Move over, Dover.
You may have heard of the White Cliffs of Dover . While thatphotogenic coastlinein England is evenhandedly celebrated , many do n’t realize that another country — one in mainland Europe — has its own cliffs , blanched as chalk , project vertically out of a blue - green sea . Germany showcases a dramatic shoreline in Jasmund National Park , but with an extra appeal . Instead of just flat grass on top , the off-white - white bluff here are report in dense wood that extends ever so precariously to the very last column inch of the cliffside . The stark contrast between land and H2O make it look like someone scooped out the island ’s side , one big chunk after another , leaving a suave , dramatic precipice .
The modest of Germany ’s 16 interior commons , Jasmund National Park is only 12 square miles , which is just a niggling bigger thanArkansas ’ Hot Springs National Park . you’re able to rule Jasmund on the northeast sharpness of an island called Rügen in the Baltic Sea , and yup , you hear right — Germanyhas island .
Rügen ’s landscape was a favorite of German Romantic artists . One famous work by Caspar David Friedrich calledChalk Cliffs on Rügenwas made from multiple sketches along these cliffs . Though that particular work is not an exact depicting of one precise spot in the Mungo Park , it certainly conveys the awe - inspire mantrap of the place that continue to draw visitors to thecountry of beer and sausagesto this day .
Bet you wouldn’t guess this is Germany.|Manfred Gottschalk/Stone/Getty Images
For many , the white cliff are the star of Jasmund National Park — but residue assured , they ’re not the only grounds to make the trek . Here you ’ll also find ancient woods full of smooth , silvery trunks , because this park host the tumid uninterrupted beech wood on the Baltic Sea ( and has been hold a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site ) . This wood is notable for its “ pristine ” state , in the sentiency that it ’s been almost uninfluenced by humans .
Here ’s everything you need to know and where to go in Jasmund to be impressed by nature ’s wonders .
How to get to Jasmund National Park
The train arrangement in Germany may be extensive , but this is one of those trips that ’s really significantly well-off by railcar , if you may sway it . You could do a string or bus option ( more below ) , but a car would be most convenient . Anyone who does n’t happen to have a generous acquaintance in Germany who ’s unforced to loan you theirs can rent one inBerlinor Hamburg . From either of those major cities it ’s just a 3.5 - hour drive . fundamentally , it ’s far enough away to get you to a wholly fresh landscape that ’ll have your Instagram followers say “ Wait … that ’s Germany ? ! ” but close enough for an well-to-do , warm tripwhen you ’ve seen all the beer gardens and techno clubsin the metropolis .
Despite what your Google Maps seafaring may attempt to tell you , you ca n’t force back direct into the home ballpark , so do n’t get confused if you detect yourself at some kind of bushed - death . or else , you ’ll want to park at one of the nearby lots , the main one being Großparkplatz Hagen . This large parking area ( which you do have to pay a little sum to use ) has lots of visitant information , a petty cafe , and toilets , and it position you in close proximity to the park ’s most famous viewpoints . From here , it ’s up to you whether you need to do the short hike to the drop-off orgrab a shuttlecock bus . Another alternative is to leave your car at Parkplatz Nationalpark outdoors of Sassnitz , a nearby resort town , and then hike north into the interior park .
If buzz off a cable car , rental or not , is n’t an idealistic option for you , you’re able to take the regional string to Sassnitz . Once there , the option is yours again : get right to hiking into the parking lot from the south , catch a bus to Großparkplatz Hagen and walk or shuttlecock from there , orride a busdirectly to the Königsstuhl National Park Center within the common .
Hike through the national park’s beech trees.|Westend61/Getty Images
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See impressive chalk cliffs from above and below
The most democratic rise in Jasmund National Park has to be the Direkter Weg , and you wo n’t even have tobreak a sweat doing it , as it ’s an easy , 1.8 - international mile lead from Großparkplatz Hagen to Königsstuhl . Königsstuhl render to King ’s Chair , which is fitting , since at 387 understructure improbable it ’s really the “ king ” of all the glass cliffs here .
