Jasmund National Park encompasses a unique natural phenomenon: an ancient beech forest almost untouched by humans hands. Around 4,000 years ago, beech trees covered vast areas of Europe - today only a view primeval forest relicts remain.
Explore the World Heritage Site on Jasmund

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Forum at the Michael Otto Haus

Ranger base - exhibition - snack - forest children's playground

Directly on the most beautiful hiking trail in the north - the "Hochuferweg" -

you can find the UNESCO World Heritage Forum. A hiking base dedicated to the beech forests World Heritage Site on Jasmund and opened by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in June 2017.

Hikers and cyclists can learn about the Ancient Beech Forests phenomenon here or simply linger in the greenery and unwind. Children can let off steam at the surrounding forest playground.

Find out more on the website of the World Heritage Forum (Sorry, the content is currently only available in German).

The UNESCO World Heritage Site "Ancient Beech Forests and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe" preserves Europe's remaining forest wilderness. 

The World Forest Heritage consists of 94 sites in 18 European nations, which makes it the largest transnational World Heritage Site in the world.

Beech forests are one of the most endangered forest ecosystems on earth

Due to unprecedented overexploitation over the last 200 years, the old beech forests have been reduced to 0.02% of their former area of expansion. Today, they can only be found in a few areas in Europe, including the island of Rügen.

Jasmund - The World Heritage sub-area on Rügen

One of the 94 sub-areas is located in the heart of the Jasmund National Park. It covers an area of 493 ha and is one of the last intact forests in Europe. Together with four other sub-areas in Germany, it represents the most valuable remaining remnants of large-scale natural beech stands in our country.

Our global heritage
A pact with UNESCO

The "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage” was adopted in 1972 by UNESCO. It is the most important international instrument for the protection of ...

Ancient forest miracle
The big migration

Beech forests are characterised by their perseverance.
Beeches have recolonized much of Europe from small isolated
refugia at the end of
the last ice age. ...

Jasmund‘s primeval forest
The last of its kind

Well-protected within Jasmund National Park lies a tiny fragment of pristine Ancient Beech Forest. The forest is centuries old and has the complex structure ...

Realm of shadows
The World Heritage Site in pictures

There are few places in which one can experience the seasons as intensely as in the Ancient Beech Forest. Each season has its unique colours, patterns, moods ...