Insel Vilm, Nature reserve near Putbus, Germany
Insel Vilm is a protected nature reserve in the Baltic Sea near Putbus, covering a substantial area with a mix of ancient forests and coastal habitats. The island displays different natural environments where rare plant species and animals thrive in their undisturbed surroundings.
This area received official protection in the 1930s to preserve its natural landscape and ecological processes. Following German reunification, it became integrated into a larger regional biosphere reserve.
Over 330 landscape painters, including Caspar David Friedrich and Carl Gustav Carus, found inspiration in the natural landscapes of Insel Vilm.
Access is by guided tour only, available during the warmer months and requiring advance booking before arrival. Visitors should expect uneven terrain and wet ground conditions when walking through forest paths.
The forests contain some of northern Germany's oldest trees, with oak and beech specimens that are several centuries old. These ancient woodlands provide habitat for rare insect and fungal species found nowhere else in the region.
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