The hike pop off through beautiful beech woods and pass Herthasee , a small lake with a clear-cut non-white colour due to the humic acid from the area ’s peaty soil . Get your wallet ready , because once you reach Königsstuhl , you ’ll have to shell out € 10 for admission fee into the big holidaymaker building complex before you’re able to actually go see the Königsstuhl . fortunately , that fee also let in entrance to the turgid , on - site museum , which covers far more subject matter than just the chalk cliffs and is particularly fun for kids with all of its synergistic component .
Hot confidential information come at you : The beneficial view of the Königsstuhl cliff is n’t even the literal Königsstuhl viewpoint . Unless you ’re dying to see the museum , you could skip that whole holidaymaker centre and walk about half a kilometre more from the Königsstuhl National Park Center to Victoriasicht . Many will accord that this observation post offer a much good position on the cliffs and the far - attain ocean , and you do n’t have to pay a cent to access it . King Wilhelm I was impressed enough by this spot to name it for his girl - in - law , the cap princess Victoria , so you should be too .
For another slant of the chalk drop-off , break off from the Hochuferweg ( one of the park ’s main trails that follows the seashore ) and head down to do either the Kieler Ufer or Piratenschlucht hikes . These place you on the rocky beach , so you may stare up at the drop-off on one side and stare off into the sea on the other .
Otherwise , hike through the woods to the UNESCO Weltnaturerbe Buchenwälder Wanderstützpunkt und Infostelle ( UNESCO World Heritage Forum hiking base and info full point ) or right to the nearby townsfolk of Lohme or Sassnitz . Whatever you do , just please think of to stay on the track to protect the environment .
Take a tour or hop on a boat
There are two kinds of people : Those who stop to understand every informational sign and those who ’d muchrather just heed to someone in - the - know . The latter are in luck , because Jasmund National Park offer scheduledguided toursof vary road and focuses , which are free to join — but contribution are , of course , always welcome .
Speaking of unlike sort of people : Some care to keep their feet firmly planted on domain , and others jump at any chance to get out on the water . If you see yourself a existent sea fiend , you may look at takinga gravy holder tripto see the methamphetamine hydrochloride cliffs from the sea , collapse you a whole other view of the landscape . There are boats departing from Sassnitz , Binz , and other towns on Rügen .
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Where to stay near Jasmund National Park
Sorry to break your house of cards , campers , but there ’s no camping allowed within Jasmund National Park . As they do n’t even let individuals take into the Mungo Park on their own , that should n’t be too big of a surprisal . What you may do instead , if your marrow is lay on dream under the stars , is set up ingroup elsewhere on the island . Two options would beNaturerlebniscamp BirkengrundorMobil - Campingplatz '' De Klomp '' , and both are less than a 20 - minute parkway to the prize start point of Großparkplatz Hagen .
Maybe you came to Jasmund National Park for the smashing outdoors but do n’t needs want to kip there — not a job . There are holiday dwelling all over the island , and if you ’re coming up short , try using the German search terms “ Ferienhaus ” or “ Ferienwohnung ” to observe one . For hotels , you ’ll encounter a good telephone number in Sassnitz , since it ’s a popular cornerstone for tourists . Alternatively , if you do n’t experience the need to be powerful next to the national ballpark , you’re able to also look into accommodations in Binz . Just 20 arcminute from the park ’s southern boundary line , Binz is the island ’s enceinte seaside resort town and it has a nice farseeing stretch of sandy beach for when you need to relax after all that cliff gazing and hike .
Ready to hit the park? Check out our tool kit to get started:
This is one place where you do want to look down.|Powerfocusfotografie/Moment/Getty Images
See the cliffs sail by.|MrPat/Shutterstock
Binz is a seaside resort town on Rügen.|Sina Ettmer Photography/Shutterstock
