Black Forest

The Black Forest (German: Schwarzwald) is located in the southwest corner of Germany in the German federal-state of Baden-Württemberg, which contains the namesake low, forested mountain range and warm, sunny lowlands at its foot. It is known as one of Germany's most beautiful and favourite destinations. There is both nature and history to be found, and thanks to unique climatic conditions in the middle of the European landmass, those can be enjoyed year-round with some of the warmest temperatures and lowest rainfall in Germany.

Understand
The famous spa town of Baden-Baden enjoys a scenic location in the middle of the Black Forest

This ancient forest is famous for its legends and the black fir trees that dot the landscape. While not particularly high, the mountains offer a wonderful place to go hiking or mountain biking. There are a few skiing resorts as well offering average but crowded conditions. Better to head south to the Alps if you are a serious skier or boarder. The Black Forest is a mountainous terrain at about 200–1,500 m (660–4,920 ft) above sea level, the highest point being the Feldberg (the field mountain) at 1,493 m (4,898 ft).

The region is famous for its cuckoo clocks, watchmaking, skiing and tourism. There is a large high-tech light engineering industry in the region stemming from the gold-mining and watchmaking days. Almost all tourists are from Germany and Switzerland; the region's tourist industry is therefore not well equipped to deal with guests who don't speak German.

The most important destination in the Schwarzwald is called, interestingly, Titisee, which is a medium-sized lake with associated tourist village (Titisee-Neustadt) and hotels, with very nice views and generally very relaxed and healthy activities. From here it is a short journey to Lake Constance and the city of Konstanz, or to see the Rhein Waterfall at Neuhausen in Switzerland.

Cities, towns and villages

Other destinations
  • 🌍 Europa Park — a theme park, the largest in Germany, and the second most popular in Europe, following Disneyland Paris
  • 🌍 Taubergießen — floodplain wetland next to the Rhine

Get in
Freiburg

By plane

The only airport with scheduled services in the Black Forest region is the Baden-Airpark (FKB IATA) near Baden-Baden. Other airports in neighbouring regions include:

Get around

The region is covered by regional trains and buses. As they can be infrequent, it is better to check the departure times in advance (e. g. through bahn.de or some public transport apps).

If you stay in a guest house or a hotel, you will often be offered a free "Gästekarte" (guest card), called KONUS. It allows you to go around freely in many local trains and buses (which do not include the express trains "IC/EC" and the high speed trains "ICE"). It is valid during your whole stay, from you arrival and including the day of your check-in, so it allows visiting the region by going from one accommodation to another without paying any transportation ticket. It includes the following zones (a map is available through the link above):

  1. Tarifverbund Ortenau
  2. Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg
  3. Regio-Verkehrsverbund Lörrach
  4. Waldshuter Tarifverbund
  5. Verkehrsverbund Schwarzwald-Baar
  6. Verkehrsverbund Rottweil
  7. Verkehrsgemeinschaft Freudenstadt
  8. Verkehrsgesellschaft Bäderkreis Calw
  9. Teile des Karlsruher Verkehrsverbundes

You will only need to show it with a photo ID to the driver or the train staff.

See
Lake "Titisee"
Maulbronn monastery
  • The city of Freiburg, a historic university city, well known as the driest, warmest, sunniest part of Germany.
  • Drive on the Schwarzwaldhochstraße, a scenic road which runs through the Black Forest between Freudenstadt and Baden-Baden.
  • Visit the Mummelsee, a small lake along the Hochstraße
  • The Deutsches Uhrenmuseum at Furtwangen along the Schwarzwaldhochstraße, the biggest collection of Black Forest and Cuckoo clocks.
  • The extraordinarily well-preserved medieval Cistercian monastery Kloster Maulbronn near Pforzheim is a UNESCO World Heritage site

Do
  • Hiking
  • Water sports
  • High altitude lake diving
  • Skiing & snowboarding (December and January only)
  • Mountain biking
  • Paragliding
  • Visit a medieval mine ("Schaubergwerk")

Eat
A slice of Black Forest gateau

The food tends to be wholesome, heavy dishes and lots of cakes, biscuits, meats and gravies. Perhaps the most internationally renowned is the Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, the Black Forest gateau, a moist chocolate cake with fermented cherries and a hearty dose of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Eating out in nice restaurants can be expensive, with a meal for two cost ranging from €40 to €150 including drinks. Village inns tend to be cheaper than their counterparts in towns and cities. But bargains can be found, with many Kebab and Turkish-style pizzerias offering items under €5. Or shop at the local grocery store for fresh baguettes, meat, and cheese. Groceries are inexpensive, with a variety of fruit juices available at a reasonable price (there are cherry, apple, grape, orange, banana, even sauerkraut juice in nice tetrapak containers, a liter is under €1). In the south Schwarzwald, look for stores Lidl, Aldi, and Pennymarkt for the best food values.

The Black Forest area has a number awarded restaurants with the small village of Baiersbronn having Germany's highest density of star rated restaurants. Other notable restaurants can be found in Bühl and Freiburg.

Drink

Some of Germany's best beers and wines are produced in the region. Beer is one of Germany's top drinks and is spread widely in the Black Forest as well. Some of the most common beers are from Rothaus and Alpirsbacher.

Sleep

Accommodation in the main tourist areas may be cheaper than many of the quaint smaller towns and villages. For a nice hut at a reasonable price, look for a privately-operated Gasthaus, which can be found in villages throughout the area. There are many pleasant surprises waiting, often with excellent home-cooked food and special service, often provided by the family living there for many generations. Ask at the local Tourist Bureau for a list, often with prices. Sometimes the Tourist office will even call to ask availability.

Gasthaus rooms may be found for as low as €20 for one person, up to €70 for a double room/two persons. Reservations may be needed during festivals or summer near tourist locations. Mid-price Hotels begin at €50-100 a night per double room, with lots of availability in the mid and expensive categories.

The Black Forest area has some of the best hiking options, with well-marked trails, and maps available from the tourist offices. Some Germans even spend a week or two hiking with their backpack, with primitive lodging available in small cabins along the trails (must be reserved in advance through the Forstamt office).

Stay safe

Go next
  • Bertha Benz Memorial Route - follow the tracks of the world's first return car journey back in 1888 from Pforzheim in the Black Forest to Mannheim
  • Schwaben cultural region and enjoy some Spätzle egg noodles in this picturesque adjoining region that joins Baden-Württemberg with Bavaria.

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