Autumn is the ideal time for excursions and weekend trips. How about a discovery tour of lesser-known sights in Germany? In addition to Neuschwanstein, Cologne Cathedral and the Brandenburg Gate, there are many places and corners in this country that are worth visiting. Here are a few tips:

The Rakotz Bridge, also known as the Devil’s Bridge, can be found in the Rhododendron Park Kromlau in Saxony. There it stretches in a high, harmonious arc over the lake of the same name. The structure is famous for the reflection of the bridge arch in the water, which can create a complete circular shape. This peculiarity already attracted Hollywood. The bridge is set to appear in the 2021 film “The Matrix Resurrections.”

Between Kelheim and the Weltenburg Monastery you can marvel at the Danube Gorge, the deepest and narrowest part of the Bavarian Danube. By boat or on one of the hiking trails, visitors can see the rock formations that rise up to 80 meters steeply from the water in the “Weltenburger Enge” nature reserve. Nearby you can also visit the Hall of Liberation on Michelsberg or visit the old town in Regensburg.

Hikers can also see spectacular rock formations in the municipality of Eppenbrunn in the Palatinate Forest. The Altschlossfelsen are a red sandstone rock massif with a height of up to 30 meters. On the four main rocks, which stand close together, there are traces that indicate a former fortification in the Middle Ages. Since 2002, the Helmut Kohl hiking trail has been located between Eppenbrunn and the neighboring French town of Roppeviller, on which the former Chancellor allegedly often traveled privately.

The Nienhagen ghost forest probably gets its name from the unusual shapes of the trees there. The nature reserve is part of the Nienhäger Holz forest area. The oaks, beeches, hornbeams and ash trees that exist there are relatively far apart; the damp Baltic Sea winds and storms have partially deformed the trees. A hiking trail starts behind the ghost forest and runs along the cliffs.