attractive and has more to offer than any cellar. I can imagine the painters hiking here during the Romantic era, thinking: Motif, motif, motif. Motifs everywhere. Stand over here and look. A gate. The Uttewalder Felsentor (rock gate). That’s roughly the spot where some painters stood and drew this. If you look closely, you’ll discover one or two models. This rocky outcrop… What’s underneath is actually what’s up there. Without the tree. Climbers see the rocks of Saxon Switzerland less as a motif than as motivation. More than 1,100 peaks may be climbed. There are only a few safety rings. Only the first ascent is allowed to carve them into the rock with permission. Saxon mountain rules to protect the porous sandstone. ♪ Plucked guitar sounds ♪ Caspar David Friedrich was fascinated by Saxon Switzerland. As one of the most important German Romantic painters, he also immortalized it: The Bastei, probably the most famous rock formation, complete with viewing platform. ♪ Dreamy sounds ♪ Very dramatic, the situation. We also have fallen trees. Exactly. And very wild, but also a bit interpreted. It’s not exactly what we see here. Right. A lot has changed on the rocks. That’s true too. Now we’re looking for our own motif. Okay, wonderful. The Bastei still attracts painters today, and those who want to become painters. We have space, we can spread out. The rocks are great. An ideal location for the Dresden artist Claudia Pinkau and her painting courses. I imagine the Romantics: They sat here in the storm, didn’t they? Yeah, they didn’t know anything there. They wanted to capture the natural phenomena. Caspar David Friedrich once spent a week in the Uttewalder Grund. Among the trees and rocks, without a camper van and without a tent. He really wanted to feel inside himself, to absorb nature. That’s why he created such wonderful paintings, because he was one with nature. ♪ Feist: “Tout Doucement” ♪ Expert guidance and this view. Amateur artists perform their first brushstrokes almost automatically. ♪ Feist: “Tout Doucement” ♪ 90 million years ago, a sea surged here. When the water receded, a 600-meter-thick layer of sandstone remained. Great. You wanted the cowshed, the cave. During the Thirty Years’ War, farmers supposedly hid their cattle here. Hence the name: Cowshed Cave. Painters, however, often used tricks in their pictures. I’ve seen it before. Here! Look. Oh yes. Bigger! More powerful. You always have harpists in them. Why harpists? It wasn’t that unusual to have a harpist in such romantic places back then . Crazy thing. The street music of the Romantic era. Yes. But they were often miserably bad. The result: a ban on performing. This contrast… Are you ready to climb to heaven now? That’s a chicken ladder, not a ladder to heaven. Look up. I have to squeeze through. The ladder to heaven leads up 108 narrow steps and 27 meters steeply. Now you’re in heaven. Right in the background you can see the Bohemian volcanic cones and the Lorenzsteine ​​here in front. The area was given the name Saxon Switzerland in the 18th century by two Swiss painters who were reminded of their homeland. It’s going to be wild and romantic: six hiking stages through untamed nature. The Southern Black Forest: A hiking trail runs through it whose beauty few can rival. The Schluchtensteig. Probably the most spectacular section leads through the Wutach Gorge. Untamed nature, man deliberately does not intervene. But it did come down, that thing. Insane. The rotten fir tree ran right into another one, and then there was a domino effect. You just leave it like that? Of course. It’s supposed to be pure nature. Mushrooms are growing in there now, before that maybe bark beetles. Over time, it will rot. If you’re lucky, you can see that, like back there, young trees will eventually grow on top of the old ones. The Wutach Gorge is the largest canyon in Germany. When you hike through here: be careful, always look up. I was hiking with the regional bishop on Sunday, and on Monday I had another group, and there was that stone. Did it come down from up there? From up there. You can see the cracks in the rock. Quite remarkable. But in the middle of the year… We usually have something like this in spring or winter. when it freezes and ice pushes the joints apart. But not in summer. The gorge is alive, and so is the rock. You’re never completely safe. Let’s look up a bit now and then. It won’t do any harm. ♪ Dreamy sounds ♪ Life in the Wutach is her specialty – for 20 years. Not to fall in again, right? I mean, this is untouched nature. Last year, this gravel bank wasn’t there. Here, they still give the river space; here, nature can develop freely. You always discover something