Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald

Frauenau, Germany, Germany

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The Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest National Park) is Germany's first, oldest, and largest forest national park, established in 1970 and covering nearly 25,000 hectares in the Bavarian Forest region.

Located in eastern Bavaria near the Czech border, it forms the heart of the "Green Roof of Europe" together with the Šumava National Park in Czechia, creating the largest contiguous forest protected area in Central Europe at 900 km². The park operates under the philosophy of "Natur Natur sein lassen" (let nature be nature), meaning humans do not intervene and the forest follows its own natural laws, which has allowed a unique diversity of species to develop including rare animals like lynx, fish otters, grey cranes, and hawk owls.

The landscape features crystal-clear mountain streams, shimmering lakes, high moors, and forest mountains reaching impressive heights including the Großer Rachel at 1,453 meters (the park's highest peak near Frauenau), the 1,456-meter Großer Arber, the Falkenstein at 1,315 meters, and the Lusen at 1,373 meters. The park offers approximately 320 km of well-marked hiking trails, 200 km of mountain bike and cycling routes, and 80 km of cross-country skiing loops for visitors to explore its untouched, wild woodland.

Frauenau, known as the "Glass Heart of the Bavarian Forest," sits at the western base of the Großer Rachel and is a gateway community to the park, famous for its centuries-old glassmaking tradition dating from 1420, active glass workshops, and the renowned international Glasmuseum.