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Schönram Cranberry Field

pluck these miraculous berries of the high moors

A piece of Scandinavia right here on Waginger See: With its impressive moorland landscapes full of purple heather, pine trees, birches, high grass, small lakes and rare animals, the Schönramer Filz is one of the most popular excursion destinations in the Rupertiwinkel. A little less well-known is a stretch of moorland in a slightly more remote area. Though a gem in its own right: with an idyllic cranberry field, blueberries and chokeberries you can even pick yourself.

Effner Cranberry Plantage Schoenram Dr Michael Bannert 3730

Ten bee colonies ensure that economy and ecology on and around the cranberry field remain in sync. Looking out across these fields, especially in late autumn when they are radiant in powerful reddish tones, many a visitor feels reminded of the northern climes of Scandinavia or Canada.

At harvest time between July and October, these secluded fields experience quite a “throng” of visitors, though certainly never coming close to being overrun. From Berlin, Vienna and South Tyrol, enthusiasts arrive on Waginger See to spend their holidays and, during relaxed outings to these berry plantations, do something good for their spirits as well as their health. The tranquility of the very natural moorland setting reduces stress and turns berry picking into a meditative activity. Even the locals like to stop by the cranberry field from time to time.

At a rustically constructed stand made of wood, a selection of fresh and dried berries, homemade jams and juices from a regional press beckons you to enjoy aromatic tastings and cheerful conversations. Here, Christa and Steffi will also be happy to reveal their personal recipe ideas for desserts and other delicious dishes featuring cranberries.

Knowledge of the medicinal benefits of these tart-yet-sweet cranberries has been handed down by Native Americans from generation to generation.

It took a while for this fruit to arrive in our part of the world. It was just 40 years ago that pioneer Professor Günter Liebster established the first experimental cranberry fields on the former peat-farming areas of the Schönramer Filz, the first of its kind in Germany.

Today’s operator of the plantation, Dr. Michael Bannert, is second to none in his passion for the subject and is a true font of knowledge as he speaks about the healthful effects and rich cultural history of the cranberry.

Today, around 16 different varieties grow in Schönram, each ripening at different points in the season, without ever having to resort to fertilizers or chemical sprays. 10 bee colonies make their own contribution to this sustainable ecological approach to farming, increasing the amount of the harvest by around 50%. In summer, the flowers of the berries provide nutrition to numerous types of insect.

Thanks to their wealth of special active ingredients, the berries help to prevent heart attack and stroke, are antibacterial and strengthen the immune system. The recommended dosage is one to two glasses of cranberry juice daily. And this tastes best, of course, if you have picked the fruit yourself from the cranberry field in Schönram...