new. Some wonderful butterflies, fish that we feel like we haven’t seen here before. It’s always an experience. The bullheads aren’t doing well. It’s still April, right? The two are investigating how many bullheads, trout, and minnows are already active in spring. Fishing on behalf of science. ♪ Eddie Vedder: “Hard Sun” ♪ There, the big one! Aaaah! You’ll get it. Stay with us. Yes, come on. Yes! That’s natural… Those are the beautiful spawning fish. A beautiful fish, the red coloring, the adipose fin— a fish couldn’t look more perfect. And back into the water. Today, no trout goes into the pan, only onto the measuring table. From large to very small—everything is measured. Time to keep calm. Come on, hold on. Okay. Hikers walking along the gorge today have little idea that it harbors a secret. Because: Almost 200 years ago, there was a spa here. You can still see the foundations of the former hotel. Now we have pure forest. From 1850 onwards, the spa town of Bad Boll was built here. The only remaining remnant is the small chapel. The spa was sophisticated and luxurious. Europe’s high society relaxed in the Wutach Gorge. A romantic nature experience—that suited the spirit of the time. We find it hard to imagine: I’m standing on a former tennis court, in the middle of the wilderness. Back then, there was a longing to enjoy untouched nature. We had industrialization worldwide, and this place was the perfect place to go. It was a great fishing spot. It was internationally renowned, which is why people came here from all over Europe. ♪ Peaceful harp sounds ♪ That’s an amazing rock face. A really long, drawn-out cliff face. I find the formation crazy, as if someone had chipped something out. The river used to scrape past there, washing out the soft rock. Then these cliff faces collapse and constantly change the appearance of the Wutach. The colors mean that these are different rock layers? It’s all shell limestone. Shells that sank in an underwater situation. The different layers show whether the sea was colder, warmer, deeper, or shallower. But that was a while ago. 240 million years. The walk through the Wutach Gorge takes about five hours, five wonderfully wild and romantic hours. This supra-regional hiking trail runs along the ridge of the Rothaargebirge Mountains . The Rothaarsteig leads through three German states: North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate. The name of the mountain range is derived from “Rod-Hardt-Gebirge,” which roughly translates as “cleared forest mountain range.” Comedian Lisa Feller begins her exploration tour on the Clemensberg, one of the three 800-meter peaks in the Sauerland region. Lisa, my goodness! I’m here. It’s great that you’re hiking the Rothaarsteig with us. Let’s go! Right at the beginning, we’re greeted by a landscape you wouldn’t necessarily expect to find in a mountain range. Hello. Welcome to the Neuer Hahn. Thank you very much. It’s surprising: we’re in the middle of heathland. Where did it come from? We’re here in Neuenhagen, the largest heath in northwest Germany. It came about through land use. At some point, a few people came along and thought, ‘Let’s put a heath here.’ Before, there was forest everywhere. We’re a densely wooded area. Then they started clearing the surrounding villages, clearing the woods, and driving the animals onto them. In addition to grazing and harvesting timber , they used the heath itself by ploughing. They removed the top layer of soil with a ploughing hoe. You have to chop it off the top. This heath material was used as bedding for stables in the old days. Aha! Another lesson learned. Next stop: The Wagenschmier, a romantic little ravine. In the Middle Ages , horse-drawn carts regularly sank into the soft rock on the trade route between Leipzig and Cologne . From the 19th century onwards, material was extracted from this spot. Spring cleaning in the forest. That’s what cleaning staff are for, so to speak. Alex is cleaning the trees. Hi. Hello! I thought you were a trail designer, but now you’re scrubbing the trees. It looks like they’re at the hairdresser’s. A trail marker. I check to see if the trail signs are all in order. If not, they get replaced. Over the years, the glue wears off or… The occasional tree falls over. More often at the moment. Too few signposts isn’t the problem on the Rothaarsteig. New hikers are more likely to be overwhelmed by the opposite. There are so many signs. It’s hard to understand where you’re supposed to go. Luckily, the Rothaarsteig is always easy to recognize. It’s red. It comes in two other colors: yellow and black. Exactly. What does that mean? The yellow signs are the access routes to the original main trail, and the black ones are the Rothaarsteig trails. There are circular routes in the region. A detour, so to speak. Black is a detour. But a detour is usually 15 or 20 kilometers long. So, a detour! Exactly. All right. Thank you, Alexa. Hello! Welcome to the Kyrill Trail. Do you remember Kyrill? That was that terrible storm. It was truly hell here. In South Westphalia, forests literally snapped like matchsticks. On the night of January 18-19, 2007, Hurricane Kyrill destroyed 50,000 hectares of forest. On the Kahler Asten, the third-highest mountain here, wind speeds of 137 km/h were measured. 