The Estérel Massif lies between St. Raphael and Cannes, stretching from the coast deep into the hinterland and is largely a protected nature reserve. The mountains are of volcanic origin, hence reddish, yellow, or grey rocks glow above the green of oaks, cedars, and chestnuts, many types of pines, as well as gorse, heather, lavender, mimosa, and the typical shrubs of the maquis. Read more
At the summit of Cap Roux, an enamel map explains the 360-degree panorama, featuring the Estérel Massif, the coastline of the Côte d’Azur from Nice to St. Tropez, and the hinterland. The Estérel Massif is located between St. Raphael and Cannes and is designated as a nature park. The Corniche d’Or is a stunning panoramic road running along the coast, but the main traffic, via the motorway, bypasses the area in the hinterland. The Estérel Massif is only accessible by car via a single access road, making it ideal for hiking, mountain biking, or climbing; the beaches are also just a few minutes away. The summit of Cap Roux is excellent for a sunrise tour. In the foreground, you can see the ‘Pilon’ cliffs, behind them Anthéor and Cap Dramont, and in the background on the horizon, the peninsula of St. Tropez. More pictures can be seen in the ‘France’ gallery.
Above Lake Walen, on a sunny terrace, lies the village of Amden, and in a perfect location with a great view is the cosy Naturfreundehaus Tscherwald. From there, on a snowy April (2009), I enjoyed the sunset over Lake Walen and the Glarus Alps, dominated by the Mürtschenstock. Right by the house, paths begin for hiking, mountain biking, or in winter, skiing or snowshoeing tours up to the Gulmen, the Churfirsten, or across to Toggenburg.
About an hour’s drive east of Zurich, Lake Walen is nestled deep in the valley like a fjord, towered over by the Churfirsten and the peaks of the northern Glarus Alps. At its western end, a road leads high up to the sunny terrace of Amden, where a beautiful nature friends’ house offers an ideal base for hiking, mountain biking, skiing or snowshoeing tours. By the lake, for example near Weesen, I’ve already enjoyed wonderfully warm hours in the spring sunshine around Easter, but also great descents in the nearby ski resorts, such as Flumserberg.
The Mountain + Adventure Film Festival in Graz has been held since 1986 and is one of the absolute international highlights, alongside the mountain film festivals in Banff and on Lake Tegernsee. Additionally, an Outdoor Film Day is organised, featuring more action-packed and adrenaline-fuelled films about (extreme) sports set against impressive natural backdrops.
The Weitsicht Festival in Frankfurt has a long-standing tradition; it has been organised since 1993 by the renowned multi-vision speaker Dieter Glogowski. He presents a programme featuring top-tier lectures by well-known photographers such as Michael Martin or Bruno Baumann and awards a prize of up to €10,000 to socially committed photographers and journalists.
Since 1999, the El Mundo Festival in Judenburg, Austria, has been drawing crowds with a top-class programme of travel presentations. Any photographer can apply, and their entries are evaluated and awarded prizes by an international jury.
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