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.

Die feinen Verästelungen eines Baumblatts im Detail // The fine ramifications of a tree leaf // © MV-T/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

28 results

  • © MV-T/Gohlke

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    • Open today
    • Strelitzer Straße, 17258 Feldberger Seenlandschaft

    The 36,000-hectare Feldberg Lake District Nature Park is located in the south-eastern part of the Mecklenburg Lake District between the towns of Fürstenberg, Woldegk and Neustrelitz. In addition to numerous lakes and kettle bogs, with a bit of luck you can admire sea eagles, ospreys and beavers here.

    Read more: "Feldberg Lake District Nature Park exhibition in the Haus des Gastes"
  • © Stadt Neustrelitz

    National park visitor centre in Neustrelitz

    • Open today
    • Strelitzer Straße, 17235 Neustrelitz

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    Read more: "National park visitor centre in Neustrelitz"
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    • Open today
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    Read more: "Visitor centre of the Nature Park “Insel Usedom“"
  • © Foto: Ulrich Unger

    Outdoor exhibition “EinFlussReich“

    • Freely accessible at any time
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    Read more: "Outdoor exhibition “EinFlussReich“"
  • Hier bekommen Sie Informationen über den Lebensraum Buchenwald. // © Wiebke Döbbert

    Visitor information centre of the National Park “Serrahn“

    • Open today
    • Serrahn, 17237 Carpin

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    Read more: "Visitor information centre of the National Park “Serrahn“"
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    • Open today
    • Ziegenhorn, 19395 Plau am See

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    Read more: "Karower Meiler Culture and Information Center"
  • Ausstellungsgebäude Barhöft am Turm // © K. Bärwald

    National park visitor centre in Barhöft

    • Haus Norden Am Barhöfter Kliff, 18445 Barhöft

    Visitor centre of the National Park “Vorpommernsche Boddenlandschaft”

    Read more: "National park visitor centre in Barhöft"
  • Ruhig sitzt der Braunbär auf der Wiese, sein dichtes Fell glänzt im Licht, das durch die Baumkronen fällt. Im Bärenwald Müritz bei Stuer finden gerettete Bären ein artgerechtes Zuhause auf 16 Hektar Wald. Hier lässt sich beobachten, wie die Tiere in ihrem natürlichen Rhythmus leben – ein berührendes Naturerlebnis. // © 1000seen.de

    BÄRENWALD, Müritz

    • Open today
    • Am Bärenwald, 17209 Stuer

    Brown bears – all of which came from improperly kept habitats – live in Western Europe’s largest bear sanctuary in the Mecklenburg Lakes. It is open all year round!

    Read more: "BÄRENWALD, Müritz"
  • © Nationalparkamt Vorpommern

    “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"
  • A stunning cliffside landscape with white chalk cliffs, densely forested slopes, and the sea in the foreground. // © Nationalpark-Zentrum KÖNIGSSTUHL / Dan Petermann

    KÖNIGSSTUHL National Park Center

    • Open today
    • Stubbenkammer, 18546 Sassnitz

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    Read more: "KÖNIGSSTUHL National Park Center"
  • Der Baumwipfelpfad mit dem Aussichtsturm „Adlerhorst“ liegt inmitten eines Buchenwaldes in Prora auf der Insel Rügen. // © Erlebnis Akademie AG / Naturerbe Zentrum Rügen

    Natural Heritage Centre Rügen (Naturerbe Zentrum Rügen)

    • Open today
    • 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)"
  • © D. Foitlänger, Biosphärenreservatsamt Schaalsee-Elbe

    Information centre for the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Flusslandschaft Elbe Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

    • Open today
    • Auf der Festung, 19303 Dömitz

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    Read more: "Information centre for the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Flusslandschaft Elbe Mecklenburg-Vorpommern"
  • Moderne Museumsarchitektur trifft auf hanseatisches Erbe: Das Ozeaneum am Stralsunder Hafen verschmilzt mit historischen Backsteinbauten und Segelschiffen zu einer einzigartigen Silhouette. Im Abendlicht leuchtet die UNESCO-Welterbestadt in warmen Farbtönen. Hier lässt sich maritime Geschichte hautnah erleben – vom Museumsdeck bis zur Hafenpromenade. // © Francesco Carovillano

    OZEANEUM Stralsund

    • Open today
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    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"
  • Hier gibt es Informationen über den Nationalpark und das Havelgebiet. // © Barbara Lüthi Herrmann

    Visitor centre “Flatterhus Kratzeburg“

    • Open today
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  • © K. Bärwald

    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"

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