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Though the German Alps may pack more of a punch when it comes to the “awe” factor, the Black Forest mountains should not be overlooked. The Black Forest is located in Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany and is the perfect place to get an elaborate cuckoo clock and go on an outdoor adventure. With the winding rivers, picturesque lakes, half-timbered houses and quaint villages, the Black Forest is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s so magical that the Brothers Grimm fairy tales are said to have been inspired by this area!
Popular tourist attractions in any area are lakes. In the Black Forest there are two main lakes that stand out, Titisee and Schluchsee. Titisee is a glacier lake in the southern region of the Black Forest. It’s the perfect place to swim, windsurf or sail when the weather is nice. Take time to stroll along the lake on the five-mile path that leads up to Hochfirst Mountain. The lake is surrounded by pine trees and stunning natural beauty.
Schluchsee, the biggest lake in the Black Forest, is located east of Freiburg. This reservoir is filled with water pumped from the Rhine River and also offers visitors the opportunity to get out on the water. Sail, swim, kayak, canoe or even take a ferry across the lake. You can also hike around this lake and just enjoy the majestic scenery.
If you want to visit a city in the Black Forest, Baden-Baden is the place to be. This 19th-century city is nestled in a valley and is home to thermal baths and stunning Belle Époque-era architecture. There are a total of 29 natural springs in the area that pump water from artesian wells. Any of the local spas are perfect for some serious pampering. Caracalla Spa is a popular option and lets visitors keep their swimming suits on in most areas (not so for some other spas).
Other activities in Baden Baden include golf, tennis and hiking. There is also a casino, Hohenbaden Castle and ruins of Roman baths. If you like gardens, be sure to stop by Gönneranlage rose garden, which features over 400 varieties of flowers that bloom from May to October. Take a stroll down Sophienstrasse for a little high-end shopping or stop at Gasthaus Löwenbräu beer garden for a drink and people watching. Baden Baden is full of things to do!
If you like wine, Sasbachwalden is the place to be. This town is known as the “Floral and Wine Village.” Here you can admire the beautiful flowers adorning the town and stop for some local wine at Alde Gott. Enjoy white, rosé and red wines amongst some truly incredible scenery.
If you love a good waterfall and a hike to boot, the Triberg Waterfall is the perfect place to stop. It is Germany’s highest waterfall, pouring 535 feet off of a mountain slope into the valley. The waterfall is easy to access from the city center and you can go on a nice 6.5-mile intermediate hike around the area on the Triberger Wasserfälle trail. Check out the Black Forest Museum by the lower entrance to the waterfalls. The town of Triberg is also fun to explore too and has more cuckoo clock shops than you could ever need to visit.
When the whole family is in tow, the Black Forest Open Air Museum is a great place to stop. Kids will love this interactive museum that gives insight into the region’s farming history, featuring six farmhouses from the 16th to the 19th centuries. There is also a laborer’s cottage, sandstone building and additional buildings like mills and a chapel. Active kids can burn off steam in the play barn featuring wooden games. There is also a forest labyrinth for kids to find their way through by climbing over stacks of wood, tree trunks and scurrying past wild animals and mystical creatures. Live animals on-site include cows, pigs, goats, sheep, bunnies, chickens and horses. In the old cow stable, you can ring the cowbells as loud as you want! The Loft of Childhood features toys from the past. See if your kids can guess what some of the toys are and let the museum entertain your family for the day.
Surely no trip to the Black Forest is complete without visiting the German Clock Museum in Furtwangen. The town itself is renowned for its clock making. Visit the museum to learn more about the history, art and technology that go into timekeeping. Here you’ll find over 8,000 items to admire. There are also timepieces and other instruments of clock making.
There’s so much to do in this beautiful area that it’s hard to narrow it down. No matter what you decide to do, be it hiking, swimming or museum touring, you’re sure to have an incredible adventure. Get out and get moving in Germany’s Black Forest!
