In search of chestnuts in the Palatinate

The bread of the poor: The Palatinate Chesnut Trail

It is 60 kilometres long - and runs through the Pfälzerwald-Nordvogesen Nature Park: The Palatinate Keschdeweg (Chestnut Trail). The best time for a hike along the Chestnut Trail is June when the trees are in bloom or October when the fruits are ripe.
Then the region's restaurateurs offer special chestnut menus such as the Keschdesupp (Chestnut soup) or the hearty Chestnut pigs stomach (Saumagen) until November. Chestnut markets and festivals are organised. And along the route, winegrowers invite lords of castles and palaces to visit.

The cheese star of Extremadura:Route of the Torta del Casar

From the Sierra de San Pedro to the Sierra de Montánchez extend the areas of the Torta del Casar, that melted soft cheese from Extremadura, which is one of the best cheeses in Spain. The Ruta de la Torta del Casar takes the traveller to the producers of this exceptional cheese. 
It passes through historic sites such as the old town of Cáceres, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and leads to cultural landscapes such as the Talaván reservoir with its rich fauna. There are several cheese museums along the way - most notably the Centro de la Interpretation de la Torta del Casar in Almoharín. Best time to visit: mid-October during the Casar Cheese Week.

The origin of German brewing: The hop and beer loop in Upper Bavaria

Hallertau is the largest continuous hop-growing area in the world. The fields cover an area of about 2400 square kilometres, a third of the world's harvest comes from here. But the region is also a popular destination for excursions - with sights such as the Schleyen Monastery, Neuburg an der Donau or the moated castle Reichertshausen. 
Along the hop and beer loop, which leads from Munich via Freising and Ingolstadt back to the Bavarian capital, cyclists and hikers can discover many of the historic buildings, visit Weihenstephan, the oldest brewery in the world, or try a fresh draft beer in one of the countless beer gardens along the way.