THE BEST REGIONS FOR SKIING IN GERMANY

From Beginners to Advanced Skiers, in Germany there are slopes where even the pros will work up a sweat. Nevertheless, where are they? An Overview: German Provinces and their Snow Zones.

If you would like to put on your skis and race down a slope in Germany: let’s do it! There are plenty of ski resorts in Hesse, Saxony and Baden-Württemberg.

Hessen
When you think of Hessen, you might only think of the attractive financial metropolis of Frankfurt am Main. However, the Hessian landscape is also characterised by several mountain ranges and these mountains offer good winter sports opportunities. Whether cross-country skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing or classic skiing, in total, winter sports enthusiasts have around 60 kilometres of pistes at their disposal. The best-known winter sports areas include the Vogelsberg, the Odenwald, the Upland, the Rhön and the Taunus. The longest downhill slopes can be found on the 880-metre-high Grosser Feldberg, the highest summit in the Taunus region. The largest ski area is Willingen, here you can even ski when there is no snow. In addition, around 100 kilometres of cross-country trails await cross-country skiers. The area with the most reliable snowfall is the Wasserkuppe in the Rhön. The largest ski area here is Kreuzberg.

Saxony
The federal state of Saxony is known for its many castles and palaces, its enchanting countryside and, of course, its state capital Dresden. But in Saxony you can also enjoy excellent skiing: Between Dresden and Nuremberg lie the Ore Mountains with Saxony’s highest mountain, the Fichtelberg. The Ore Mountains are also great for hiking, but in winter the reliably snow-covered northern slopes are occupied by skiers. The slopes all around this 1,215-metre-high mountain are among the best in Saxony. Incidentally, this is also the location of Germany’s highest town, the health resort Oberwiesenthal and the number one winter sports area in Saxony. In total, however, skiers have around 70 kilometres of pistes at their disposal. Winter sports destinations in the Ore Mountains also include Lößnitz, Oberlausitz and Schöneck.

Baden-Württemberg
The Black Forest is located in the south of Germany on the border with France. Known for its picturesque villages and beautiful scenery, it provides the perfect backdrop for holidays in both summer and winter. Skiers are also in the right place here, as the Feldberg in the Black Forest is the highest mountain in Baden-Württemberg at just under 1500 metres, followed by the Herzogenhorn at around 1400 metres. Therefore, it is no wonder that the Feldberg is also one of the best ski destinations in the state. There are extensive and family-friendly ski slopes in Albstadt-Tailfingen, also for après-ski and snowshoe hiking. In total, Baden-Württemberg offers 229 kilometres of pistes and has around 300 ski lifts. The skiing areas Feldberg/Seebruck as well as Unterstmatt, Haldenköpfle and Hofeck are all very highly rated. A good place for families is Mehliskopf and the skiing area Salzwinkel. If you would like to spend a day ski-free, visit the city of Freiburg. Equally lovely: the pretty town of Calw.