December 2001 - Nr. 13
Germany, a fairy-tale land in Winter:
Attractive destinations for big and small
DZT - When Frau Holle shakes out her featherbed over Germany’s middle mountains and turns them into a white Winter fairy-tale land, then athletes’ hearts beat faster: snowshoe hiking through the snowy mountains, curling on frozen lakes, snow-boarding, cross-country- or alpine skiing, or just strolling through the snow is pure Winter delight.
Germany’s Winter sports regions are well prepared for the season – from the Northern Harz to the Southern Allgäu.
Modern Winter sports set the scene
Beginners and experienced athletes can expect well-cared-for slopes; suitable areas for children are often found near ski schools where the small ones are lovingly cared for in ski kindergartens. Adults and children alike enjoy the fascination of the Winter world.
Action in snow puts one in a good mood, but what brings the right swing? It is carving, boarding, skating or telemarking – modern Winter sports that set the scene. Enjoyable learning and success are ensured by experienced ski teachers who always offer the latest programs. If you don’t have the proper equipment, there’s plenty available for rent. And a reliable service for Winter sports enthusiasts is the snow telephone where one can get up-to-date information about the conditions for Winter sports.
Enjoy and celebrate the world champions
Visitors can experience the excitement of top international sports events. among the most important events in the Black Forest, for example, are the "1st World-Cup Jumping" at Titisee-Neustadt Nov. 29-Dec. 2, 2001; the "Nordic FIS Junior World Championships" in Schonach Jan. 21-27, 2002, and the "International Women’s FIS Race" and opening of the FIS Seebruck Course in Feldberg March 1-3, 2002.
The program in conjunction with the "International Dog-Sled Races" in Todtmoos Jan. 25-27, 2002, will also be eventful. Two day- and night races will delight the racing fans.
Sports fans can also enjoy world-champion performances in Winterberg in the Upper Sauerland. The best bob- and toboggan pilots in the world will fight it out Dec. 1-2, 2001, at the "International Veltin’s Cup." Anyone who wants to try the breakneck downhill ride can take the taxi-bob that reaches 75 miles per hour or the somewhat leisurely bob-raft that goes only 45 mile per hour.
Experience Germany in Winter
The Black Forest beckons with exciting Winter sports programs
The Black Forest vacation region is an attractive destination during the cold season for Winter-sports fans and for guests who – with or without snow – prefer long hikes.
The packages for the 2001-2002 Winter season are varied and attract visitors with new trend sports, too. For example, snowshoe hiking is very popular. However, this Winter wellness sport is not new; for thousands of years people have used this type of movement.
But thanks to modern material and more flexible bindings, hiking with this gear today is much more comfortable than it once was. Because this leisure fun is enjoying a renaissance in the Black Forest, many hikes led by expert guides are available.
Baden-Baden, for example, has put together a three-day package built around snow-shoe hiking. It can be booked in December 2001 and January 2002 from 295 marks (151 Euro) per person for groups of six or more. It includes two nights, breakfast, two snowshoe hikes in the Northern Black Forest, rental snowshoes and telescoping walking stick, and entry to the Caracalla thermal baths.
Info: Baden-Baden Marketing, Solmsstrasse 1, D-76530 Baden-Baden. Tel. 07221-275200. Fax 275202. Internet: www.baden-baden.com e-mail: info@baden-baden.com
Bad Peterstal-Griesbach in the Central Black Forest also offers snow-shoe hiking during the Winter months – when the snow conditions are right.
All tours are guided and guests can choose the grade of difficulty of the trail. Snowshoes, walking sticks and leggings are available. A "Beginner’s Tour," for example, costs from 70 marks (36 Euro) per person with two nights and breakfast in a private guest house.
Info: Kurverwaltung, Schwarzwaldstrasse 11, D-77740 Bad Peterstal-Griesbach. Tel. 07806-7933. Fax 7950. Internet: www.bad-peterstal-griesbach.de e-mail: kurverwaltung@bad-peterstal-griesbach.de
Many Black Forest communities offer courses under the guidance of qualified coaches for those who want to practice or improve their cross-country skills. Beginners are welcome to take the cross-country course in the climatic health spa St. Blasien Feb. 2-19, 2002.
The price from 107.57 marks (55 Euro) per person includes four units of training, a romantic hike by lantern light with a cozy break or two hours of bowling, a guided ski tour and a convivial sled tour.
One night with breakfast costs from 29.34 marks (15 Euro) per person; vacation apartments cost 58.67 marks (30 Euro) per day.
Info: Tourist-Information, Postfach 1140, D-79829 St. Blasien. Tel. 07672-41430. Fax 41438. Internet: www.st-blasien.de e-mail: tourist-information@st-blasien-menzenschwand.de
A seven-day cross-country package from 557.41 marks (285 Euro) is available between Jan. 6 and April 1, 2002, at Belchen, the 4,640-foot-tall lookout mountain in the Southern Black Forest. The package includes one night with breakfast, dinner, use of the indoor pool and rental ski equipment.
Info: Belchenland Tourist-Information, Gentnerstrasse 2, D-79677 Schönau. Tel. 07673-918130. Fax 9181329. Internet: www.belchenland.com e-mail: info@belchenland.com
St. Andreasberg in the Harz celebrates Winter
St. Andreasberg in the Harz Mountains will celebrate its Winter Festival Feb. 1-3, 2002, featuring a wide range of cold-weather leisure activities with the motto "Games, Fun and Sports."
At this time, the National Park Community is offering a "Winter Festival Package" from 149 marks (76.18 Euro) per person. The comprehensive program includes two nights with breakfast, participation in the Winter Festival Carnival parade, Winter games for the entire family, opening of the Winter Festival, a guided hike with an evening get-together in a hut, entry to the "St. Andreasberg Winter Festival" exhibition, a Harz folklore evening, ski tour and Winter hiking, snow fun and much more.
Information: Tourist-Information, Am Glockenberg 12, D-37444 Sankt Andreasberg. Tel. 05582- 80336. Fax 80339. Internet: www.sankt-andreasberg.de/winterfest.htm
Winter hits in Bavaria
The brochure "Winter-Hits für Kids & Co. in Bayern" (Winter Hits for Kids & Co. in Bavaria) gives you plenty of ideas for a family vacation in the snow. Packages in all price categories are described on 24 pages.
The action "Kids on Snow" offers professional training by the German ski teachers association for the first time at the Bavarian Snow Festival for children, which takes place throughout the season at various locations. Start is Dec. 23, 2001, in Lenggries.
"Celebration in the Snow" is the name of an arrangement in the Upper Allgäu that costs from 595 marks (304 Euro) with seven nights in a vacation apartment for two adults and two children. Plenty of leisure activities guarantee a variety of vacation fun. In Bodenmais, Eastern Bavaria, the package "Snowflake Days" is available from January until the end of March 2002.
The price from 399 marks (204 Euro) includes five nights for the parents and two children, a welcome surprise, entry to the indoor pool and lots of fun.
The Bavarian vacation region can also guarantee eventful and invigorating vacations. Among the traditional sports are Alpine- and cross-country skiing on slopes and trails of all levels of difficulty.
Plenty of floodlighting makes night skiing possible. Other popular activities are biathlon, Winter triathlon, free-style, snow-boarding, ice skating, bob, curling and skeleton. An enthusiastic public also can enjoy sled racing.
Information: Bayern Tourismus, Leopoldstrasse 146, D-80804 München. Tel. 089-2123970. Fax 8936329. e-mail: tourismus@bayern.btl.de
