In the southwest corner of Germany, the Black Forest, or Schwarzwald in German, is known for its dark conifer forests, enchanting villages, hiking trails, and thermal spas. When Germans vacation in their own country, they choose the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg, a place steeped in myth and mystery.
There are endless things to do in the Black Forest! And, in this post, you’ll find everything you need to plan a trip to Schwarzwald, from planning your itinerary to detailed descriptions of the region’s sights and attractions.
Black Forest Location
Cuckoo clocks, Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales, and the highest non-Alpine mountains in Germany can be found in the Black Forest region in Baden-Württemberg. From Switzerland to Baden-Baden, the Black Forest extends for about 100 miles along the French border and is the heart of the country’s timber and woodworking industry. Approximately 250 different communities are within the Black Forest National Park region, with 11 moderate trails ranging from 3.9 to 20.8 miles.
A Brief History
This region, called the Schwarzwald, is still associated with wizards, gnomes, and witches, much like an enchanted forest in a fairytale. While the Black Forest has many legends, the real truth is that sunlight struggled to reach the forest floor because of the thick and dense canopy of evergreen trees here. It was therefore called the black forest by locals.
Nearly two millennia ago, when the Romans settled in the region, there were deciduous trees as well as pines. Increasing resource demands by the settlers would cause the density that created the darkness to thin out. As the use of timber increased, forest wood became an economic resource, sometimes sold, but also used for mining, charcoal, and glass-making in other countries.
Currently, the Black Forest is one of the country’s best-managed forests. It’s difficult for visitors to realize this when they see the rolling green hills and thick woodlands. But as they travel deeper into the national park, they can see areas where foresting is permitted, and others where replanting is taking place. There are still some areas where plant seedlings are growing in straight lines.
The Best Time to Visit
With its breathtaking landscape and natural scenery, Schwarzwald inspires the soul all year long. The region offers excellent cross-country skiing, hiking, and biking opportunities, depending on your interests.
When it comes to hiking, summer is the best time to visit. The spring season arrives later at higher elevations. Hilltops in the Black Forest are usually covered with snow in early March. Consider a trip in late April or early May to see nature in full swing.
As for mountain biking or Nordic walking, fall is the perfect time of year for them. There are many fir and spruce trees that do not change color in Schwarzwald, but you will still see vibrant fall foliage in the Black Forest. Autumn is a wonderful time to visit because there are many cultural festivals and other traditional festivals.
Schwarzwald gets a lot of snow in winter. Winter activities in the Black Forest include cross-country skiing and downhill skiing. There are major sporting events, such as ski jumping, that you can attend. You can also watch dog sled races or enjoy snowshoeing or snowboarding. In addition, there is nothing better than going to an enchanting chocolate-box town to experience a Christmas market.
Things To Do
Visit a Castle
In spite of Schwarzwald’s unassuming reputation, the region boasts some outstanding castles and palaces, from functioning ones to mere ruins. A few examples include Schloss Eberstein near Gernsbach, Karlsruhe Palace, and Castle Hohengeroldseck.
Check out Burg Hohenzollern in the Black Forest if you’re looking for the best castles. The Gothic Revival Burg Hohenzollern, located in the eastern part of the national park, looks like something out of a fantasy novel. Prussian kings and Kaisers once occupied the castle, which now offers daily tours for an additional fee.
Have a Spa Day
Among the most renowned spas in the Black Forest are Friedrichsbad and Caracalla in Baden-Baden, mineral thermal baths in Bad Teinach, Paracelsus-Thermae in Bad Liebenzell, and Palais Thermal in Bad Wildbad.
Schwarzwald has been known for its health resorts and spas since Roman times. The waters were first used by Roman soldiers for recuperation.
Royalty, European nobility, and the world elite began to frequent the Black Forest centuries later. As a result, this region continues to be a place with a sense of seeing and being seen both in the summer and in the winter.
Visit the Black Forest Open Air Museum
Between Hausach and Gutach, the Schwarzwälder Freilichtmuseum Vogtsbauernhof offers valuable insight into German life in the Black Forest. Don’t miss this place if you’re interested in learning about the region’s history. The open-air museum, which focuses on different aspects of farm life and different generations, will appeal to both families and adults.
A full day can easily be spent at the museum since there is an extensive collection of farmhouses from the 16th to the 18th centuries. German and English guided tours are available to help you better understand local life.
A variety of activities and workshops are available from March to November, such as traditional baking and cooking, folklore, and craft demonstrations. Having fun while learning will be a memorable experience for the kids.
Be sure to check the timing of events before you head out so that you won’t miss anything.
Ride the Rides at Europa Park
Europa Park is located in Rust, about 50 minutes from Offenburg. After Disneyland Paris, this is the second most popular amusement park in Europe. Europa Park features world-class rides in settings that recreate highlights from across Europe, divided into 15 country-themed areas.
There are roller coasters such as Poseidon Water, spinning rooms like Cassandra’s Curse, and the Mir space station. Especially enjoyable is Atlantica Super Splash, which creates a refreshing spray and truly makes you feel like you’re no longer in Germany.
