Wild Herbs & Spring Cuisine – On the Trail of Regional Flavors
As nature awakens and everything turns green, the season of fresh flavors and gastronomic delights begins. Spring invites you to discover regional treasures - on herb walks, under blossoming fruit trees, or with fresh dishes at sustainable hotels. Let yourself be inspired and enjoy spring days full of pleasure and nature.
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Guided Herbal walks - Enjoy nature and expand your knowledge
From meadows to forests to streams, edible wild herbs with exciting flavors and healing properties are everywhere you look. Guided herb walks offer the opportunity to learn more about their use in cooking and natural medicine, and in many cases, to process the herbs you find yourself. Green Pearls® hotels also use wild and local herbs in their regionally influenced cuisine. Whether in the forest or in your own garden, they are happy to share their secrets with you.
Gut Sonnenhausen, Glonn near Munich
"The first herbs of the year are true powerhouses, full of minerals and vitamins that banish winter fatigue and boost the immune system," writes the team at the sustainable hotel. Gardener Marie Louise Troll cultivates the land around Gut Sonnenhausen according to the principles of permaculture. An inspiring journey awaits you at the former English-style stud farm - and not just into the world of wild herbs. In the midst of picturesque nature, history and modernity, art and environment come together.
On the popular wild herb walk "The Green Nine" you will learn under the expert guidance of naturopath Kirsten Walter which herbs are edible, how they are used in the kitchen and what healing powers they have. The name of the tour hints at what you will take home at the end: a freshly made "Green 9 Soup", a traditional spring soup made from nine wild herbs.
APIPURA hotel rinner, Renon, South Tyrol
The family-friendly APIPURA hotel rinner in South Tyrol regularly offers guided herb walks in cooperation with the local tourist office. Together with a herb expert or a so-called "herb witch" you will walk through meadows and woods, collect edible plants and prepare them together. A perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the local flora and taste the flavors of spring.
You can also look forward to seasonal dishes at the hotel. Chef Manfred Rinner focuses on regional organic cuisine with a special ingredient that is used primarily in the weekly special dinner: honey from the hotel's own organic apiary.
Summit Lodges, Pfunds
Mindfulness takes center stage in the Tyrolean Oberland. The Spiss family of Summit Lodges, two log cabin-style vacation homes, recommends the Juni.Bluama.Zeit, which combines mindfulness, closeness to nature, and knowledge of the local flora. The Tourism Board's three-day program takes place four times in June and includes yoga at special locations, meditation, rock grinding and, of course, herbal walks.
STURM, Rhön
The Hotel STURM in the Rhön region offers a special team event: a herb walk that not only provides culinary inspiration, but also strengthens the sense of community. During the one to one-and-a-half-hour tour, participants discover edible wild herbs, their positive properties and how they can be used in everyday life. The walk can be booked for groups of four to twenty people.
You can also discover spring on your own in the nature park, around the natural swimming pond and in the hotel's "Naschgarten". With the first rays of sunshine, the flowers hum and
SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA, Bad Herrenalb
The sustainable wellness hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA is located high above Bad Herrenalb and offers beautiful views of the Black Forest. Regional organic cuisine, an extensive spa area with a Selfness Center for stress resistance and mindfulness are among the highlights of this sustainable hotel. A guided herbal hike with an experienced expert is a great way to experience nature in a new and mindful way. The hotel recommends booking through the Bad Herrenalb Tourist Information Office. You will learn how wild herbs have been used for centuries in natural medicine and gastronomy, as well as their special properties. And, of course, you will learn how to process the herbs you collect.
Hotel Weihrerhof, Renon, South Tyrol
The family-friendly Hotel Weihrerhof is located directly on the shores of Lake Wolfsgruben. The nature of the region plays an important role for the Pichler family: it can be found in the form of regional food on the plate and as herbs, hay, and lake water in the hotel's own cosmetic line. Klaus Pichler, host and owner of the hotel, explains: “Our herbal walks are accompanied by an expert from the Ritten Tourism Association.” As a guest, you will discover local herbs and learn about their effects.
