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An expansive country of bustling cities plus calmer forests, alpine summits and rivers, Germany offers plenty of ways to experience its landscapes.
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But for a different perspective on the country: look up.
Some of the country’s best panoramic viewpoints are from the country’s treetop walks, viewing platforms and dramatic suspension bridges that put its forest canopies, river valleys and coastal cliffs at centre stage.
See the top of Germany from the Zugspitze on the Austria-Germany border
Germany’s highest mountain stands 2,962 metres tall and is home to the country’s last remaining glaciers: the Nördliche Schneeferner and the Höllentalferner.
Situated on the border between Germany and Austria, this mountain peak’s summit offers scenic views of 400 surrounding mountain peaks across Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.
The Zugspitze is a hotspot for mountaineers, skiers, snowboarders and toboggan enthusiasts alike and is accessible via a choice of three cable cars, including an almost 100-year-old cogwheel train.
Views beside Hercules in Kassel
Europe’s largest hillside park, covering a total area of 560 hectares and at a height of 530 metres, is located in the city of Kassel.
Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe in Kassel is famed for its array of trees, plants and architectural waterwork attractions that date back to the 18th century, joining UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list in 2013.
For the best views of Kassel, visitors should stand beside the park’s 8.3-metre-high statue of Hercules. From there, views include Wilhelmshöhe Palace and Löwenburg Castle in the distance and, on a clear day, the Harz and Rhön Mountain ranges on the horizon.
Stand sky-high in Berlin
Got some extra time in Berlin? Add the Berlin Gasometer in the Schöneberg district to your itinerary for a different perspective on the German capital.
The former low-pressure gas tank, first established in 1913, has lived several lives, serving as an advertising space, event venue and television studio.
Rising to almost 80 metres into the sky, the structure houses a Sky Lounge with a roof terrace located at a height of around 66 metres above ground. For those with a head for heights, the elevated vantage point leaves the entire city at your feet, with sights including the Zoological Garden, the Reichstag government building and Victory Column on offer as far as the eye can see.
Walk along the treetops of Black Forest in Bad Wildbad
Bad Wildbad is home to a walkway that stretches 1,250 metres and leads to a 40-metre high observation tower that rewards visitors with unmissable panoramic views of the Black Forest mountain range and Enz Valley river.
The route winds over the course of one to two hours to get to the top, where visitors can see The Nature Park Schwarzwald Mitte/Nord – the country’s third largest nature park. On especially clear days, visitors might be lucky to even see as far as the Stuttgart TV Tower and the Swabian Jura mountain range.
Sights fit for a king on Rügen Island
Germany’s largest island, the Baltic Sea island Rügen, houses the “King’s Chair”.
Known locally as Königsstuhl, the 118-metre high King’s Chair is the highest point of Rügen’s famous chalk cliffs located within the Jasmund National Park.
From the top of the viewing platform, visitors are rewarded with a sweeping view of the endless blue Baltic Sea, coastal formations, white chalk cliffs and lush green beech tree forests.
See Saxony from Bastei Bridge in Lohmen
This 76.5-metre-long and 305-metre-high stone bridge rises above the Elbe River in Germany in the heart of Saxon Switzerland Park.
This historic bridge peaked local interest for its tourist potential as early as 1824 as a site of sandstone rock formations. Today, it leads visitors through the rocky ravine of the Mardertelle to the ruins of the 13th-century Neurathen medieval rock castle.
The monument is open to the public year-round, but for travellers keen to skip the crowds, it’s best to either arrive early in the morning or in the evening to catch the sunset.
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