SANDnature Archive - GREEN TRAVEL BLOG https://green-travel-blog.com/tag/sandnature-2/ GREEN PEARLS® – UNIQUE PLACES Sun, 12 Oct 2025 14:50:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://green-travel-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/cropped-logo-perle-green-pearls.png SANDnature Archive - GREEN TRAVEL BLOG https://green-travel-blog.com/tag/sandnature-2/ 32 32 Recipe from SANDnature: Smooth Lemon Cake – vegan and fresh https://green-travel-blog.com/smooth-lemon-cake-rezept/ https://green-travel-blog.com/smooth-lemon-cake-rezept/#respond Tue, 14 Oct 2025 06:54:40 +0000 https://green-travel-blog.com/?p=71292 Yvonne Bork’s Smooth Lemon Cake is a crowd-pleaser at SANDnature on the Baltic Sea. A popular classic among guests, the cake is moist, fresh, and perfect for lemon season. Not only delicious, this cake is also sustainable and surprisingly versatile in its preparation.   Cake…

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Yvonne Bork’s Smooth Lemon Cake is a crowd-pleaser at SANDnature on the Baltic Sea. A popular classic among guests, the cake is moist, fresh, and perfect for lemon season. Not only delicious, this cake is also sustainable and surprisingly versatile in its preparation.

 

Cake recipe with chamomile tea and no eggs

Here are a few special features of the recipe—don’t worry, though; it’s super easy, just not your run-of-the-mill lemon cake:

Organic spelt flour instead of wheat flour: Spelt is considered more natural than wheat, is easier to digest, contains more minerals, and has a nutty flavor. It’s a conscious choice that benefits your health and the environment because spelt is usually easier to grow.

Oil instead of butter: Vegetable oil makes the dough moist, makes the cake vegan, and has a smaller carbon footprint than animal butter, which is considered one of the most climate-damaging foods.

Chamomile tea as a liquid: The biggest surprise is probably the use of freshly brewed chamomile tea. It makes the dough wonderfully moist and gives the cake a delicate, almost floral note. Tip: Let the tea steep well so that the aroma comes into its own. SANDnature uses “Smooth Operator” organic chamomile tea from the tea manufacturer Samova.

Turmeric for flavor and color: This “super spice” not only gives the cake a golden yellow color, but also adds light, exotic flavors.

 

A look inside SANDnature in Timmendorfer Strand on the Baltic Sea

The SANDnature Lifestylehotel is a place to breathe deeply. Adults only (ages 16 and up), it is designed with natural materials and a clear focus on sustainability. Located directly on the second row of the Baltic Sea, it is the perfect destination any time of year, whether you’re looking for a relaxing short break or an inspiring getaway. If you want to learn more, you can find tips for a sustainable weekend on the Baltic Sea or exciting impressions of a culinary journey here. Now, in the cooler season, the region captivates with its deserted beaches, perfect for long walks in the wind and salty air. Without the summer tourist crowds, SANDnature is the perfect place to relax and welcome the cozy season..

Smooth Lemon Cake Rezept
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Smooth Lemon Cake

Delicious lemon cake from the SANDnature Hotel with oil, oat milk, and chamomile tea
Course dessert, cake
Cuisine European, german
Keyword vegan baking
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 250 g Spelt flour organic
  • 2 TSP Baking powder organic
  • 150 g Sugar
  • 50 ml Maple syrup
  • 75 ml Canola or sunflower oil
  • 100 ml Oat milk
  • 100 ml Smooth Operator, brewed (Smooth Operator is an organic chamomile tea from the Samova brand)
  • 1 Organic lemon Juice and peel
  • 1/3 TSP Turmeric Grounded
  • 1/3 TSP Salt

Zuckerguss

  • 200 g Icing sugar
  • 4 TSP Lemon juice

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F) on the convection setting
  • Mix the flour with the baking powder and salt
  • Add oat milk, lemon juice, oil, maple syrup, sugar, and brewed Smooth Operator chamomile tea (Samova). Mix everything together well
  • Add grated organic lemon zest and turmeric powder
  • Place the finished dough in a loaf pan lined with parchment paper
  • Baking time approx. 35 to 40 minutes at 180 °C (350 °F)

