We bring nature's secrets to light

Indoor activities

Whether you are an adventurer, researcher or romantic – our exhibit is tailor-made for you! You can visit our many aquariums, a real iceberg and the multi-vision cinema showing the UNESCO World Heritage film „ The Migration of the Ancient Beech Forests “ with Dirk Steffens.

Interactive exhibition - Time travel over four storeys

The interactive exhibition „We bring nature‘s secrets to light“ is at the heart of the Visitor's Centre experience. On four storeys, visitors move through acoustically staged rooms and are playfully introduced to the secrets of the Cretaceous landscape. And the best thing is: every time traveller gets an audio guide and earphones – even the children! While the theme for the adult audio guide is „curiosity“, children are guided through the exhibition with amusing stories told by Mimi, the mouse and Krax, the raven.

  • Wormhole
    You are entering the wormhole

    It is dark, sand trickles through the towering hourglass. What are 6 ...

    Wormhole
    Wormhole
    You are entering the wormhole

    It is dark, sand trickles through the towering hourglass. What are 6 million years of human existence on the earth - only the blink of an eye in the course of the history. After 69 million years the timepiece comes to a standstill. Welcome to the Cretaceous!

  • Cretaceous seas
    You dive into the warm and shallow sea

    The water column before you is full of microscopic marine ...

    Cretaceous seas
    Cretaceous seas
    You dive into the warm and shallow sea

    The water column before you is full of microscopic marine invertebrates with "chalk" shells that slowly sink to the seabed. Primordial inhabitants of the Cretaceous seas swim by.

  • Ice age
    You enter the chilly ice age

    A glacier made of real ice protrudes from the wall and deposits ...

    Ice age
    Ice age
    You enter the chilly ice age

    A glacier made of real ice protrudes from the wall and deposits erratics at its margins. The brave at heart can squeeze under a suspended glacial erratic.

  • Baltic Sea
    You are sinking deep into the Baltic

    The rays of sunlight break obliquely on the water surface and envelope ...

    Baltic Sea
    Baltic Sea
    You are sinking deep into the Baltic

    The rays of sunlight break obliquely on the water surface and envelope you in a blue-green light. You are surrounded by the sounds of the Baltic Sea and its fauna.

  • Rocky beach
    You are strolling along a rocky beach

    The waves make a tinkling sound as they roll over the flint stones.  ...

    Rocky beach
    Rocky beach
    You are strolling along a rocky beach

    The waves make a tinkling sound as they roll over the flint stones.

  • Chalk cliff
    You are climbing up the chalk cliff

    The reds of the early morning sun reflect off the chalk cliffs. Dark ...

    Chalk cliff
    Chalk cliff
    You are climbing up the chalk cliff

    The reds of the early morning sun reflect off the chalk cliffs. Dark layers of flint become visible in the white chalk, majestic beech trees weather the storm and an eagle presides over the landscape. This is a scenery that has long inspired artists.

  • Under ground
    You are descending into the earth

    Here it is dark and warm and smells of humus. In the shine of torches, ...

    Under ground
    Under ground
    You are descending into the earth

    Here it is dark and warm and smells of humus. In the shine of torches, you can discover creepy crawlies in the soil. A narrow tunnel allows our smallest visitors crawl in even further.

  • Meadow
    You are approaching a meadow

    Having arrived on the meadow, take a moment to relax. Slowly, you ...

    Meadow
    Meadow
    You are approaching a meadow

    Having arrived on the meadow, take a moment to relax. Slowly, you become a part of the hustle and bustle of life between the blades of grass, and can enjoy the „stage performance“ on the forest clearing.

  • Freshwater habitats
    You are arriving in freshwater habitats

    With the push of a button it begins to rain, the water then seeps into ...

    Freshwater habitats
    Freshwater habitats
    You are arriving in freshwater habitats

    With the push of a button it begins to rain, the water then seeps into the ground, only to reappear in a small creek and finally flow into the ocean.

  • The beech tree
    You are sitting under a gnarly old beech

    The tree towers majestically overhead, witness to centuries long gone. ...

