Centuries ago, heaths were common in Europe. In today's Germany, the only sizeable swaths left are found in the Lüneburg Heath. Preserving this landscape demands constant vigilance and effort. Large stretches of the heath are now protected. A gently rolling valley known as 'Totengrund', or 'Valley of the Dead' is one of the most beautiful spots on the heath. A pastor bought the land in 1910 to keep it from being developed. He turned it into a nature reserve - one of the first in Germany. Cars are prohibited within its limits, so the best way to explore the park is on foot, by bike or horse-drawn carriage. But watch out for obstacles - such as the vast herds of moorland sheep, a special breed typical of the area. A good starting point for a trek across the heath is the place that gave it its name: Lüneburg, a picturesque town whose half-timbered houses lend it a rustic charm.