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Planting trees for the climate: pure greenwashing or a real opportunity for sustainable travel? https://green-travel-blog.com/planting-trees-for-the-climate-pure-greenwahshing-or-real-opportunity-for-sustainable-travel/ https://green-travel-blog.com/planting-trees-for-the-climate-pure-greenwahshing-or-real-opportunity-for-sustainable-travel/#respond Fri, 10 Oct 2025 06:06:06 +0000 https://green-travel-blog.com/?p=71281 When it comes to climate protection, planting trees is one of the most popular measures in the travel market. We often encounter promises such as “CO₂-neutral flights”, “a planted tree instead of room cleaning”, “net zero travel” and even “climate-positive holidays”. But just how sustainable…

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When it comes to climate protection, planting trees is one of the most popular measures in the travel market. We often encounter promises such as “CO₂-neutral flights”, “a planted tree instead of room cleaning”, “net zero travel” and even “climate-positive holidays”. But just how sustainable is planting trees as a climate protection measure really?

 

At Green PearlsⓇ, we have over a decade of experience supporting sustainable accommodation providers with their communications, so we encounter this topic repeatedly. We are critical of the idea of offsetting CO₂ emissions simply by planting trees. After all, ‘planting trees’ can easily amount to greenwashing and is often used for this very purpose. “For every product purchased, we plant a tree” – who hasn’t heard this advertising slogan? At the same time, however, there are also meaningful forest and reforestation projects that make a real contribution to climate protection without serving as a compensation measure. As a traveller, you can support these projects with complete confidence.

 

But why plant trees to offset emissions in the first place?

A man plants a tree in a forest clearing. It will be years before this seedling can absorb significant amounts of CO₂.
©Robert Kneschke | Stock.Adobe.com

 

Climate protection is now an issue in all areas of our lives — and almost every activity results in CO₂ emissions. Flying, in particular, generates several tons of greenhouse gases per person on a single long-haul flight, and these emissions are even more harmful to the climate when released at high altitudes. From winter 2025/26 onwards, passengers will be able to see these emissions for the first time thanks to the new Flight Emissions Label (FEL) from the European Commission. The aim is to make the climate impact of flights more transparent, even though participation by airlines is currently voluntary (which unfortunately demonstrates the power of the lobby in this area once again).

But what can you do if your trip causes a large amount of CO₂ emissions? Tree planting campaigns offer one solution: by absorbing CO₂ and releasing oxygen, trees are meant to offset the negative effects of travel. This sounds logical, but it only works on paper. In reality, this nice calculation only works to a limited extent.

 

The problems with planting trees to offset emissions:

#1 The calculations

The explanation often given for why tree-planting projects are useful for offsetting emissions is as follows: “A tree absorbs X kilograms of CO₂.” However, such calculations only apply to mature trees (for example, a 35-metre-high spruce stores around 2.6 tonnes of CO₂ during its 100-year life cycle). However, compensation projects usually involve planting seedlings that take decades to reach a stage where they can store significant amounts of CO₂.

 

#2 Lack of care

Time and again, it has been shown that compensation planting campaigns result in a seedling being placed in the ground and then left to fend for itself. Without proper care, the saplings dry up, get eaten by animals, or die. Therefore, there is no guarantee that a seedling will grow into a tree.

 

Banyan tree in Bali
It takes a banyan tree in Bali several hundred years to grow. ©Umike_foto | Stock.Adobe.com

 

#3 Individual trees instead of ecosystems

Another study shows that, in theory, such maintenance would be unnecessary. However, this works only if we protect functioning ecosystems instead of creating monoculture plantations. The study shows that protecting existing forests is significantly more beneficial for the climate and nature, and it is also more cost-effective.

 

#4 Are they really absorbing additional CO2?

However, when it comes to protecting existing forest projects, climate partners describe the difficulty of guaranteeing that the protection will bind ADDITIONAL emissions caused by travel. In other words, the forest already exists, but those who want to offset emissions demand a NEW positive effect on the climate.

 

#5 Forest fires

A forest fire with a helicopter flying in front of the smoke cloud.
All bound CO2 is released again in a forest fire. BILD: Pixabay

 

Climate change worsens the risk: wildfires increasingly threaten forests. When fires break out, they release CO₂ that took years to store. As a result, reforestation efforts to protect the climate can be quickly undone.

 

#5 Wrong tree species, wrong areas

In 2024, The Guardian revealed that reforestation projects had targeted African savannas, even though forests do not naturally grow there. Scientists warn that this will destroy valuable ecosystems and endanger biodiversity. Similarly, ecologists criticize eucalyptus farms in Brazil because eucalyptus is not a native species there.