25 million trees were swept to the ground. But nature isn’t so easily defeated: It used the catastrophe as an opportunity for a new beginning. What’s happened here is tremendous. Yes, absolutely. You can see the old trees that were left lying as they fell. Nature essentially did the rest itself. “Pioneer tree species” like birch, rowan, and sycamore reclaimed the space. And spruce trees, whose seeds were stored in the cones and germinated on their own. Experts call it natural rejuvenation. ♪ Dynamic instrumental pop ♪ Sitting here, you can’t imagine that a storm swept through here. Wonderful. Do we actually have to go any further? I don’t think so. A few more meters. I didn’t hear anything. Of course we continue – onto the forest sculpture trail. Although “forest” is a matter of interpretation in some sections. The trees around this 64-ton steel work of art have completely disappeared in recent years. That’s crazy. Was that Kyrill too? No, that was the bark beetle. Because we had three dry years, 2018, ’19, and ’20. That led to mass reproduction because the conditions are ideal. The severe drought has completely weakened the trees. To better withstand future climate extremes, more resistant tree species are to be reforested: oak, ash, or hornbeam. How long will that take? When will there be a forest here again? It will take decades. When I retire, I hope I can walk through the forest again. Or say goodbye to my territory, which I hope will be rebuilt. But nature lovers don’t have to wait until that time . Fortunately, there is enough forest left to hike through. Look, there’s the Ginsburg. Where? I see it too. In the 14th century, William of Orange planned the liberation of the Netherlands from Spanish rule on the Ginsburg. But even more importantly: in 2001, the Rothaarsteig trail was opened right here. The view from the tower is probably the most beautiful along the route. And offers hikers the perfect view of what they have achieved and what lies ahead. At 700 years old, it is the oldest hiking trail in Germany: the Rennsteig. 100,000 hikers a year. ♪ Driving music ♪ This means that the Rennsteig holds the record as the most frequently used long-distance hiking trail in the country. It begins on the Werra, in a district of the city of Eisenach. Here it starts, the legendary Rennsteig. There is a tradition: you are supposed to find a stone. You are supposed to take it and carry it all the way along the Rennsteig, all the way to Blankenstein on the Selbitz. Of course you can hike the Rennsteig, but it is much faster by bike. Real pros even take e-bikes. You can wear yourself out just as much on an e-bike as on a normal one. And you can still climb cooler mountains, probably. You can do a whole new tour. I can just cycle up here, that is also incredibly strenuous. This incline alone… You can’t tell me anyone would want to ride a normal mountain bike. Is this the hiking trail we’re on, or is it… No, there’s a hiking trail and a bike path along this stretch. Can I ride on the bike path from Hörschel to the end? Not everywhere. In some places you’ll only have one Rennsteig, but many sections are already divided up that way. ♪ Metal ♪ In the Dragon Gorge, bikers have to get off their bikes. According to legend , a huge monster lived in the narrow crevice . Wet. Saint George, patron saint of Eisenach, fought the dragon at this spot. It’s impressive how the water has eaten its way through the stone here over the centuries, creating a mystical environment. I’m almost at the end of my journey, basically back in Eisenach. My stone has done a little loop, but it has seen the Rennsteig. I’ll leave it here. I think that counts too. Forest bathing uses the healing power of trees. The soul bathes in the restorative nature. You go on a search in your immediate surroundings , and each of you chooses an object. Something that particularly pleases you. Collecting pine cones and twigs – anyone can do that. And now? We’ll place our objects on this tree stump. Along with the object, you’ll also lay aside your worries, because the forest is wonderful at bearing them. If