A forested nature park in northern Hesse, blending sandstone woodlands with limestone valleys and ancient hedgerow forests.
Naturpark Reinhardswald
Naturpark Reinhardswald is a designated nature park in the northern part of the German state of Hesse, covering the greater part of the Landkreis Kassel. Designated in 2017, it brings together a diverse mosaic of landscapes: the central, predominantly forested Reinhardswald and Bramwald, built on sandstone bedrock, the lower reaches of the Weser and Fulda river valleys, and the more open, limestone-influenced Diemel valley to the west.
The park is notable for the contrast it preserves between extensive wooded uplands and species-rich open habitats. Acidic sandstone forests, ancient hedgerow woodlands (Hutewald), and old oak stands dominate the interior, while the Diemel valley is characterized by broad expanses of calcareous grassland, most of which are protected as nature reserves.
Its identity rests on a combination of large, contiguous forest ecosystems and unusually rich peripheral valley habitats. Several Natura 2000 sites, landscape protection areas, and nature reserves fall within its boundaries, and the park borders other major nature parks in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, creating an extensive cross-border network of protected natural and cultural landscapes.