 

#6 Displacement of people

Displacement for supposedly sustainable projects is particularly problematic. In Uganda, for instance, a whole region lost its land to a forestry company that advertised “climate protection through reforestation.” Around 10,000 people were forcibly displaced.

“In my experience, tree planting often borders on greenwashing. I think social projects that directly help people are better.” —Stefany Seipp, Managing Director of Green PearlsⓇ Unique Places

 

Is planting trees for climate purposes a bad thing?

No, you can’t say that across the board. Trees are essential for our planet, and therefore, for our survival. However, many tree-planting campaigns serve marketing purposes rather than the climate, and, in the worst case, they can even cause more harm than good. A commentary on The Conversation sums it up as follows: “Corporate tree planting primarily creates a positive image, but it can actually harm the planet and local communities if it is done without considering existing conditions.”

 

How can we identify greenwashing in the context of “planting trees for the climate”?

Young woman gazes into the tropical forest in Peru
©ZHENYA SWAN PHOTOGRAPHY | Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

As a consumer, you have more power than you might realize. CO₂ compensation offers exist because there is demand for them. This makes it all the more important to take a close look:

  • Ask questions: Where are the trees being planted? What types of trees? Who is responsible for their care?
  • Demand transparency: Reputable projects openly answer these questions, often without you having to ask, e.g., on their website. Greenwashing campaigns usually fall silent quickly.
  • Think holistically: Don’t just consider “one tree per night,” but also everything else involved. Does your chosen accommodation promote sustainability in other ways? Is the tree-planting campaign part of a comprehensive strategy, or is it the only measure? We prefer projects that focus on climate, people, and biodiversity simultaneously. A well-thought-out tree planting measure can certainly fit the bill!

Travel blogger Julia Lassner (Globusliebe) sums it up perfectly:

“I always ask where the trees will be planted and if they will be cared for properly. Most of the time, I don’t receive an answer, and suddenly, there’s no more interest in working together. This quickly shows me which companies are being honest and which are just greenwashing.” —Julia from Globusliebe

 

How sustainable hotels approach the topic of “planting trees”

CO₂ offsetting is a major issue for our Green Pearls® accommodations. There is one point on which all agree: prevention is better than compensation.

 

Avoiding CO₂ instead of sugarcoating it

Alessa Konrad, from the Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, is often contacted by companies looking to sell CO₂ offset projects. Her response is always the same:

„As an environmentally certified nature hotel, we are committed to sustainability and resource conservation, but our approach goes beyond planting trees. We implement measures directly in the hotel and share them with our guests. These measures include free pick-up from the train station for guests arriving by public transportation, regional shopping, eliminating disposable products such as bath slippers, using energy-efficient technologies in the wellness area, and maximizing our PV system.“

 

The approach is clear: first and foremost, emissions should be avoided where they arise. This applies not only to hotels but also to travelers themselves. For example, it is better to travel by train than by plane, to rent a suitcase than to buy a new one, and to stay in a sustainable hotel than in a hotel from an international chain.

Marion Muller from the North German hotel association SANDcollection says that they are always mindful of the companies they support at their sustainable Lifestylehotels, SANDnature, and SANDglow. These include MyBoo bamboo bicycles for rent, Samova tea for breakfast, and climate-neutral, recycled toilet paper from Green Hygiene. Incidentally, the latter’s “climate neutrality” is achieved through solar energy, both its own and that promoted by Climate Partner, rather than through trees.

 

Successful forest projects—when they are properly planned and executed

However, criticism of “planting trees for the climate” does not mean a complete rejection of the idea. In fact, some Green PearlsⓇ hotels have launched impressive projects that promote biodiversity and strengthen ecosystems.

 

Machu Picchu Peru in mist
Fog is typical of Machu Picchu, and Inkaterra has helped reforest the surrounding area. © ZHENYA SWAN PHOTOGRAPHY

 

Primordial cloud forest in the Peruvian Andes

One of the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel’s signature projects is its cloud forest initiative. When the hotel’s founder, José Koechlin, acquired the property in the 1980s, the former cloud forest had already been cleared and converted into agricultural land. Rather than accepting this, Koechlin began gradually restoring the original forest around the hotel.