only it were that easy… While sneaking around and counting hailstones, forest bathers truly block out the stress of everyday life. During forest bathing, I take people on a journey into the here and now. They’re truly in the moment. When I offer mindfulness exercises, I’m always focused. Whatever you do on the Rennsteig, the old hiking trail always remains attractive. This trail leads through three federal states: Thuringia, Hesse, and Bavaria. The hiking trail through the Rhön Mountains starts in Bad Salzungen, a state-recognized brine spa. Even the Celts discovered salt springs here. The graduation wall, where brine-rich water evaporates from the brushwood, was used for salt production . The resulting salty air helps with respiratory illnesses— though caution is advised. If you go too close… I thought safety goggles would be a good idea. It burns your eyes quite a bit. Otherwise, it’s a really great place— it has a meditative quality. When you look up here and the play of light with the sun… Within a short time, you can feel the salt on your lips. Wow! If it were soup, you’d say the chef is completely in love. With salt on your lips and clear airways, you set off for the Hochrhöner. On the horizon: the “Hessian Skittles,” the cone-shaped volcanic mountains of eastern Hesse. With a bit of luck, hikers might encounter Rhön sheep. They were on the endangered species list until 2020. But local shepherds weren’t content with this and began breeding them again. Successfully, as you can see. The trail leads directly through the Rhön Biosphere Reserve. Spectacular nature in abundance. Where do we go? What are you showing me? One of my most beautiful spots, my favorite places, which I’ve found after years of hiking in the Rhön. Aha. A viewpoint of the extravagant kind awaits at 832 meters. Well? Wow! Well! Awesome! Is that something? Crazy. What’s so crazy here: the view of a sea. Yes, you heard right. Sea! A sea of ​​basalt blocks. This is the Schafstein, one of the best spots in the Rhön. This is basalt rock of volcanic origin; the Rhön is of volcanic origin. Here is the most impressive sea of ​​basalt blocks in the Rhön. I’ve never seen anything like it. ♪ Dreamy music ♪ Can you imagine growing old in the Rhön? I can definitely imagine growing old here. This is home. I was here as a child. That’s where I got to know the Rhön – and its charms, too. It’s a fantastic area. So fantastic that it’s almost a shame to close your eyes at night. You might miss something. In the north, a wildlife-filled hiking delight awaits: the Lüneburg Heath. A hiking trail over 200 km long runs through it. The Minister-President of Lower Saxony officially inaugurated it in 2012. Just two years later, the Heidschnuckenweg was voted Germany’s most beautiful hiking trail by the German Hiking Magazine. It also received the “Quality Hiking Trail” certificate from the German Hiking Association . Certain criteria must be met. Which ones? For example: What’s the terrain like? Signage is very important. Every 200 to 350 meters, there should be a reminder that the “H” appears again. There’s an “H.” Exactly. The “X” is the European Long-Distance Trail. These are the namesakes of the trail: Heidschnucken, a highly frugal breed of sheep. But there are also animals living here that are easily overlooked. At the Forest Adventure Center, school classes experience the fascination of the tiny creatures among the heathland inhabitants. That’s the small red wood ant, Formica polyctena. If you’d like, feel free to touch it. I look forward to seeing your pained face. I’m a little scared. Where do I reach now? Where there are ants, otherwise it doesn’t make sense. This is real, not a game. The hand has to go down. Oh, my God. You can keep calling me “Jörg.” And now the ants are crawling around. You have to take a look. It’s so peaceful. Can I call you a little ant-crazy? You can leave out the “little.” I am ant-crazy. Everyone has their own quirks, and I have an A in front of them. These animals are probably more interesting for normal hikers. The path leads past the Munster military training area. You’d better stay away from it. Unexploded bombs can quickly end a hiker’s hike and his life . That’s why the army base is a restricted area. The Munster South military training area has been in use since 1892— for almost 130 years. Live ammunition has been fired into it since then. If you look at the ground, no matter where on this area— it’s riddled with splinters. No one is allowed in here. No, this isn’t for peaceful hikers. But because entry is forbidden to humans, nature flourishes unhindered. The stag beetle even rejoices when trees are hit by ammunition. Sap leaks from this