Jasmund National Park

Largest beech forest on the Baltic Sea

Published: May 26, 2025

The beech forest on the chalk-white cliffs of Jasmund. The view goes along the coast with a view of the Baltic Sea
Beechnuts lie on the forest floor, fresh from the tree

The forest as a diverse habitat is more important than ever. It is important to know and understand them in order to preserve the old UNESCO beech forests. Dr. Stodian, head of the Jasmund National Park department, explains the different layers of the forest on the chalk cliffs on Rügen in Germany's smallest national park.

View through the forest to the chalk coast on Rügen.

Deadwood habitat

Because the Stubnitz is a national park, humans are not allowed to intervene. Stodian shows an uprooted giant tree. Behind it, a fox snorts through the grass. Frogs are croaking. Stodian knows exactly how important deadwood is for the forest: fungi decompose it, then moss and grass grow on it, and beetles take up residence. Deadwood also develops because the beech trees sometimes do not find enough support on the drier trees. The good thing about this is that it creates space for new forest communities to develop.

Beeches have been growing on Jasmund for 800 years. Beech forests were once the European primeval forest. But today they are rare. With over 650,000 trees, Jasmund has the largest contiguous beech forest in the entire Baltic Sea region. But the other protected areas in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania - the Ivenack oaks, the Dar Forest and the primeval forest on the Peene River - are also magnificent cathedrals of nature.

The fine ramifications of a tree leaf, © TMV/Tiemann
The fine ramifications of a tree leaf
Not abstract art, but natural beauty. Fallen trees are also important for the survival of the Rügen beech forest. A very large fallen tree in the beech forest.
Not abstract art, but natural beauty. Fallen trees are also important for the continued existence of the Rügen beech forest.
View through the beech forest in the Jasmund National Park and behind it the steep coast of the island of Rügen.
Stubnitz is the name of the large beech forest in the Jasmund National Park, directly on the Baltic Sea coast of Rügen.

The experience centers show what makes nature tick

Nature experience tips at a glance

29 results

  • Nationalpark-Information Schwarzenhof

    • Schwarzenhof, 17192 Kargow

    Das kleine Gutsdorf Schwarzenhof verfügt über eine Nationalpark-Information mit einer Fotoausstellung.

    Read more: "Nationalpark-Information Schwarzenhof"
  • OZEANEUM Stralsund

    • Open today
    • Hafenstraße, 18439 Stralsund

    With its five exhibitions and 46 aquariums, the OZEANEUM Stralsund invites you on an extraordinary underwater journey beneath the northern seas. Visit Humboldt penguins on the roof terrace, "Niki" the female sand tiger shark in the 2.6-million-litre pool "Open Atlantic" and the giants of the sea - real life replicas of whales.

    Read more: "OZEANEUM Stralsund"
  • National park house on Hiddensee

    • Open today
    • Norderende, 18565 Vitte/Hiddensee

    "Veränderung" (change) is the title of the exhibition in the visitor information centre of the National Park “Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft” and hardly anything could be more appropriate for the island of Hiddensee, which is constantly growing and changing due to the forces of nature.

    Read more: "National park house on Hiddensee"
  • Outdoor exhibition “EinFlussReich“

    • Freely accessible at any time
    • Am Elbberg, 19258 Boizenburg/Elbe

    Life by a river like the Elbe has many advantages that people have used for centuries. At the same time, they had to protect themselves from the dangers of flooding and built dikes and dams. The open-air exhibition “EinFlussReich”, located in the immediate vicinity of the famous Elwkieker observation tower, provides children and adults with information on the subject of flooding in a playful way.

    Read more: "Outdoor exhibition “EinFlussReich“"
  • © Stadt Neustrelitz

    National park visitor centre in Neustrelitz

    • Open today
    • Strelitzer Straße, 17235 Neustrelitz

    Accommodation bureau, event service, sale of touristic relevant articles such as bike and hiking maps, picture postcards, illustrated books, guided city tours (including climbing the tower of the city’s cathedral), awarding touristic fishing licences

    Read more: "National park visitor centre in Neustrelitz"
  • “Sundische Wiese“ - National park information of Zingst

    • Open today
    • Sundische Wiese, 18374 Zingst

    The exhibition “Lebensräume“ displays the history and present of the Ostzingst.