Today, around 30 years later, guests can witness the results of this pioneering work firsthand: orchids, butterflies, and rare bird species such as the Andean cock-of-the-rock. Additional initiatives, such as comprehensive waste management and river cleanups, contributed to Machu Picchu’s designation as the world’s first climate-neutral wonder in 2017.

What makes it special: The focus has always been on a genuine, long-term commitment to nature and biodiversity, not quick CO2 compensation.

 

Planting a forests right outside one’s doorstep

Many European hotels are also focusing on reforestation and forest protection—directly at their own accommodations. However, this is not necessarily a compensation measure; rather, it is hands-on nature conservation: 

Loft 500 sustainable hotel room at the Hotel Klosterbräu Seefeld
Hotel rooms with wood from the hotel’s own forest—wood used to make furniture continues to store CO2. ©David Johannsen | Hotel Klosterbräu

 

  • Gut Sonnenhausen, Bavaria

    Several years ago, the hotel planted around 400 trees and over 10,000 shrubs along its mountain trail. Today, guests, employees, and wildlife alike enjoy the increased diversity of flora.

  • Naturresort Gerbehof, Lake Constance

    The organic hotel near Friedrichshafen is surrounded by its own forest. The hotel uses the wood for its own furniture, among other things, while dead wood and wood infested with beetles are used to generate energy. There is also a forest rest area for wild animals. Hostess Ursula Wagner criticizes the practice of using trees purely for CO₂ compensation: “There’s a lot of greenwashing in this area.”

  • OLM Nature Escape, South Tirol

    Rather than planting trees elsewhere, OLM has created its own wild garden with biotope plants, including old regional fruit tree species. “For us, real climate protection is about quality, not quantity. We take responsibility locally instead of relying on distant projects,” says Astrid Hellweger, the host.

  • My Arbor, South Tirol

    As a “tree hotel,” My Arbor is a sustainable wellness hotel closely connected to the forest. New trees, such as spruce, Swiss stone pine, fir, and larch, are regularly planted around the hotel. This process binds CO₂ and strengthens biodiversity, preserving the forest. Spruce trees are also part of the ecosystem. Host Alexandra Huber explains, “The problem is that spruce trees are susceptible to bark beetles, which sometimes destroy entire slopes. That’s exactly why we’re trying to replant them.”

  • Hotel Klosterbräu, Tirol

    In addition to its own forest, which provides wood for the nature rooms, for example, the hotel launched a new project in 2025. Together with guests, 300 apple trees were planted on the parish hill. Once the fruit is ready, it will be used in the hotel for everything from apple strudel to animal feed for the hotel’s petting zoo.

 

A forest in the middle of the city

Microforest at planting and years later
The microforest at Hotel Luise — shortly after planting and as it looks today. ©Hotel Luise / Kollage lf

 

The Hotel Luise in Erlangen proves that forest projects can be established in urban areas as well. A microforest with over 200 trees was created there, designed according to ecological principles with varying plant heights that function together like a real forest.

Laura Heufelder from the hotel explains:

“Our microforest improves the microclimate and has become a paradise for birds, insects, and small animals. However, our primary goal is to produce zero CO2. We only offset unavoidable CO2 as a last resort. This approach benefits the environment and the economy, as it creates jobs.”

 

Protect and enjoy your own forest

Not all sustainable hotels plant new trees—some protect the surrounding forest and allow guests to experience it in a unique way.

 

Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel , South Tyrol
Are you visiting the Dolomites by car? To protect the forest, you need a special permit to do so. ©Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel

 

The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel is located at an altitude of over 2,000 meters in the heart of the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park, which is protected by UNESCO, on the Seiser Alm. In this sensitive environment, nature conservation is paramount. To minimize traffic pollution, guests are only allowed to drive their cars on arrival and departure days. During their stay, cars must remain in the parking lot.

The hotel provides a special transit permit for this purpose, which park rangers check. This ensures that the alpine nature is preserved for future generations to enjoy.

 

Hotel Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, Bavaria

The adjacent forest is also a focal point at the Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bayerisch Gmain. Guests can experience it through mindful forest bathing, which promotes relaxation and a new awareness of nature. The experience is enhanced by a herb garden and a “green wall” at the buffet where guests can harvest fresh herbs.

The goal is not to offset CO₂, but to bring nature to life, appreciate its resources, and bring a piece of nature into guests’ everyday lives.

