But even aside from the three days of festivities, August remains a month full of encounters with nature: families can explore the great outdoors, follow the trails of the swallows or test their knowledge in the World Heritage Quiz. A WWF tour takes visitors out into the national park, and Bat Night on 29 August marks the start of a truly unique evening, when the bats come to life at dusk.

Three days of art, romance and nature

From 19 to 21 August, the KÖNIGSSTUHL National Park Centre will become a place for a little journey through time every day from 11 am to 4 pm. Short Romantic-era guided tours (10 am and 2 pm), a walk ‘In the footsteps of Caspar David Friedrich’ (11.30 am) and the ‘Research like in the 19th century’ activity (11 am–2 pm) focus on the natural world that once inspired the Romantic artists. Historical fairground games and a photo opportunity in costume against the backdrop of the ‘Chalk Cliffs of Rügen’ round off the programme.

Daily changing highlights offer insights into special facets of Romanticism. On Wednesday, 19 August, ‘Drawing like Humboldt’ from 1 pm to 3 pm uses pen and paper to explore the delicate structures of the plant world. 

On Thursday morning (20 August), artists from the Pomeranian Artists’ Association will be open to visitors watching them sketch along the walking trail, and from 1 pm to 3 pm they invite you to join in with watercolour painting, ink wash drawings and cardboard printing. Advance booking is recommended for the cardboard printing course, which is limited to eight people. For all other workshops, you can take part on the spot, subject to availability.

To round off the event, the picnic concert ‘Leise flehen meine Lieder!’ will take place on Friday 21 August at 1 pm on the lawn right next to the Skywalk. The duo ‘con emozione’ combines soprano and piano with music, texts and anecdotes from the Romantic era. Lovingly packed picnic baskets, complete with a blanket, can be reserved in advance from the centre’s online shop for a particularly romantic experience. 

The entire programme of the Romantic Days takes place on the ‘Meadow of Romanticism’ in the immediate vicinity of the Skywalk and is included in the admission price.

Wild Rügen between beech forests and the Baltic Sea

On Thursday 13 August, the WWF adventure tour ‘Wild Rügen – UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chalk & Sea’ sets off from Sassnitz, winding its way through the ancient beech forests to the KÖNIGSSTUHL National Park Centre. Along the way, participants will learn more about the World Natural Heritage Site, the chalk coast and the WWF project to recover lost fishing nets from the Baltic Sea.

The tour starts at 9.30 am at the National Park entrance by the Wedding bus turning loop and ends at around 4 pm. The cost is €39.50 per adult, including admission to the National Park Centre. Bookings can be made at wwf.de/erlebnis.

As night falls over the National Park

To mark International Bat Night, the KÖNIGSSTUHL National Park Centre is hosting a bat walk on Saturday 29 August from 7.30 pm to 10 pm. Accompanied by certified nature and landscape guide Eckhard Berger, participants will follow these silent hunters of the night and learn which bat species live in Jasmund National Park and why old-growth forests are so important to them.

The meeting point is the panda statue at the main entrance. The walk costs 10 euros for adults and 5 euros for children up to the age of 14, and is suitable for children aged ten and over when accompanied by an adult. Weatherproof clothing is recommended. Admission to the National Park Centre is not included, but can be added at a reduced price when booking online.

Summer holiday programme until the end of the month

The summer holiday programme remains a key part of the programme throughout August. Until 31 August, families can take part in the World Heritage Rally (10.00–17.00) every day, solving puzzles together and testing their knowledge of the ancient beech forests. During the Open-Air Exploration (11.00–14.00), the outdoor area becomes a research site, whilst the Family Quiz (Mon & Wed, 14.30) takes participants on a playful tour of the World Heritage Site. Family walks (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2.30 pm) draw attention to small observations along the way, and the Swallow Exploration (Fridays, 2.30 pm) focuses on the National Park Centre’s feathered neighbours. During the Romantic Days, these regular activities are suspended in favour of the historical and artistic festival programme.

Visitor tip to avoid queues:
As visitor numbers are expected to be higher around midday, the National Park Centre recommends arriving between 9 am and 10 am or from 3 pm onwards. The centre is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm. With a pre-booked online ticket, visitors can use the fast lane at the entrance via the turnstile to gain quicker access to the centre. Anyone wishing to use the 3-in-1 ticket on the day can purchase it at the ticket counter at the Hagen main car park; this covers everything in one go – car park, bus transfer and admission.