    The beech tree
    The beech tree
    You are sitting under a gnarly old beech

    The tree towers majestically overhead, witness to centuries long gone. It has experienced much and could tell countless stories - some good, some bad.

  • Beech forests
    You are roaming through the Ancient Beech Forest

    Up above a watchful pine martin darts along the branches. A spider ...

    Beech forests
    Beech forests
    You are roaming through the Ancient Beech Forest

    Up above a watchful pine martin darts along the branches. A spider spins its web across the path. What is that bird with such a wonderful song?

  • Night-time in the forest
    You are caught off-guard by night-time in the forest

    The trees are transformed into enormous grey shadows. All is quiet, ...

    Night-time in the forest
    Night-time in the forest
    You are caught off-guard by night-time in the forest

    The trees are transformed into enormous grey shadows. All is quiet, and then suddenly - a sound!

  • 3D forest picture
    You awake in a wonderful forest scene

    There are no paths, no signs, no traces of human activity, and yet you ...

    3D forest picture
    3D forest picture
    You awake in a wonderful forest scene

    There are no paths, no signs, no traces of human activity, and yet you are familiar with these surroundings. No wonder – you are in your historic habitat: Jasmund with its primeval forest relicts.

  • Forces of nature
    You are seeking shelter from the forces of nature

    A violent storm is brewing: Trees fall, lightning strikes, rain pounds ...

    Forces of nature
    Forces of nature
    You are seeking shelter from the forces of nature

    A violent storm is brewing: Trees fall, lightning strikes, rain pounds in the ground. But all this lasts for just a moment – soon calm returns.

  • Life‘s cycle
    You are taking part in the cycle of life

    Trees grow and perish. Forests reach maturity and give new life. These ...

    Life‘s cycle
    Life‘s cycle
    You are taking part in the cycle of life

    Trees grow and perish. Forests reach maturity and give new life. These processes have long inspired poets and philosophers.

  • National parks
    You are visiting the world‘s national parks

    They still exist, the last vestiges of untouched nature. Often only ...

    National parks
    National parks
    You are visiting the world‘s national parks

    They still exist, the last vestiges of untouched nature. Often only tiny areas remain – as in Jasmund National Park. Jasmund is one of the smallest national parks in the world and requires our very special protection.

  • Time‘s pendulum
    You are taking stock under time‘s pendulum

    Time passes interminably. The course of nature remains beyond our ...

    Time‘s pendulum
    Time‘s pendulum
    You are taking stock under time‘s pendulum

    Time passes interminably. The course of nature remains beyond our grasp, this visit has imparted lasting memories.

  • Seasons
    You are reflecting upon the seasons

    Dynamic lighting and celestial music accompany you to the end of the ...

    Seasons
    Seasons
    You are reflecting upon the seasons

    Dynamic lighting and celestial music accompany you to the end of the exhibition. You have returned to the present.

Every 20 minutes in our multi-vision cinema

The World Heritage Site Short Film - A special cinema experience over four screens, great surround sound and with English subtitles.

Start the trailer to the short film here.

Dirk Steffens presents "The Migration of the Ancient Beech Forests"

Where the Ancient Beech Forests are almost untouched by human hands, the Jasmund National Park is home to a unique piece of unspoiled nature. It is of such outstanding importance that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site on 25 June 2011.

This joyful occasion led to an extraordinary collaboration with one of the most prominent nature filmmakers in German television - Dirk Steffens - which resulted in a short documentary film of high quality in terms of content and visuals about the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Ancient beech forests and primeval beech forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe".

In order to present the history of the Ancient Beech Forests in an impressive way, Steffens' film team did not spare elaborate filming techniques such as macro shots, time-lapse, special effects and thus created impressive pictures from extraordinarily exciting perspectives. A special challenge was to create an emotionally appealing nature film that is perfectly designed for our unique round cinema architecture and that inspires the audience visually and acoustically on four screens. 

We and more than one million visitors since the film's release in 2013 believe that this has been impressively realized.