The Black Forest is a mountainous region located at the Southwest of Germany. Its name is derived due to the abundance of evergreen forests that this region nurtures. One would be amazed to visit Black forest and would easily correlate the places with the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Black Forest is renowned for its spas and is the house for the famous Cuckoo Clocks produced here since the 17th century.
If one has to enjoy the scenic beauty of Black Forest, one definitely needs to explore these following places.
- Freiburg
Freiburg is a vibrant university city located in Southwest Germany’s Black Forest. It is famous for its great masterpieces of Gothic Architecture in Germany. It was built back in the 12thcentury and is known for its marvelous interiors and artistic work. It has abundance of half-timbered houses and one can find twisting cobblestone streets.
The city is located at the center of the major Baden wine – growing region and serves as the primary entry point for the tourist to enjoy the scenic beauty of Black Forest. The place is known as Germany’s warmest city with abnormally high levels of sunshine. To the east of the city, the Schlossberg hill provides extensive views over the city and the surrounding regions. The castle which is known as Schloss from which the hill derived its name was destroyed around 1740, and only the ruined castle remains. The city leaders around 150 years back made the hill accessible to the visitors. Today, there is railway connectivity from the center of the city to the hill.
- Baden-Baden Spas and Gardens
Baden – Baden is well-known place visited by the tourists since the Roman times. It is well – known for the mineral spas and is a beautiful old city at the edge of the Rhine Valley. We can also find a beautiful rose garden with about 400 different varieties along with pools, fountains and an Art Nouveau pavilion.
- Kinzig and Gutach Valley
To reach Kinzig and Gustach Valley, one has to travel further from Baden – Baden. The valleys are densely forested areas and are the origins for many a traditional Black Forest customs like the Cuckoo Clock and Bollenhut, a ladies’ hat topped with red pom-poms. In these silent towns, visitors will be spellbound by the mystical nature of the Black Forest.
- Triberg Waterfalls
Another place one must visit is Triberg Waterfalls which is a feast to the eyes. One needs to climb through the steep Triberg forest to enjoy the scintillating view of the waterfall and also enjoy the seven different viewpoints on the way. It is fruitful to go all the way to wooden bridge at the top for the views down into the rocky ravine. At night, the falls are lighted which gives a spectacular view to the tourists.
- Schiltach
Schiltach is undoubtedly one of the beautiful towns of Black Forest. It is a home to craftsmen and tanners since the last 13th century. Nature has gifted it with surrounding woodlands and since it is located at the junction of three rivers, it was natural to be the Black Forest’s center for timber rafting. The riverside location is well suited for tanning hides. The oldest part of the Schiltach has closely set timber – framed houses of the tanners.
There are also two of the town’s free museum – Museum am Markt and the Apothecary Museum. The Schüttesäge Museum centers on the work at the former sawmill, in operation from 1491 until 1931, with an undershot water wheel more than seven meters in diameter. However, the main attraction is the town itself. So to have a mesmerizing sight-seeing, one needs to spend time on walking – tour here.
- Calw :
Calw is situated in the northern part of the Black Forest. One can enjoy the countryside and the calm and cozy environment to the fullest. The town’s market square with its sparkling fountains, is surrounded by 18th century half-timber houses. It is an ideal spot for relaxing or picnicking. One can also visit the Hermann Hesse Museum which provides with the information about the life of Hermann Hesse in personal belongings, photographs, manuscripts, and other documents.
- The Augustinermuseum, Freiburg
The Augustinermuseum is built in the former monastery of Augustinian Hermits. It is a bright and lively place filled with the artistic work and historical treasures of the Black Forest and upper Rhine regions. The building was brilliantly constructed by architect Christoph Mäckler in such a way that collections are displayed in well – lighted galleries which enable the visitors to view from different angles. The collections include the works from the Middle Ages through Baroque period, along with 19th-century paintings. Medieval wood sculptures, panel paintings, and original stone figures and stained glass windows from the Munster are the main attractions.
- Lake Titisee
Lake Titisee is situated in the southern region of the Black Forest. Its shore has a beautiful blend of forests and lodgings and is very popular for its resorts. Tourists flock in here to swim, windsurf, and sail in good weather. Occasionally, in the winter, the lake freezes enough to allow for ice skating. There are beautiful areas for lakeside strolls throughout the year, including a 5 mile trail around the lake that leads up the Hochfirst Mountain. Lake Titisee is definitely gifted with abundance of natural beauty as it is surrounded by tall pine forests and the mountains.
- Heidelberg
Heidelberg is an old town situated on the river Neckar and symbolizes German romanticism. The University of Heidelberg, which is the country’s oldest unive1rsity is located here. This town is filled with magnificent cityscapes and has a dominant historic atmosphere. One can find a red colored castle, located on the northern slope of the Königstuhl mountain, which was destroyed and rebuilt over several hundred years back. So, this place has a beautiful blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles. One can have a view of the historic stone bridge built in 1780s.
- Baiersbronn
The little town of Baiersbronn is made up of the nine scenic villages. It is well known for its fine dining because of its three local restaurants which have been awarded Michelin stars – Hotel Traube Tonbach, Restaurant Bareiss and Restaurant Schlossberg.
It is a destination for the Monastery of All Saints – Kloster Allerheiligen which now remains ruined due to the catastrophes of fire. It has been destroyed repeatedly by fires since its founding in 1192 – first one in 1470, second one in 1555 and finally by lightning in 1804. This has rendered the Monastery with a haunted look for the visitors. Southwest of Baiersbronn, a wooded path leads to the 60-meter Sankenbach Waterfalls.
- Badische Weinstrasse
Badische Weinstrasse translates to ‘Badische Wine Road’, and the 99-mile (160-kilometer) route is located in the foothills of the Black Forest. The Weinstrasse was created in 1954 to wander through the wine-growing areas of the Black Forest and end up in Weil am Rhein, near the Swiss border. Travelers can drive from Baden-Baden to Freiburg along this alternative route, and instead of dull motorway sights they will pass by historic castle ruins and peaceful vineyards.