Beautiful Places to Visit in The Black Forest
The Black Forest is home to countless picturesque places worth visiting. The villages and towns here all have unique characteristics and something special to offer. It doesn’t matter where you wander, you’ll always find something worthwhile along the way. Nevertheless, if you are planning your own Black Forest itinerary, you may want to visit some extraordinary locations first.
Calw
In the pine-forested Nagold valley, Calw is known as one of the prettiest towns in the forest. The town is home to a museum dedicated to the works of German novelist and Nobel Prize winner, Herman Hesse. You can experience the peaceful and tranquil countryside at Calw, another stop along the German Timber-Frame Road.
The picturesque market square is a great place to start exploring Calw. Calw’s square, surrounded by 18th-century half-timbered houses, offers a quintessential German experience – cobbled streets, Gothic churches, and delicious beer, of course.
Tourism has contributed to the growth of the city. Hirsau Abbey ruins, the Tannery Museum, the Monastery Hirsau Museum, and the Farmhouse Museum draw many tourists.
Bad Wildbad
North of the forest, Bad Wildbad is a lovely riverfront town where you can take a river walk to the Palais Thermal baths. As well as amazing spa facilities, a variety of health treatments, entertaining cultural events, and cross-country trails around the Sommerberg, it also offers amazing spa facilities. Taking the Schwarzwald Treetop Walk and the Sommerberg Funicular Railway will test your adventurous side.
Breisach Am Rhein
In the immediate vicinity of Alsace, Breisach sits on the German side of the Upper Rhine River. Breisach can be reached by train in 30 minutes from Freiburg. Trains are also available from Riegel am Kaiserstuhl, north of Freiburg, to Breisach. Across the border in France, you’ll find Colmar. A 30-minute bus ride can be enjoyed at Breisach Bahnhof bus station.
There was almost total destruction of this charming town in WWII, but it was meticulously reconstructed in the old style. In the Black Forest, Breisach is one of the most beautiful places to visit, and it deserves to be visited more often.
The St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which towers over Breisach, is a terrific place to start exploring the city. Visit the Blue House, a memorial site dedicated to the history of Jews in the Upper Rhine. Explore the mysteries of Radbrunnen Tower (Radbrunnenturm), once a town hall and medieval torture chamber.
Baiersbronn
Nine scenic hamlets make up this idyllic mountain resort, which is known throughout Germany as a center of haute cuisine. Three local restaurants received Michelin stars, making it famous in the culinary world.
You can enjoy a variety of attractions and activities between meals at Schwarzwaldstube (Hotel Traube Tonbach), Restaurant Bareiss, and Restaurant Schlossberg.
A secluded setting and an unfortunate history make the impressive ruins of All Saints’ Abbey (Kloster Allerheiligen), all the more haunting. Fires have repeatedly destroyed parts of the premises since its founding in 1192 – in 1470, 1555, and finally by lightning in 1804.
A scenic path leads to the 130-foot-high (40-meter-high) Sankenbach Waterfalls (Sankenbach-Wasserfälle) southwest of Baiersbronn. Visitors can regulate the volume of the waterfall by manipulating a long wooden lever.
Gengenbach
A 20-minute train ride from Offenburg, Gengenbach is a charming town filled with cobblestone streets, stone fountains, and half-timbered houses. Every street in this postcard-worthy town seems to be a picture of times past. Brightly painted shutters, flower boxes, and bronze lanterns adorn many of the buildings here. As part of the German Timber-Frame Road, Gengenbach looks like something from a fairy tale.
Make sure to head to Gengenbach in December if you’re looking for a fantastic Christmas experience. There are 24 large windows in the town hall that open, in turn, to reveal elaborate scenes during the twenty-four days before Christmas. Gengenbach offers a traditional Christkindlesmarkt without being ruined by commercialization or crowded by crowds.
Gengenbach is surrounded by vineyards and hiking in the area ranges from 1-13 miles. Some of the vineyards near town offer shorter walks. There won’t be any forests, but you’ll have incredible views of the town and the surrounding area.
Freiburg im Breisgau
A convenient base for exploring the rest of the Black Forest, this university town is one of the largest in the area. Known for its beautiful historical buildings, picturesque narrow streets, fascinating history, and hearty German cuisine, Freiburg im Breisgau has a lot to offer. You can see everything in Freiburg in a day, which is the coolest part.
To gain a better understanding of this adorable town, consider taking a free walking tour or a culinary tour. Freiburg blends the old and the new seamlessly, with a charming medieval old town and a vibrant café culture. There is a lively open-air market on Munsterplatz, or cathedral square, on working days, great for people-watching.
It’s worth visiting the atmospheric Freiburg Munster with its grotesque gargoyles. The cathedral houses the 750-year-old Hosanna bell as well as a 380-foot-high (116-meter-high) tower with panoramic views of the city.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading my Black Forest travel guide. I hope it inspired you to visit Schwarzwald one day. There are just too many places to include in one post. There are so many castles, trails, museums, and postcard-worthy towns in the Black Forest that you can’t go wrong.