Naturresort Gerbehof, Lake Constance
If you want to immerse yourself in the world of wild herbs at Lake Constance, Ursula Wagner of the Naturresort Gerbehof recommends a hike organized by the Friedrichshafen Tourist Information Office. These take place in the summer for a small fee and are led by a trained wild herb guide and adventure educator.
Spring Cuisine – Regional Freshness on your Plate
Sustainable hotels are known for their focus on seasonal, regional ingredients, including herbs from their own gardens. Spring menus bring the flavors of the season from the garden or field to your plate - fresh, light and full of flavor.
ADLER Lodge RITTEN, Renon, South Tyrol
The ADLER Lodge RITTEN relies on the freshness of its own garden. Herbs, vegetables, grains, and fruits are grown sustainably in cooperation with a young farmer at the hotel's doorstep – and then used directly in the kitchen. "We especially work with mixed crops in the beds. This allows all the plants to thrive and even protect each other from pests," explains young farmer Christian Fink. Everything that is not grown on site comes from the surrounding area. So you can enjoy the authentic taste of spring in South Tyrol in the form of herb dishes and homemade specialties from Cristian Cinquemani's kitchen.
LA VIMEA, Naturno, South Tyrol
In Naturno, surrounded by blossoming apple orchards and Mediterranean alpine landscapes, LA VIMEA offers a special break for those seeking mindful enjoyment and tranquility. As the first holistic vegan hotel in Italy, it focuses on organic, regional ingredients and a plant-based cuisine that perfectly captures the taste of spring. Whether it's fresh herbs from the hotel garden or creative seasonal vegetable variations, sustainability is combined with culinary sophistication.
Tip: Naturno's traditional Spring Festival takes place on April 12th. Here you will find handmade products, regional specialties and lively "Schuhplattler" performances. Celebrate the spring! After an eventful day, relax in the natural swimming pond and spa area of the adults-only hotel - the perfect retreat for a conscious spring break.
Green City Hotel Vauban, Freiburg
The Green City Hotel Vauban is not only a sustainable retreat for business or city trips, but also the perfect starting point for discovering Freiburg's spring cuisine. From the eco-friendly city hotel, you can quickly reach the city center by bike or tram, or take advantage of the extensive bike trails in the Breisgau region.
Freiburg itself, known as the "Gate of Spring," attracts visitors during the first warm months of the year with seasonal specialties such as fresh asparagus, best served with traditional "Kratzete" (a kind of savory "Kaiserschmarrn") and a glass of Baden Pinot Noir. These delicacies are most authentically enjoyed in the nearby wine taverns around the city - or you can buy the ingredients directly from local producers at the Muenstermarkt and cook for yourself.After a delicious meal, take a stroll through the city and be sure to visit the blooming Konviktstraße, where the wisteria is a true spring highlight.
Spring is a fantastic time to enjoy nature and especially its flavors. Let the aromas of the season inspire you - ideally at a sustainable hotel in the Green Pearls® network.
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TRAVEL: Secret Gem – Why Warpe in Lower Saxony is worth a visit
This year, it's time to discover the unknown. For Germany, this means not visiting the Black Forest, the Baltic Sea or Neuschwanstein Castle - but a hidden place like Warpe in Lower Saxony. Never heard of it? Then now is the time!
WELLNESS: A piece of a better world with 500 years of history at Hotel Klosterbräu Seefeld
A wonder from the past, a place of longing today: the Hotel Klosterbräu in the Tyrolean mountains combines history, luxury, sustainability and family. What fascinates me most about this hotel is the sense of well-being that emanates from it. Something you don't find so often these days.
CULINARY: Culinary journey through Liguria: A wealth of vegetables and herbs
“Italian cuisine is not limited to regional differences. It even varies from village to village,” says Martina Dellerba from Relais del Maro in Borgomaro. She told us the most important things you shouldn't miss on a culinary trip through Liguria.