wound. This sap is vital for the beetle’s 60 days of life . Does the stag beetle, a protected species, benefit from the Bundeswehr’s target practice? Indirectly, yes. Of course, no one wants a tree to be shot at and “bleed.” But if it does happen, in this case it might even have a positive side effect. Weapons as a tool for beetle conservation – nature conservation on a new level. But don’t worry: The 13 stages of the Heidschnuckenweg are all peaceful and safe. The Loreley once lured boatmen to their doom here. Today, the area around the Rhine is a hiking area. ♪ Theodore Shapiro: “Eyjafjallajökull” ♪ From Bonn to Wiesbaden, the Rheinsteig leads through North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Hesse. About halfway up, not far from Koblenz, the Rheinsteig flows into the Ruppertsklamm. ♪ Eddie Vedder: “Rise” ♪ With a 235-meter elevation gain, it’s no easy walk. You really need crampons here. I didn’t know hiking was so strenuous. This is mountaineering, after all. It’s just walking. The 1.5-kilometer circular route takes about two hours. Thank you. Would you say this is a trail that even beginners can walk? I’m a beginner. You’re walking it. You can do it, but don’t overestimate yourself. You have to go slowly, carefully, and not rush through it. Someone who has never hiked before can definitely do it if they’ve walked for more than an hour two or three times before. Lennart? Yes? I was told it goes from wine-growing region to wine-growing region. I hope there’s one up there. Lahnstein isn’t known for its wine. We’re more of a beer town. No wine there! But there are panoramic views. Which is beautiful, too. Upriver, above Rüdesheim, stands the monumental Niederwald Monument. The ideal place for a meeting of the wine queens and princesses from the Rheingau. ♪ Traditional accordion melody ♪ In the middle of the vineyards lies the Abbey of St. Hildegard. The Benedictine monastery is named after Hildegard of Bingen. She, too, appreciated a good tipple almost 1,000 years ago. That’s a beautiful view. Gigantic, isn’t it? Yes! It’s different every day and in every weather. I think it’s fantastic. What’s your first thought when you step outside? “How beautiful this creation.” Or, “My God, what is the weather doing to my grapes?” It depends on the season. But this vastness is something that opens my heart. It’s good for the soul. That’s the first thought. Now we’re in the season when the harvest is approaching: You have a view of the sky and the weather. We’ve had a lot of rain this year. We need more sun for the grapes to ripen better. What kind of grapes do you grow? We mainly have Riesling, the typical grape variety for the Rheingau. And a Pinot Noir. That’s a Riesling. May I try it? Of course. First, peel the berries. Is it sweet yet? Yes. Really? Then I’ll try it too. We go through the vineyards at the end of September, beginning of October and taste the grapes. If they taste good, the wine will. If not… This is a 2022 Riesling, off-dry. Cheers. Cheers! First smell, then taste. Don’t swallow straight away, but cleanse your mouth. A sip of wine does you good. Especially when enjoyed here, at its source. Hiking isn’t a question of age, says hiking coach Erwin. He himself is over 70 and goes for walks in the fresh air whenever he has time. What do you think is great about hiking? First of all: when you hike, you find peace within yourself. That’s true. The color green is calming, we know that. Our brain perceives a million colors. There is strength in calm. Would you say that hiking is like a natural antidepressant? Exactly. That’s exactly how it is. And it keeps you young? It keeps you young. * Laughter * If you have time to complain, you also have time to hike, says Erwin. With these views on the Rheinsteig, no one is in the mood to complain. No matter how strenuous the route. From Osnabrück it goes to Meppen, and since 2020 even to Groningen. We start today in Osnabrück. We’re here, we’ll walk this path through the city, cross the Ring once. We’ll walk through the Hase Cemetery. Beautiful! Then we’ll walk through the Nettetal valley, continuing on to Rulle. We’ll have fun. 20 stages of the Hünenweg (High Way) and thus 5,500 years of cultural history lie ahead of the hikers. The route is beautifully laid out, from Osnabrück to Groningen. The starting point: the town hall in the heart of Osnabrück. Through the old town, along the Hase River, into nature. At the quarry near Bramsche Ueffeln, hikers experience their turquoise-blue wonder. That’s the old quarry, which has now been renaturalized. There’s a beautiful lake over there. It’s a lovely walk. It’s a lovely hike if you walk towards the water. Here on the right, if we