Tatenhauser Wald

Tatenhauser Wald is a protected nature reserve in Halle comprising three separate forest sections spanning 114 hectares in total. The areas feature mixed beech and oak woodlands with numerous ancient trees and watercourses that flow through the landscape.

The protected status was officially established in 2000, and the reserve received additional land in 2004 that expanded it to its current size. This expansion made the area an important woodland conservation project in the region.

The forest surrounds Wasserschloss Tatenhausen, a water castle whose old walls and park areas provide habitats for various bat species and other wildlife. This connection between the historic structure and the natural environment shapes how visitors experience the place.

Visitors can explore the area on several marked walking trails while observing forest birds and other wildlife. The paths are reasonably accessible but require sturdy footwear, especially during wet conditions.

The reserve deliberately maintains over 400 ancient trees to support beetle populations, as these trees and their decaying wood provide essential habitat. A quarter of all German beetle species depend on such old-growth forests.