A trek through Germany's mountains

Just outside the Bavarian ski town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is the Zugspitze — Germany's highest mountain at 2,962 meters (9,718 feet) above sea level. A new cable car unveiled in 2017 brings visitors to the top in just 10 minutes. Awaiting visitors are toboggan runs, a ski resort with an igloo hotel and restaurants boasting spectacular mountain vistas.

Northern Germany's highest mountain is a great destination for those who love literature, history and nature. Atop the 1,141-meter-high summit (3,747 ft), the Brockenhaus Museum offers visitors insight into the region's flora and fauna, the myths and legends that surround the mountain, and its role during the Cold War as an East German and Soviet listening station.

At 950 meters (3,120 ft), the Wasserkuppe is the highest peak of the Rhön — a low mountain range in central Germany along the border of Hesse, Bavaria and Thuringia. Not only is the Wasserkuppe a great destination for outdoor activities all year round, it is considered the birthplace of glider flying in Germany. There's even a national museum dedicated to the region's long aviation history.

It's one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Romantic Rhine Valley: the Lorelei. According to German folklore, a beautiful golden-haired nymph by the name of Lorelei lived on top of the cliff and would lure sailors to their death with her siren song. The Rhine Gorge has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002, due to its cultural, geological and historical significance.

Located in the largest and oldest nature reserve in Baden-Württemberg, the Feldberg is the highest mountain in the Black Forest (1,493 m / 4,898 ft). Whether you're looking for hiking routes with panoramic views or want to spend the day skiing down more than 50 km (31 mi) of well-maintained slopes, the Feldberg has much to offer nature lovers. For a great view, climb the Feldberg lookout tower.

It's the best-known landmark in Saxon Switzerland: the Bastei, or bastion. Over 200 years ago, the region's rocky terrain reminded two Swiss artists of their homeland and the nickname stuck. Many hiking trails lead to the rock, which first served as a natural castle defense. Much later it drew romanticists and today tourists flock to see the view from 200 meters (656 feet) above the Elbe.

At 746.9 m (2,450 ft), the Hohe Acht is a dormant volcanic cone and the Eifel region's highest mountain. For the best panoramic views, climb the stone observation tower, which commemorates the German Emperor William I. The region is known for its beautiful countryside of dense forests, rushing rivers and quaint villages. It's a great escape from some of Germany's more crowded destinations.

German legends surround the Drachenfels, or "Dragon's Rock", in the Siebengebirge, a hill range along the Rhine River which became popular in the romantic era. Here, the epic hero Siegfried is said to have slain a dragon and bathed in its blood to become invulnerable. Tourist highlights include the castle ruins of Burg Drachenfels and Schloss Drachenburg, a 19th century villa in neo-gothic style.

Majestically it towers over the Berchtesgaden Land — the Watzmann is the landmark of this region. The 2,700 meter (8,858 ft) mountain is known for its unique shape. According to legend, the evil King Watze once terrorized this area. To punish him god turned him to stone (peak on the right) along with his wife (peak on the left) and his children (the small peaks in the middle).