Snapshots of Winter Walks in Germany

Winter Germany Walking

Winter is finally letting up here in Germany, but we’ve had lots of snow and icy days since December.

There have been lots of frosty walks, and attempts to get our faces in the sun.

Although there were many days in January when there was no sun to be found.

Still, the snow can be so bright and beautiful.

I love how it crunches underneath my walking boots.

And how the tree branches look like they’ve been heavily dusted with powdered sugar.

Even the very thin branches were delicately coated in snow for weeks.

We managed to have a few afternoons where the sun came out and made the snow sparkle.

We blew it at each other like fairy dust.

And chased our shadows through the ruts that sleds and cross-country skis had cut through the powder.

We returned to several walks we had done in fall to see them now coated with snow. You can follow a route all the way to the Camino de Santiago in Spain from here in Germany (that’s the blue sea shell sign), and the top sign on the tree in this photo says Winterweg or “Winter Way.”

This is the path that leads from Tübingen to Wurmlinger Chapel, a church that sits on top of this hill, above the vineyards.

You pass this tall tower on the way. (You can see Cole and Simon’s heads peeking out over the top.)

We also climbed high above this valley to get back to Schloss Lichtenstein.

Now closed for the winter and covered in snow, but we made a day of getting here and had a picnic with us in case everything was closed over the holidays.

We also walked our regular routes through the forest by our house.

On the nights when it snowed, we loved trying to get out early enough to make fresh tracks in the snow. It’s not easy to do with so many faithful walkers in Germany!

But even though our tracks were not the first, we often felt like we had the forest and valleys almost all to ourselves.

The familiar river view in Tübingen was even coated in snow.

And for a week or so in late January, it actually froze all the way through.

We saw people walking onto the icy river.

After our winter walking, we always end up back somewhere that we can find a treat and a warm drink.

This day-old bakery is a particular favorite of ours. We don’t know anywhere else you can fill a bag with pastries for 2,50!

Some for now and some for later.

Also cake and coffee (kaffee und kuchen) is a standing option in Germany, with the most ridiculous number of cake varieties available!

So even though it is cold in the winter, I can almost always entice my family to get outside with me with the promise of a stop in one of these spots afterwards for a warm-up.