When the weather starts to warm up for a long cold winter, don’t you want to be outside? You know, to stretch your legs or enjoy the warm sunshine on your face? Yeah, I know I do.
Sure, you could easily do this in your own backyard; but, I think the Hessian town of Ahnatal is a better idea.
Ahnatal lies just to the north of its big sister neighbor, Kassel, and along the border of the Nature Park Habichtswald. You’ll find all sorts of outdoor activities to put a little color in your face and give you a nice little workout.
The most famous part of the Habichtswald is the Dörnberg. This special area within the nature park has everything all in one place. Like flowers? It’s got orchids and many others. Like a bird’s eye view? It’s got an observation tower and paragliding. Even if you like history the Habichtswald accommodates. There’s a castle ruin and a cult site.
Do yourself a favor and take a night tour of the nature park. It’s pretty cool.
You’re going to have to come back inside for a bit, the Culture Center Habichtswald has exhibits on fossils found within the park, as well as others.
Also bringing you back inside for a spell is the Mining Museum. The main theme of the museum is life of a miner during the 1930’s. Now the old mining quarry is a swimming lake with a BBQ area.
After a day at the beach, make sure you clean up well enough when you visit the Wilhelmsthal Castle. This incredible Baroque and Rococo palace can only be seen by a guided tour (hourly), and its gardens (with fountains, sculpture, and outbuildings) are open year-round. Keep a look out for the grotto with its little cherubs.
Sounds like your kind of place? Good, if you’re in Kassel, Bad Emstal, or Fuldatal you can easily reach Ahnatal by bus, tram, or rail. You could just as easily walk, especially after a long winter stuck indoors. ;-)