 

Climate-neutral overnight stays with CO₂ compensation

A person is walking through the forest.
©SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

 

A special case in our network is the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb. Stephan Bode’s establishment is considered a pioneer in sustainable hospitality. Its gold organic certification, zero-waste breakfast buffet, and hotel rooms made from 100% recyclable materials (“circular living”) set new standards.

However, not all emissions can be avoided here either. To offer “climate-neutral overnight stays” and “climate-neutral conferences,” the hotel works with ClimatePartner. The principle remains clear: reduce before compensating. However, unavoidable emissions are transparently offset – among other things, through two forest projects that are part of a larger portfolio of 20 recognized climate protection initiatives.

SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA has reduced, removed, or avoided 5,710 tons of CO₂ and collected 6,010 kilograms of plastic. Additionally, 112 trees were planted in 2023 and 2025, both in Germany and internationally, as part of a comprehensive climate protection initiative.

 

FAQs and Tips: Offsetting emissions caused by travel through tree planting

Is planting trees an effective way to offset CO2 emissions?

Yes and no. It only makes sense if it is well thought out, appropriate for the location, and designed for the long term. Many projects fail due to a lack of maintenance or because they serve marketing purposes more than climate protection purposes. To really make a difference, you should primarily avoid emissions and offset unavoidable emissions through recognized climate protection projects (not necessarily tree planting).

 

How can I spot greenwashing?

Be skeptical of promises such as “one tree for every tube of toothpaste sold.” Ask questions: Where are the trees planted? Who takes care of them? Reputable companies answer these questions transparently, while greenwashers tend not to.

 

How can I get involved?

  • Ask questions: Feel free to email companies that advertise tree-planting campaigns.
  • Plant locally: Plant trees in your own neighborhood so that you can take care of them yourself or at least see the results.
  • Consume mindfully: As Ursula Wagner from Naturresort Gerbehof emphasizes, “Everyone should pay attention to the environment and nature in their daily lives. Does the light always have to be on? Do I need products like avocados, which require huge amounts of water?” Being mindful in everyday life often saves more CO₂ than symbolic planting campaigns.
  • Think creatively: Fabienne Anhamatten from the Hotel Bella Vista in Zermatt provides a good example. She didn’t dispose of her Christmas tree, but rather planted it in the spring, allowing it to remain part of the cycle.

 

 

In conclusion, we would like to emphasize that genuine climate protection while traveling begins with making many small, mindful decisions along the way, not with planting a tree.

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Discover historical treasures on vacation | Part 4: Experience modern German history https://green-travel-blog.com/discover-historical-treasures-on-vacation-part-4-experience-modern-german-history/ https://green-travel-blog.com/discover-historical-treasures-on-vacation-part-4-experience-modern-german-history/#respond Tue, 19 Aug 2025 06:56:04 +0000 https://green-travel-blog.com/?p=70361 Germany’s modern history is diverse, moving, and full of surprises, from monarchy to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Hanseatic League to the Huguenots. If you look closely, you will find traces of a past that still shapes the country today. In this fourth…

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Germany’s modern history is diverse, moving, and full of surprises, from monarchy to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Hanseatic League to the Huguenots. If you look closely, you will find traces of a past that still shapes the country today. In this fourth installment of our series, we will take you to unique places and accommodations that offer a fresh perspective on German history.

Some tell tales of royal splendor, while others recount great upheavals. Together, they demonstrate that history isn’t confined to museums; it can be experienced along hiking trails and in your sustainable hotel. Here, our Green PearlsⓇ partners reveal which sights their guests find particularly fascinating.

 

The history of Bavaria between royalty and nationhood

Neuschwanstein Castle on a clear blue day
Neuschwanstein Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site ©SCStock | Stock.Adobe.com

 

Let’s start with Bavaria, Germany’s most visited federal state. This remains true for both German and foreign visitors, according to a Statista survey from 2024. Thanks to its proximity to the Alps, Bavaria is an ideal destination for hiking and outdoor vacations. There is also an abundance of wellness hotels, some of which are committed to sustainability and Green Pearls™ partners.

Walhalla is a historical landmark in German history.
Walhalla | IMAGE: Wikimedia Commons

In addition to hiking and wellness, there are historical sites to explore! Bavaria has many historical buildings that tell the story of a time when regional identity and national aspirations were closely intertwined. In the Upper Palatinate, for instance, King Ludwig I commissioned the construction of Walhalla, an impressive monument to this day. Built in an ancient style, this temple honors notable figures in German history and embodies the concept of unity long before modern German national consciousness emerged.

