Our favorite summer spots in Europe
Summer often turns everything a lazy, hazy shade of blue and yellow. And, of course, green. DW's culture editors present you with some of their very favorite spots in Europe.
Courtney Tenz's Baltic Sea 'Strandkorb'
My first summer in Germany, I encountered at the Baltic Sea something I'd never seen before: Strandkörbe (literally, beach baskets). These white wicker lounge chairs with a covered canopy were totally foreign to me. Inside them, the wind goes unnoticed. The sun is shaded. You get what feels like a private view of the seemingly endless sea stretching to the horizon.
Klaus Krämer's tree is magical
There it is - my oak tree. It doesn't belong to me, but it draws me to it. It's like a giant from some forgotten time. A lonely sentinel in Bergisches Land, a hilly region in North Rhine-Westphalia. Some 200 years old, it surely has witnessed much in its lifetime: war and hardship, drought and golden harvests, flirting couples, children dancing around it, and birds that have made it their home.
Silke Wünsch's Route des Crêtes
Known as France's "Grand Canyon," I was in the Verdon valley for the first time in 2005. With its amazing light and lavender scent wafting through the air, it's heaven for mountain climbers and hikers. It's also the place I lost a friend, canyoneering guide Arno, in 2008. I've been back every June since. I sit at his grave, take in the stillness and magic of this place, and feel close to him.
Gaby Reucher's Rhine from a rowing boat
I live near the Rhine River and like to go rowing whenever I can. It's like a short vacation every time and never gets boring. In the spring, ducks and ducklings float along the edge. In the summer, sun bathers abound. But the Rhine can be treacherous at times. There's only one way to master the waves: As in life, there is strength in serenity. And rowing works best with a smooth, elegant stroke.
Sabine Peschel's Maulbronn monastery
Maulbronn in southern Germany is the most completely preserved monastery complex north of the Alps. As of 1147, the Cistercian cloister was built and expanded over the centuries according to the architectural conventions of the time. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I enjoy all the beautiful nooks and crannies of the place, which transport me back in time.