There are many easy hiking trails in Germany
A frequent change in scenery: This is the key ingredient of a successful spazierwanderweg trail – according to the of the German Hiking Institute, which, after all, invented the whole concept of German “easy hiking”. The Haywain of the Teutoburg Forest Seen like that, a walk alongside a small country creek – and a particularly…
“Spazierwanderwege” – as the Germans call their designated easy hiking trails – are designed to pack the punch of a heavyweight into the frame of a lightweight fighter: this is what we learned last week. These trails have been engineered to provide hikers with everything they like: dense forests, idyllic views, scenic bodies of water…
Today and over the next couple of weeks, we are going to learn how to do easy hiking the German way. I can feel your feet are itching already! But we shall have to discipline our urges and, in the ancient tradition of German teaching, do some theory first before we can unleash our selves…
What exactly does “easy hiking” mean? Occasionally, people still ask me that question, particularly if they have just received our calling card. One would think that I, after all these years, had developed a one-sentence standard reply, something along the lines of “adventures for beginners” with a bit more meat on the bones, but one…
Germany’s northwesterly region between Bielefeld and Gütersloh is one of the country’s economic powerhouses. The names of the region’s towns and cities may mean little to you, but you are probably familiar with some of the brands and products that come from here. The kitchens and white goods of Miele, frozen pizzas and baking goods…
Today, we will provide you with more suggestions for easy walks in the Lahn area of central Germany. Towns in this part of the country tend to be small, and their green spaces quickly blend into the surrounding countryside. Which is why even in town centres, you will never have to look long and hard…
Several posts ago, I said that there were no more bits of “undiscovered” or unknown Italy. Germany, however, present a different picture. One might even say that Germany consists wholly of unknown regions – as far as the rest of the world is concerned, that is. Inside Germany, this is a different matter: the Germans’…
Ready for more “Cologne through the prism of its Romanesque architecture”? All right then, here we go. This week, we shall visit six more early medieval churches, now turning our attention to the southern half of Cologne’s Old Town. We will walk through some pretty and picturesque streets with much local atmosphere, making sure that…
Why is Germany such an uncool travel destination? One reason, I suspect, is that most of her major cities come across as rather charmless. Not that they lack historical interest or scenic spots. The problem is that any such attractions have been buried in mundane urban fabric and that you have to look for them…
By and large, while we may provide you with tips and suggestions, we leave you pretty much free to do whatever you like, dishing out only occasional Iron Rules of Easy Hiking. Here, however, is one: whenever the town you are visiting offers a wall walk, go and take it. Wall walks – carefully landscaped…