Admittedly: Walking barefoot in Berlin is best avoided. Even though the capital’s most beautiful parks entice with their green spaces, you can never be sure in a big city that there isn’t something unexpected lying in the grass. But if you still want to feel something other than the sole of your shoe, you can take a short day trip. The Gerswalde Barefoot Adventure Park offers you an experience that’s a little different from a typical hike.
Sand and moor under your feet
The Barefoot Adventure Park is located in the Berkenlatten district and is the epitome of the “relaxed Uckermark vibe.” Far away from mass tourism, this park offers a tactile experience of nature. On a spacious loop trail, you can rediscover your senses at 45 stations and feel the different textures of the Brandenburg landscape directly beneath your feet.
The experience ranges from gentle meadows and fine sand to more daring challenges like rounded shards of glass and balance beams. For many, however, the highlight is the deep bog mud pool, where you sink up to your calves. The park is deliberately kept close to nature and rustic, which clearly distinguishes it from more modern, commercial barefoot trails. It is located right next to an ostrich farm, so you are often watched by curious ostriches during your visit.
An award-winning barefoot adventure park
In addition to the barefoot experience, there are other opportunities to explore your senses. These include scent boxes that both young and old can try out. Rabbits, Brahmas, and goats are also part of the adventure park. In 2015, the park even received the Uckermark Tourism Award for its concept!
The Gerswalde Barefoot Adventure Park is open from April to September, Thursday through Sunday. A day pass costs four euros. You can find more information on the website. And if you’re already there: Gerswalde itself has developed in recent years into a small haven for anyone seeking country life. A visit to the park can therefore be perfectly combined with a detour to the town, which is known for its creative dining scene.
