barefoot parks

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barefoot park slideshow ( 3 min)

Index of barefoot parks in Germany (pdf-file, 84 KB)

 

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During the last few years, some dozen barefoot parks have been founded in Germany and Austria. They are open to the public and offer the opportunity to walk some distance (up to three miles) on natural ground and to feel a variety of materials with the bare soles.

Moreover, visitors can enjoy balancing or climbing exercises und walk through brooks or even rivers.  Some barefoot parks include playground sections designed for barefoot use. This healthy combination of barefoot hiking and playing has become a real touristic attraction.

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This website gives some examples of barefoot parks in Europe

Dornstetten in the Black Forest, Germany

Bad Wünnenberg / Westphalia, Germany

Bad Sobernheim at the river Nahe, Germany

Witches' Water in Tyrol -- an excellent barefooting theme park in Austria

The Barefoot Park Lienen, Westphalia has its own detailed web page in English

The Barefoot Park in the Italien Garden, Stoke on Trent, United Kingdom

 

Click on the pics to see full size images!

 

Dornstetten            view the map: dornst_plan.jpg (151860 Byte)

This barefoot park was founded by the initiative of a local vein disease sanatorium. Situated in a forest and meadow area, it fascinates visitors with a spacious water playground. This kind of medical treatment is great fun!

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Advice is given how to prevent and to cure vein disease:

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Every week, thousands of people enjoy natural walking on an exceptional variety of grounds.

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You can find more information about the Barefoot Park of Dornstetten on its German Web Site.

 

 

Bad Wünnenberg

has a trail of less than one mile around a pond in nice landscape and offers walking on a variety of materials as well as through freshwater creeks.

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Noboby is afraid of walking along the mud pool, for there is good opportunity to wash the feet at the end of the barefoot adventure.

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Bad Sobernheim      view the map: so_plan.jpg (231577 Byte)

This barefoot path goes along the little river Nahe -- mainly over meadows. It is equipped with stretches of varying materials as well as with foot-friendly playground equipment. This includes a bassin of loam for those who like to wear brown socks......

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Barefoot visitors of Bad Sobernheim can choose among several adventurous ways to cross the river, through a ford, with a ferry boat or over a suspension-bridge.

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You can find more information about the Barefoot Path of Bad Sobernheim on its German Web Site.

 

 

Barefoot Park in the Italian Garden of Trentham

In 2005 a half-mile track for barefoot hiking on a variety of materials has been included in the Italian Garden of the Trentham leisure area. A further loop as well as a new water feature will be introduced until spring 2006.

Entrance fees to the Italian Garden and Parkland are £4.0 - 4.5 for adults and £2.5 - 3.0 for Children.

Please find more information on the web page of Trentham leisure!