View from the "Großer Arber" to "Kleiner Arbersee" with its swimming lawns. - Blick zum Kleinen Arbersee

Bavarian Forest

The "Green Roof of Europe"

In the largest forest landscape in Central Europe, you can experience pure nature with clear streams and lakes, and breathe in the purest air that has ever been measured in Germany. 
Popular viewpoint at the chapel "Rachelkapelle" towards the lake "Rachelsee" - Rachelkapelle mit Blick auf Rachelsee
Popular viewpoint at the chapel "Rachelkapelle" towards the lake "Rachelsee" - Rachelkapelle mit Blick auf Rachelsee – © Tourismusverband Ostbayern e.V., Veronika Perschl
The Großer Arbersee is one of the most visited lakes of the Bavarian Forest - Der Große Arbersee im Bayerischen Wald.
The Großer Arbersee is one of the most visited lakes of the Bavarian Forest - Der Große Arbersee im Bayerischen Wald. – © Tourismusverband Ostbayern e.V.
Germany's oldest national park

An old-growth forest is situated in Germany's Bavarian Forest National Park along the border to the Czech Republic; a natural world, completely untouched by humans. It is Germany's oldest national park. The biggest nature conversation project on the continent is situated in Central Europe, along with the neighbouring Šumava National Park in the Czech Republic.

With an overall length of 1,300 metres the accessible treetop walk is one of the longest in the world. - Der Baumwipfelpfad ist mit einer Länge von über 1300 Metern einer der Längsten der Welt.
With an overall length of 1,300 metres the accessible treetop walk is one of the longest in the world. - Der Baumwipfelpfad ist mit einer Länge von über 1300 Metern einer der Längsten der Welt. – © Erlebnis Akademie AG
Walking in heights from 8 to 25 metres and discovering unique perspectives at the Treetop Walk Bavarian Forest. - Luftaufnahme des Baumwipfelpfads im Bayerischen Wald.
Walking in heights from 8 to 25 metres and discovering unique perspectives at the Treetop Walk Bavarian Forest. - Luftaufnahme des Baumwipfelpfads im Bayerischen Wald. – © Erlebnis Akademie AG

The treetop path in the national park is the longest in the world, with a total length of 1300 m. The view over the treetops in the Bavarian Forest is simply spectacular, and in clear weather it is possible to see the Alps in the distance, over 150 km away.

The Bavarian Forest has a glass tradition that goes back more than 700 years. In Frauenau you can find many glass sculptures like the "Gläserne Arche". – © Tourismusverband Ostbayern e.V., Stephan Moder

The Bavarian Forest has a glass tradition that goes back more than 700 years. In Frauenau you can find many glass sculptures like the "Gläserne Arche". – © Tourismusverband Ostbayern e.V., Stephan Moder

The Bavarian Forest has a glass tradition that goes back more than 700 years. Numerous glassworks and glass museums invite you to take a look around, and perhaps indulge in a spot of shopping! 

View from the highest mountain in the Bavarian-Bohemian border mountain range. - Blick vom Großen Arber im Bayerischen Wald.
View from the highest mountain in the Bavarian-Bohemian border mountain range. - Blick vom Großen Arber im Bayerischen Wald. – © Gerhard Eisenschink
View from the "Großer Arber" to "Kleiner Arbersee" with its swimming lawns. - Blick zum Kleinen Arbersee
View from the "Großer Arber" to "Kleiner Arbersee" with its swimming lawns. - Blick zum Kleinen Arbersee – © Gerhard Eisenschink
The Walkway High Above the Forest (Waldwipfelweg) at Maibrunn.
The Walkway High Above the Forest (Waldwipfelweg) at Maibrunn. – © Waldwipfelweg GmbH
Tobogganing at the "Großer Arber".
Tobogganing at the "Großer Arber". – © Arber Bergbahn

Hiking, cycling, canoeing and skiing, as well as snowshoeing in the winter, are the most popular recreational and sporting activities. Families with children can also get their money's worth with several summer toboggan runs and the “Haus auf dem Kopf” (Upside-Down House), an entire house that is completely topsy turvy and confuses your senses.