    Read more: "“Sundische Wiese“ - National park information of Zingst"
  • National Park exhibition “Insel Schatz Ummanz“ in Waase

    • Neue Straße, 18569 Waase/ Ummanz

    The little village Waase, located on the isle of Ummanz, combines the scenic indentation and the island and timbered idyll. The visitor information and a small national park exhibition are combined under the thatched roof of the ”Alte Küsterei”. The colourful diversity of the isle of Ummanz and the national park represent the main focus of the small exhibition that has been renewed in 2018.

    Read more: "National Park exhibition “Insel Schatz Ummanz“ in Waase"
  • © TMV/Bodieschek

    Visitor information centre of the National Park “Serrahn“

    • Serrah Waldstraße, 17237 Serrahn

    In the little village named Serrahn, which is located in the depths of the woods, visitors have the opportunity to have a look at the exhibition “Buchenurwälder der Karpaten und Alte Buchenwälder Deutschlands“ concerning the UNESCO world natural heritage.

    Read more: "Visitor information centre of the National Park “Serrahn“"
  • KÖNIGSSTUHL National Park Center

    • Open today
    • Stubbenkammer, 18546 Sassnitz

    Right next to the famous Königsstuhl chalk cliffs and the UNESCO World Heritage Old Beech Forests, the KÖNIGSSTUHL National Park Center offers a special nature experience for the whole family, whatever the weather. A world full of secrets is waiting to be discovered on 2,000 square meters of exhibition space and 28,000 square meters of outdoor area - multilingual and barrier-free.

    Read more: "KÖNIGSSTUHL National Park Center"
  • © Felix Gänsicke

    MÜRITZEUM - The NatureExperienceCenter in Waren (Müritz)

    • Open today
    • Zur Steinmole, 17192 Waren (Müritz)

    The Müritzeum shows the beauty and special features of the Mecklenburg Lake District and the Müritz National Park in an interactive exhibition. In Germany's largest aquarium landscape for native freshwater fish, you dive under the water surface of the 1000 lakes.

    Read more: "MÜRITZEUM - The NatureExperienceCenter in Waren (Müritz)"
  • UNESCO World Heritage Forum

    • Closed today
    • Waldhalle, 18546 Sassnitz

    The hiking base near the port town of Sassnitz on the island of Rügen is dedicated to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage idea. Nature lovers can learn about the phenomenon of ancient beech forests here or simply linger in the greenery, fortify themselves and unwind.

    Read more: "UNESCO World Heritage Forum"
  • National Park House Vitte

    • Open today
    • Norderende, 18565 Vitte

    "Change" is the title of the exhibition in the Visitor Information Center of the National Park of Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft, and hardly anything could be more appropriate for the island of Hiddensee, which is constantly growing and changing through the forces of nature.

    Read more: "National Park House Vitte"
  • © J. Bengs

    Visitor centre of the Nature Park “Insel Usedom“

    • Open today
    • Bäderstraße, 17406 Usedom

    The island of Usedom is one of the areas with the most bird species in Germany. Overall, more than 280 species have been observed, 150 of them also brood here. 11 kinds of raptors regularly brood in the nature park, one of them is the sea-eagle. The visitor centre of the island of Usedom is located next to the information centre of the city of Usedom on the ground floor of the “Klaus-Bahlsen-Haus”. The visitor centre could only be built and furnished with the aid of the great commitment and the generous support of the correspondent foundation.

    Read more: "Visitor centre of the Nature Park “Insel Usedom“"
  • Natural Heritage Centre Rügen (Naturerbe Zentrum Rügen)

    • Forsthaus Prora, 18609 Ostseebad Binz OT Prora

    The Natural Heritage Centre Rügen with treetop path and experience exhibition is open 364 days a year so that you can experience and get to know nature all year round.

    Read more: "Natural Heritage Centre Rügen (Naturerbe Zentrum Rügen)"
  • Small exhibition of the Nature Park “Mecklenburgische Schweiz und Kummerower See“

    • Wargentiner Straße, 17139 Basedow

    The exhibition about the nature park “Mecklenburgische Schweiz und Kummerower See“ in Basedow can be found in the cafe “Alter Schafstall“, on the right side of the guest room. It displays land and people of the region.

    Read more: "Small exhibition of the Nature Park “Mecklenburgische Schweiz und Kummerower See“"

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