We quickly plunge from the parking lot into the forest, but the sounds of the nearby road accompany us for quite a stretch. The deeper we immerse ourselves in the dense forest, the quieter it becomes, until the noise disappears completely. Here I finally hear a few birds. And then I let go.

For over a hundred years, nature has been left to its own devices here. Fallen branches and toppled trees lie everywhere. So this is the natural course of a forest. I am surprised – not only by this realization, but also by the breathtakingly beautiful trees. It’s no wonder this forest bears the name Fairy Tale Forest. It’s like a fairy tale come true.

And I’m surprised by something else: that I find such spectacular nature here in Germany – I would never have believed it. Germany was always just gray, overcrowded, and ugly to me. This region here teaches me otherwise. It shows me something else: There seem to be surprises and sometimes even miracles. That this exists here like this – that is simply a miracle.