The House of Bavarian History in Regensburg is close by and provides vivid information about the development of Bavaria and its role in German history.

 

Tip: Several events dedicated to King Ludwig I will take place until November 2025, marking the 200th anniversary of his accession to the throne.

 

Since 2025, Neuschwanstein Castle has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The royal castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau in southern Bavaria are a testament to the self-image of King Ludwig II, grandson of King Ludwig I. He used these buildings to create a place of retreat and a romanticized ideal of rule. Known as the “Fairy-Tale King,” Ludwig II was King of Bavaria from 1864 to 1886. Neuschwanstein Castle therefore belongs to the modern era, despite its medieval appearance.

On July 12, 2025, Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof Castle, Herrenchiemsee Castle, and the Royal Palace on Schachen were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Some of the suites at Hotel Das Rübezahl and the outdoor spa offer direct views of Neuschwanstein Castle, which looks like something from a fairy tale. You won’t have to wait in line to see it! Instead, you can enjoy the warm water of the outdoor pool or your morning coffee on your balcony. The hotel offers exactly that combination of wellness and hiking vacations, which are popular at the moment, along with a hiking concierge (Bergbaschdi) and historical sights. Additionally, the hotel is sustainably oriented, using renewable energies and serving regional organic cuisine.

 

A hotel in a historic country estate

This is an exterior view of the Gut Sonnenhausen sustainable hotel in Bavaria.
©Vivi D’Angelo | Gut Sonnenhausen

 

Some accommodations even have a rich history within their very own walls: Gut Sonnenhausen, located near Munich, for example, dates back to an early 20th-century stud farm. Over 120 years ago, Munich architect Wilhelm Spannagel built it in the English style, and host Georg Schweisfurth converted the stud farm (along with a farmhouse dating from 1800) into a sustainable hotel. Stylishly furnished, the hotel features a blend of modern and traditional elements. For instance, antique farmhouse cabinets from various sources were purchased and restored for the bedrooms.

 

Regional history and old borders

Germany’s history as a patchwork of principalities, duchies, and free cities is evident even today in many small, often inconspicuous traces in the landscape. Take the northern Black Forest, for example, where hikers come across old boundary stones—silent witnesses to a time when Baden and Württemberg were independent states.

Guests at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA hotel in Bad Herrenalb can follow these historical traces. Many of the stones bear the letters “B” for Baden and “W” for Württemberg. They mark a border that once separated the two regions but now symbolizes their union.

Similarly, the employees at Schwarzwald Panorama have grown together as a team as well. As host Stephan Bode told us in an interview, the team is made up of people from many different countries, all working to make the wellness hotel in the climatic health resort a pioneer in sustainability with a holistic zero-waste strategy and organic food.

 

The division of Germany — and what remains of it

Hotel STURM exterior view
The STURM was once a hotel for “border tourism” along the inner-German border. Today, it is an organic retreat and wellness hotel. ©STURM

 

Following the development of the federal states into an empire, then a republic (the Weimar Republic), and finally the German Nazi Reich, another significant period in recent German history was the division of the country into East and West Germany. Following World War II, Germany was divided in 1949 into the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in the west and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the east—a division that lasted until the country’s reunification on October 3, 1990.

While the Berlin Wall is the first thing that comes to mind for many when this topic is mentioned—it was a symbol of the Cold War and the site of dramatic escape attempts—there were numerous other places along the inner-German border where the division was palpable.

One such place is Mellrichstadt, located in the Bavarian Rhön region just a few kilometers from the former border. The Berkach border memorial here commemorates the GDR’s security installations — an old watchtower still stands today, only about 300 meters from the current Bavarian-Thuringian state border. Those who want to learn more can visit the Border Museum in Eußenhausen. Together with the German Unity Sculpture Park, it makes for a worthwhile day trip..

The STURM, now a sustainable hotel and member of Green PearlsⓇ, is nearby. Built in the 1970s as a classic clinker brick building, the hotel benefited from border tourism at the time. Today, it stands for mindful organic living, eco-friendly architecture, and the serene beauty of the Rhön, showing how places with history can reinvent themselves.

 

Immerse yourself in the economic and migratory history of the region

Lübeck
The old Hanseatic city of Lübeck is famous for its brick houses and bustling shipping traffic. BILD: EndreF für Pixabay

 

The impact of diversity and exchange on regions is particularly evident in former trading cities and places of immigration. These areas continue to benefit from the knowledge, ideas, and energy of their former newcomers.