look back: there’s the active quarry, where blasting is still taking place. The path runs far away from the roads and is also easy for untrained hikers. The tour leads through the Osnabrück region and the Emsland region. If there’s one thing that distinguishes the Hünenweg, it’s its variety: river valleys, heathland, moorland, fields, meadows, forests, and small lakes. Through mystical forests and thickets, the group reaches the Witches’ Stairs and the Witches’ Dance Floor. Once pagan sites, demonized in the Middle Ages. It’s advisable to have someone with you who knows the area. For example, if the question arises as to how small mountains formed in northern Germany. This must have happened after the last Ice Age. The glacier tongue came from the north. and pushed up scree and stones in front of it. When they came to a stop, the Ankum Hills and the Dammer Heights were formed. In between, the glacial valley, the meltwater, flowed away. I hope this is visible in the Laubberg. If you look at the map, you can see it. Now the Hase flows in the other direction. Geological history and even culinary delights: there’s almost nothing this path can’t offer. A spruce tree has something very special. It’s a vitamin C bomb. Just chew the fresh cutting when it’s small. Eat it? It also tastes great on salad if you pick it apart. A pleasant taste. Then, finally, the namesakes of the Hünenweg: two enormous burial chambers with monumental stones. Thousands of years old, from the Neolithic period. What’s special, of course, is the length of this stone burial complex. There are two stone graves, connected by a row of stones. A total of over 50 meters long. That’s quite striking. If you look over it and imagine how they built it: probably with hundreds of men, over several weeks and months – a lot of work and energy went into it. People had settled down at that time, otherwise they wouldn’t do it. But our group moves on. To a partially renaturalized moor, the Hahnenmoor. You can see here that this moorland is very extensive. But also that it needs care. The birch trees have to be cut down, otherwise it will dry out. They dug this ditch so that it becomes waterlogged again. It’s high time they got rid of the birch trees again. Also typical: the cotton grass and the boggy water with the tree stumps. Then you carry on here, to Herslake. Then you see completely cultivated areas. Right along the Hase. And again and again the megalithic tombs. Evidence that some of the longest-established people who were already settled here back then have lived here. I’m a bit in awe. Every megalithic tomb… People lived here over 2,000 years ago . And they may have hiked here too. Back then, to survive, and today, for pleasure. Uphill and downhill, we go along the Moselle. Meeting point: Trier. Have fun on the Moselsteig Trail. Welcome. Hello. Welcome to the Moselsteig Trail, here in Trier, on the rocky path above the Roman city of Trier. We’re going to have a wonderful few days on the Moselsteig Trail. It begins in the Weißhauswald Forest, a popular local recreation area above the city. The entire Moselsteig Trail is 365 kilometers long, or 24 stages. The 10,000 meters of elevation gain are fortunately spread out over a wide area. At the moment, we’re heading steadily down the Moselle. In Neumagen-Dhron, a replica of a Roman wine ship awaits. Now it’s time to “get to the oars” instead of “lift your feet.” Is everyone ready? Yes! Attention! * Rhythmic drumbeats * Worse than hiking? Yeah, more strenuous. In ancient times, ships like these transported Moselle wine up and down the river. ♪ Instrumental music with drum beats ♪ Down here you can see the Moselle again. In the distance we can see Bernkastel-Kues, Landshut Castle, and down here the wine-growing communities of Wehlen and Graach. Then we see one of the many Moselle bridges. One hiking trail, many options – a decision awaits. So, now… We have the following option: The Moselsteig trail goes down here. But I’d suggest you go along ahead; there’s the Calmont via ferrata. That’s for the adventurous; it goes through the steepest vineyard in Europe. We can choose the alternative route and return to the Moselsteig trail later. Yes, let’s do it. Wonderful. Then please follow. From now on: Walk at your own risk. The Calmont via ferrata is three kilometers long and one of the most beautiful stages. You should be free from vertigo – and surefooted. It’s not for nothing that the old vineyards are called “Todangst” ( deadly fear) or “Schlimmer Fachkaul” (sehrfachkaul). The expression “walking steeply” takes on a whole new meaning. ♪ Exciting sounds ♪ 400 meters of elevation have to be conquered, at 30 degrees in the shade. Only: