Ten years of Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park: pure nature in the southwest!

Ten years of Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park: pure nature in the southwest!

The Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park celebrates its tenth anniversary this year and is considered the youngest national park in Germany. It was opened at Pentecost in 2015 and comprises an area of ​​more than 10,000 hectares, with 90 percent of the area in Rhineland-Palatinate and the rest in Saarland. The main goal of this extraordinary nature conservation project is to be developed without human intervention. The park is located in southwestern Germany between the cities of Idar-Oberstein, Birkenfeld, Hermeskeil, Morbach and Nonnweiler.

Visitors have the opportunity to gain a first impression of the unique landscape and culture of the region in the Keltenpark national park in Otzenhausen. There is an exhibition about the world of Celts. Michael Koch, Managing Director of the national park, describes the National Park as a "evolutionary engine for the region" and emphasizes that it is funded by the state, district and the municipality of Nonnweiler, which promises an upswing in the tourism sector from this project.

tourism and regional development

Florian Schneider, the head of the tourism area of ​​the municipality of Nonnweiler, emphasizes that the natural topic opens up new target groups. However, the number of overnight stays that can be attributed directly to the national park cannot currently be determined. Nevertheless, there are some hotels in the municipality of Nohfelden who act as the official partner of the national park, including center parks at the Bostalsee and the lake time lodge. Andreas Veit, the mayor of Nohfelden, explains that guests who already stay in the region have the opportunity to visit the national park, which benefits the local companies.

The entire district and the Saarland benefit from the radiance of the national park. Udo Recktenwald, the district administrator of the St. Wendel district, emphasizes the ecological importance of the project in the context of climate change. The features of the park include old beeches, bogs, Arnika and Nardus meadows as well as large height and temperature differences in a small space. The park of the park, "let nature be nature", reflects the endeavor to enable a transition from cultivated areas to a completely natural environment, which can take up to 30 years.

year -round offers for visitors

Birgit Grauvogel, managing director of the Saarland tourism center, emphasizes that there are offers all year round for hikers that also ensure fun and relaxation in autumn and winter. The Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park develops not only as a retreat for nature, but also as an attractive goal for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts.

A report on the national park was broadcast on SR television on May 23, 2025, and has sparked particular interest in local and national tourism. The national park remains an important project that the region can advance both ecologically and for tourism and shows how nature conservation and visitor friendliness can be reconciled. Interested parties can be found on the websites of SR and Hunsrück Touristik .