DEEP ROOTS
Travel+Leisure India|August 2022
IN GERMANY, THE WOODS HAVE BEEN A SOURCE OF MYSTERY AND FASCINATION FOR MILLENNIA. ON A ROAD TRIP THROUGH THE COUNTRY'S VERDANT HEART, GISELA WILLIAMS FINDS OUT WHY THAT REVERENCE FOR THE FORESTS MAY OFFER LESSONS FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD.
GISELA WILLIAMS
DEEP ROOTS

IN THE WINTER OF 1777, the writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe set off on horseback from his home in the central German city of Weimar and travelled a hundred miles north to the forests of the Harz region. The 28-year-old Goethe, who had been struggling since the death of his sister the previous summer, hoped to encounter a sign. On December 10, accompanied by a forester, he climbed the Brocken, a mountain in the Harz that is, at almost 1,219 metres, the highest in northern Germany. Visiting this snowy, densely wooded landscape left him exhilarated and renewed; the experience later inspired the poem "Harzreise im Winter." 

An altar of grateful delight

He finds in the much-dreaded mountain’s

Snow-begirded summit,

Which foreboding nations

Crown’d with spirit-dances.

The story of Goethe’s bracing journey would become a cultural touchstone, epitomising Germany’s fascination with its wilds and woodlands. Unlike in Japan, where the tradition of forest-bathing involves the quiet contemplation of light and shadow, the Germans wrestle with the forest as if it were their own spirit. From Germania, Tacitus’s first-century description of the Germans, to Grimm’s Fairy Tales, the forest has long been integral to the national identity.

This connection between nature and culture has galvanised the country to position itself at the forefront of the environmental movement. One-third of Germany is woodland, and while most of that area is planted with trees that are harvested for timber, more trees are planted than are felled.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2022-Ausgabe von Travel+Leisure India.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 2022-Ausgabe von Travel+Leisure India.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS TRAVEL+LEISURE INDIAAlle anzeigen
10 Elevated Experiences in The Lap Of Luxury
Travel+Leisure India

10 Elevated Experiences in The Lap Of Luxury

Travel in a luxury caravan, cook a meal with Michelin-starred chefs, chill in your private in-villa wine cellar and snorkel with seahorses-here is our handpicked list of 10 unique indulgences at some of the finest hotels across the world

time-read
6 Minuten  |
November 2024
The Sound Luxury
Travel+Leisure India

The Sound Luxury

In 2024, the sound of Kenny G has been replaced by lo-fi beats in resorts and elevators, transforming the traditional musical landscape. Ambient music has become essential for crafting the perfect atmosphere.

time-read
7 Minuten  |
November 2024
APPETITE for LIFE
Travel+Leisure India

APPETITE for LIFE

Dandelion roots and pea greens, truffles and wild mountain thyme: a meal in Slovenia is like a walk in a fairy-tale forest. Sierra Crane Murdoch falls under the country's spell.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
November 2024
Silk Route Revival
Travel+Leisure India

Silk Route Revival

With its luxe offerings and ease of visa-free access to several countries, including India, Kazakhstan is slowly opening doors to travellers with a whole new set of handouts beyond the exotic, explores Shikha Tripathi

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2024
A TRANQUIL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
Travel+Leisure India

A TRANQUIL JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

At Raffles Udaipur, discover the art of slowing down and connecting with history, nature, and yourself.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2024
Travel, Leisure, and Everything In Between
Travel+Leisure India

Travel, Leisure, and Everything In Between

Shibani and Farhan Akhtar share their travel dynamics, love for luxury, and why Raffles Udaipur, with its serene ambiance, is the ultimate getaway.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 2024
Basking in Opulence
Travel+Leisure India

Basking in Opulence

Lights, camera, glam. What is it about Rajasthan, especially Udaipur, that spells luxury travel like no other?

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2024
Tradition in Modern Tapestry
Travel+Leisure India

Tradition in Modern Tapestry

Waris Ahluwalia's insights on sustainable practices and the power of human connection in his creative journey reflect through his words, and his work.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 2024
Design, Diversity, and Sustainability
Travel+Leisure India

Design, Diversity, and Sustainability

Roopal Patel discusses the evolving landscape of global fashion, the power of personal style, her vision for a more inclusive industry, and the future of design in an insightful exchange with Samreen Tungekar

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 2024
MUMBAI TO MILAN: LUXURY, CULTURE AND CULINARY DELIGHTS
Travel+Leisure India

MUMBAI TO MILAN: LUXURY, CULTURE AND CULINARY DELIGHTS

Tanya Khanijow enjoys the best of Milan with Lufthansa, from stylish shopping to tasting the city's culinary delights.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 2024