Lure of the Black Forest

The Black Forest mountains extend along the Rhine, close to Lake Constance, Switzerland and Alsace. The region is famed for its food and drink, distinctive traditional hats and cuckoo clocks.
The Black Forest, or Schwarzwald to give it its German name, is famous the world over. Deeply rooted in its traditional culture, the Black Forest is an area of mountains and forest 200 kilometres long and up to 60 kilometres wide, which borders France in the west, Switzerland in the south, the Swabian Alb and Lake Constance in the east, and the Kraichgau region in the north.

Climatic, hydrotherapy and other health resorts are dotted all over the Black Forest, whose thermal springs have been prized since Roman times. The Enz, Nagold and Alb rivers and their tributaries have carved deep valleys into the densely wooded sandstone massif of the northern Black Forest region.

A journey through the northern Black Forest takes you through forests of fir and pine and across high plateaus. In the hilly Ortenau region, Riesling, Ruländer, Traminer, Pinot Noir and Spätburgunder grapes grow on the steep vine-clad hills which drop down into the Upper Rhine Valley.

Fairy-tale villages, thermal baths, casinos and pine- and birch-clad mountains beckon travellers to southwestern Germany's Black Forest. Scenic drives and train trips showcase the best of the area. Skiing, hiking, mountain-climbing, boating and ice-skating are popular activities. Baden-Baden's Roman-Irish baths, 19th-century concert hall, casino and fresco-adorned Pump Room are much visited. Gothic masterpiece Freiburg Cathedral and its famous Boys' Choir also draw visitors.

A convenient route for your Black Forest holiday is to begin with Lake Constance with its stunning views of the Swiss Alps. Lake Constance is a centre for water sports, while the town is rich in castles, baroque churches, museums and other attractions.

A three hour train ride from Lake Constance takes you to Freiburg, the heart of the Black Forest. At the centre of the old city is the Münsterplatz, its largest square and the site of the Freiburg Cathedral noted for its towering spire. The town’s picturesque old quarter, has twisting lanes, pretty courtyards, traditional restaurants, quaint bars and open streams known as ‘Bächle’ - which flow through the streets and lanes adding to the charm.

A short 40 minute train ride from Freiburg takes you to Baden-Baden. Located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, it is famed as a chic spa resort. One of the most beautiful and important buildings in the town, the Spa Assembly Rooms are Baden-Baden's famous landmark. They are the social heart of Baden-Baden and the scene of glittering galas and balls, grand concerts and broadcast events. Once rejuvenated in the thermal spa, spend the evening at the famously elegant Baden-Baden Casino - the oldest and most traditional casino in all of Europe.

Heidelberg, one of the most beautiful cities in Germany, is an hour’s train ride away. It is home to the famous Heidelberg Castle ruins with its medieval, baroque and Renaissance buildings, and the famed Hiedelberg Tun - the world´s largest wine barrel.

Another one-hour train ride from Heidelberg takes you to Stuttgart, the capital of the Baden-Württemberg state. The Porsche Museum, the Mercedes Benz Museum, a few other lovely museums and art galleries, palaces and castles are some of the famed attractions of the city. The Mercedes-Benz Museum shows around 160 vehicles on permanent display, while the Porsche Museum shows over 80 serial vehicles, prototypes and racing cars. What better way to unwind in the evenings than at any of the beer halls (Bierhalle) around the city!

Vibrant cities, enchanting medieval villages, traditional wine villages and picturesque countryside. Castles, palaces and abbeys that showcase German romanticism. Fun and sport, wellness and relaxation. Germany is indeed a land of a thousand possibilities.