there isn’t one. Even the Romans called the steep slope “Calidus mons” – “hot mountain.” A 140-degree gradient, laboriously cultivated by hand. Dry stone walls support the loose slate. Everything is well secured here. Europe’s steepest vineyard is dry and barren. The 300-meter-high rock face: curved like a parabolic mirror, its center facing exactly south. Magnificent. Strenuous, but the views are unique. Great, simply a fantastic story. Only one vine can survive on this soil, on these slopes: Riesling. Only its roots penetrate deep enough to supply the plant with sufficient water. The result is steep-slope Riesling. Hello! Did you complete the via ferrata today? Yes, all the way across. In this lovely warm weather. Quite an effort, isn’t it? Yes. After a small regional refreshment—liquid, of course— it’s time to start the descent. Fortunately, this is a way that’s easy on the leg muscles: with the only technical aid on the steep slope: the Monorackbahn. The custom-built 200-meter-long cogwheel railway overcomes extreme gradients even in the most impassable terrain. Normally, it helps transport the harvest of Riesling, which tastes of dried fruit. If necessary, it also brings weary tourists down. That is, of course. The name says it all: The Goldsteig receives the gold medal for Germany’s longest hiking trail . 660 km through the Upper Palatinate Forest and the Bavarian Forest: The Goldsteig is Germany’s longest quality hiking trail— and, for him, the most beautiful of all. I discovered the Goldsteig about ten years ago. It was beautiful. Then we started collecting stages, and in no time at all, we hiked the 660 km. That was really fun. A few years later, I was the Goldsteig trail manager, and I made it my job. I enjoy it. I’m a passionate hiker, one of the Goldsteig’s biggest fans. It’s a calling. The former banker follows this calling every day from March to November. One of his favorite stages begins on a plateau in the Bavarian Forest. In Oberbreitenau , with mysterious ruins from a bygone era. It’s a former mountain village. 350 years ago, there were a lot of people there. Up to 80 people lived there. The village has been abandoned since the 1920s. It was simply so difficult to live here: the winters were cold and long. They decided to return to the valley. The Goldsteig, a quality hiking trail, has existed since 2007. It follows historical traces, old trade routes, and smugglers’ paths. In the Middle Ages, salt, the white gold, was transported along this route. The Goldsteig is inspected every three years. Every meter is analyzed and checked: Is it natural or has it now been paved? In the worst case, we could lose our certificate. That’s what trail managers are there for. We look after the trails: making sure the markings and signposts are appropriate, and that hikers feel comfortable. The Goldsteig is divided into 38 daily stages. If the almost 700-kilometer route is still too short for you, short excursions to the left and right are expressly recommended and desirable. Even the trail manager agrees. His tip: a detour to the Geßingerstein. The Geßingerstein is a special place: you come down from Deggendorf, are walking through the forest , and take a short detour. Then you have a tremendous view of the Schafflinger Land and the Danube Valley. If you’re lucky, you can see the Karwendel Mountains. It’s so quiet, there aren’t many people there – a place where you can enjoy yourself. I can really relax there and not think about anything. There’s an art to sitting for five minutes and just staring blankly. Staring blankly: There’s probably nowhere better suited to this kind of artistry. ♪ Driving music ♪ From the viewing rock, the route continues into the Lallinger Winkel. With its numerous traditional orchards, it is considered the fruit bowl of the Bavarian Forest. The destination is the Panholling orchard adventure garden near Lalling, where 60 different cultivated and wild fruit varieties grow. Unlike apple orchards, everything in the orchard is all over the place. Apple trees, pear trees, plum trees, and much more. What I like so much: There are many old varieties that no one has taken into account, which yield little, but taste damn good. Especially after a hike. Even Goldsteig hikers are welcome to pick a fruit here. Hiking is my absolute passion; the Goldsteig is my greatest passion in nature. Yes, I think I’m a little addicted. Have you got the urge to go hiking? Then get off the couch and out into nature! Hiking is good for your health – doctors agree on that. And hiking makes you happy. No wonder, given the views our country offers. However far your feet will take you, we hope you enjoy it. Copyright subtitles: NDR 2025