Jasmund – World Heritage Route

With its chalk cliffs and pristine hillside forests by the sea, one of the most magnificent natural landscapes of Central Europe has evolved at Jasmund.

Jasmund represents the lowland beech forests on limestone and boulder clay. The beech forests of the steep slopes belong to the few genuine relicts of virgin primeval forests in Germany.
It took the beech several millennia to reach the Baltic Sea after the last ice age. At Jasmund’s chalk cliffs, it has reached its natural boundary. The beech forests seem to plunge into the sea here, since a tremendous dynamic is at work. Time and time again, rocks break off the cliffs. And time and time again, the vegetation gains a new foothold. The peregrine falcon breeds on the steep coastal slopes. House martins have established large colonies. The white-tailed eagle is a regular breeder in the forest.

The 3,070-hectare Jasmund National Park belongs to the “crown jewels” of German unity. Here, a massive chalk block was hoisted from the sea and unfolded by the glaciers of the last ice age. A variety of Central European beech forest types thrive in the harsh coastal climate of the young drift morainic landscape. Orchid beech forest, cardamine beech forest, wood barley beech forest, and sparse blueberry beech forest alternate small-scale. The unique beech forests are closely intertwined with mires, streams, tufa springs, and natural nutrient-rich lakes.

Each German component part has a designated World Heritage Route for visitors to explore.

On each of these memorable routes, the app provides a wealth of additional information on the typical and unique features of the respective regional beech forests, and on numerous interesting attractions within the protected area (POI - Point Of Interest).