Jasmund National Park

Home to the largest chalk cliffs in Germany, the Jasmund National Park is located on the Baltic Sea island of Rügen. It’s the smallest national park in Germany and features ancient beech forests that have been dated to more than 700 years of age, forming part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany.

Follow the 8.5-kilometer-long Jasmund National Park Walking Trail that winds through the beech forests and along the white chalk cliffs, with magnificent views of the Baltic Sea. Keep an eye out for orchids such as the lady’s slipper and rare white-tailed eagles that can often be seen soaring in the skies above.

Cyclists can hit the Hamburg-Rügen Cycle Route, which extends for 100 kilometers through the diverse landscapes of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein. Alternatively, opt for the spectacular Baltic Coast Cycle Route that leads from the Bay of Lübeck through quaint seaside resorts and fishing villages.

Jasmund’s dramatic white chalk cliffs are the most prominent feature of the national park and include the Königsstuhl that is named after its resemblance to a king’s chair. They inspired the Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich who recreated Jasmund National Park’s scenes around 200 years ago.

At the top of the cliffs stands the Königsstuhl National Park Center where exhibits on Rügen’s flora and fauna are displayed. It also features an observation deck with sweeping views of the Baltic Sea and the coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.