The Stausee-Tafeltour loop offers travelers a way to experience Germany’s rich and diverse landscape while tasting traditional regional cuisine.
As I meandered down the narrow dirt path of the Stausee-Tafeltour trail in Saarland, Germany, my eyes were drawn to the vibrant green moss that covered the forest floor like a shag carpet from the 70s. The thick grove of beech trees lining the pathway loomed over us, their smooth, gray bark reflecting the few rays of sun that broke through the dim light. A burbling stream that ran alongside the trail broke the silence.
Rounding a corner, there were two large wooden crates in a small clearing by a picnic table. I opened the lid of one and it was surprisingly stocked with about six-dozen bottles of local Karlsbrau beer. The other was filled with bottled water and apfelschorle (sparkling apple juice). These crates are called GenussTrühen — food chests, also referred to as “supply stations” — and were recently introduced to the roughly 6.5-mile Stausee-Tafeltour trail, a circular route that pairs scenic hiking with curated culinary stops.
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