The European Hansemuseum in Lübeck, located in the north, is an impressive reminder of the Hanseatic League, a powerful alliance of cities that dominated Northern European trade for centuries. The main exhibition is available in four languages: German, Swedish, Russian, and English.

The Baltic and North Seas are also popular vacation destinations in Germany. Almost every German has visited one of them at least once in their life. The most popular places are those right on the beach, like Timmendorfer Strand, where our partner, SANDnature, is located. The adults-only lifestyle hotel boasts a natural flair and a great roof terrace.

Lübeck and the Hanse Museum are ideal destinations for a day trip — or, if you’re feeling athletic, by bike. The exhibition shows how international trade links shaped the Baltic Sea coast and how values such as trust, contracts, and alliances determined economic activity in the Middle Ages.

 

Huguenots

Further south, you will learn about the history of the Huguenots, who were forced to flee France in the 17th century. They settled in Erlangen, leaving a lasting impact on the city through their expertise in crafts, trade, and medicine.

Today, guided tours recount Erlangen’s eventful history as a “Huguenot city”—an impressive example of early modern migration and integration. The Hotel Luise is ideally located for exploring these historical sites on foot or by bike. It is designed to be sustainable through and through. There are “renewable hotel rooms” with “astronaut showers,” a private microforest, beehives, tables made from old refrigerators, and many other projects you should check out! The Wall of Change in the hotel lobby provides an overview where each project, no matter how small, is represented by a wooden leaf.

 

Hole Prison nuremberg
Hole Prison Nuremberg | IMAGE: Wikimedia Commons

History isn’t always pleasant — hole prisons and nuclear bunkers

Erlangen and the surrounding citys like Nuremberg have other historically significant sites that may be difficult to understand, but which reveal a great deal about the country.

One such place is the “hole prisons,” small underground solitary cells in Nuremberg that can be visited on guided tours. Water, bread, and a little daylight – the only things that came through the “hole.”

The region contains many relics from the Nazi era and the postwar period. Examples include the former Nazi Party rally grounds in Nuremberg and the Cold War–era nuclear bunkers also located in Nuremberg.

 

 

Lake Constance – where contemporary history meets engineering excellence

Zeppelin 1929 German history
Zeppelins were already in the skies before airplanes existed | BILD von 1929: Wikimedia Commons

 

The engineering prowess of the German people is a particular source of national pride. Evidence of this can be found everywhere, from the automotive industry to bridge construction, energy technology, and aerospace engineering.

The Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance commemorates a special milestone in German aviation history.

Did you know? The first Zeppelin, the LZ 1, took off on its maiden flight from Lake Constance on July 2, 1900 — an event that ushered in a new era of travel. The museum’s exhibition displays original parts and replicas and highlights the social significance of airship travel.

By the way, you can now experience the Zeppelin Museum through an escape game! You’ll hunt for secret Zeppelin plans and play your way through history.

Exterior view of Naturresort Gerbehof on Lake Constance
©Naturresort Gerbehof

 

If you’re looking for sustainable accommodations, check out the Naturresort Gerbehof nearby. This family-run hotel is quietly located between forests, apple orchards, and horse stables. It has a sauna and spa area and is a true retreat. Children are welcome during the holidays, and outside of the holidays, you can enjoy an adults-only atmosphere.

 

Travel at a turning point

Just as the Zeppelin once ushered in a new era of travel, we are now at a turning point. Sustainable travel is not just a trend; it’s a conscious step toward a future that considers people, the environment, and history.

When we travel mindfully, we write a new chapter for ourselves. And who knows? Perhaps this way of traveling will one day become part of our collective memory.

 

Other parts of this miniseries:

Part 1: Travel to the Early Days (What Glaciers and Caves Reveal)

Part 2: Travel like the Romans do

Part 3: Castles and Monasteries in the Middle Ages (and what the rest of the world looked like then)

 


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Woman in cozy winter attire stands near a river with historic buildings of the German town Lübeck in the background. The scene conveys a sense of exploration and nostalgia.

Traveler in autumn attire gazes at the distant fairy-tale castle of Neuschwanstein surrounded by vibrant fall foliage and mountains. Text reads, "Borders, Zeppelins & Fairytale Castles."

Der Beitrag Discover historical treasures on vacation | Part 4: Experience modern German history erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

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