Meet Giulio Gröbert - adventure photographer

My name is Giulio Gröbert, and I grew up in a small village in southwestern Germany – a quiet place with about 2,000 inhabitants. As a child, I spent most of my time outdoors, exploring with friends. Every Sunday, my parents took me out for long bike rides or hikes – something I didn’t always appreciate back then, to be honest. 😄

Like many teenagers, I eventually felt that my home region was a bit… boring. I dreamed of city life, of bright lights and bigger possibilities. So I moved to a larger city to study. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that the city – exciting as it was – couldn’t replace what I had left behind: the quiet beauty of nature.

During a trip abroad, I discovered my love for landscape photography. That was a turning point. When I returned, I started going outside almost every day – whether around the city where I studied, or on weekends when visiting my parents or my girlfriend. The places I photographed were never far: forests, vineyards, fields, meadows. All just a short walk or bike ride away.

I would wander the forests and fields with just my camera for company. I still vividly remember one time when I ventured out alone, early in the morning, to the Pfälzerwald for a sunrise. It was actually a bit intimidating at first – it was pitch black, and I kept hearing animal noises as I walked through the forest. I kept turning around, unsure of what I might encounter. But when I finally reached the rock where I wanted to watch the sunrise, I was the only one there. And as the sun began to rise, everything around me came alive. The birds started singing, and I felt the whole world waking up with me. It was an unforgettable moment of pure joy, and every time I think back to it, I still feel that same special energy. 😄

It might sound odd, but if you’ve ever experienced something like this, you’ll understand. And for anyone who hasn’t – I highly recommend trying it. Find a quiet spot, go alone, sit down, and just take in the sunrise, completely undistracted. It’s truly an incredible experience.

Later, my girlfriend and I bought a campervan and began traveling through Europe, especially through Germany and its neighboring countries. Often, we work with local tourism boards – visiting areas where even the locals are surprised by the beauty surrounding them. Again and again, we’ve realized that you don’t need to go far to find something special. Every place on Earth has its own story, its own wonder.

That’s exactly why I was happy to join the Natura2000 campaign. The photos I took for this project were all captured within 30 km of my home – in and around protected areas like the Bienwald and the Pfälzerwald. These are not just scenic places – they are part of a crucial European network preserving habitats and biodiversity.

Many of us don’t realize that we live right next to these valuable ecosystems – and yet, 81% of Europe’s protected habitats are in poor condition. That’s why I believe it’s more important than ever to raise awareness and reconnect people with the nature around them.

If there’s one message I’d like to share, it’s this:
Look around. Explore your home. Get to know the nature that surrounds you – and help protect it.
Because sometimes, the most special places are the ones we’ve always taken for granted.💚