The Black Forest in Germany is the place where you can constantly imagine yourself as the protagonist of a fairy tale, and not only fairy tales, but also witches, prince charmings, stepmothers, elves, ogres, or any character embodied in the lines of children’s literature. And this has its foundation, because the Brothers Grimm were inspired by its forests to write all those stories that have accompanied us in childhood. Although Germany has other places whose settings have also been a source of inspiration for the most well-known brothers in German literature.
The Black Forest is the most visited place in the German country. Its extension allows visitors to be admitted throughout its route and for them to enjoy the beauty of the area, without losing the feeling that they are in the middle of nature. It has a length of 160 km and a width that varies from 30 to 60 km, depending on the area. The territory reaches from Freiburg to Basel and borders France to the west and Switzerland and Austria to the south.
This large forest, where Little Red Riding Hood probably ran and where Hansel and Gretel were abandoned by their evil stepmother, contains all the ingredients of the best nature: lakes, centuries-old trees, and even a Black Forest Open Air Museum or Vogtsbauernhof. The wide range of places that the Black Forest offers us makes us choose a small sample with which to get an idea of what this source of nature contains.
Places to Visit in the Black Forest
There are numerous lakes in the Forest, each of them with a landscape of extraordinary beauty. We are going to stop at Lake Schluchsee, the largest in the Black Forest and the one at the highest altitude in all of Germany. It is a privileged place for hiking lovers, since it is surrounded by numerous trails, so it is possible to walk around its 18 km perimeter. When good weather begins, you can take boat trips on the cold waters of the lake. The crossings operate from May to October. It takes about 75 minutes to go all the way around the lake.
On the shore of the lake is the beautiful town of the same name. The area is considered a place where you can breathe completely pure air, an ideal place for sports lovers, both summer and winter sports.
Other towns worth visiting are Sasbachwalden, considered the most beautiful town in Germany. Seebach, a typical town in the area that has the privilege of sharing the spotlight with the nearby Lake Mummelsee, located at the foot of one of the highest mountains in the Black Forest. Durbach, famous for its vineyards that produce the region’s best-known wine. Gengenbach, whose towers and walls have served as protection for this beautiful town and which could well have been the setting for the story of Cinderella. Triberg, a town that has numerous wood craftsmen, whose main specialty is “cuckoo clocks.” Many people come to this town to buy one of the varied handmade models by one of its artisans or to see the largest “cuckoo clocks” in the world. In this town are the Triberg Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Germany, with 163 meters.
We must not leave behind the visit to Freiburg and Baden-Baden.
The medieval city of Freiburg is located in the south of the Black Forest. Its monumental complex and its culture well deserve a walk through its streets and squares.
And finally, we mention the well-known city of Baden-Baden, where it is recommended to enjoy its thermal waters.
Curiosities of the Black Forest
- In any inhabited corner of the Black Forest, there is a great interest in the preservation of its traditions. The typical costumes that they wear at their popular festivals are especially colorful.
- In the culinary aspect, we must recommend the delicious Black Forest cake, whose ingredients are topped with cherries from the region.
- The origin of the Black Forest is found in a previous mountain system, which was divided into two parts due to the fault crossed by the Rhine River. This split resulted in the Vosges mountain range and massif to the west; and to the east of the Rhine, the Black Forest.
- There are two theories about its name, one of them is based on the dark landscape from the dense fir trees that populate the Forest and the other possibility, which is the most probable, is that the Romans when exploring the shady paths populated with trees decided to call it Populus Nigra.
- The German authorities have converted these beautiful landscapes of the Forest into Natural Parks with the aim of guaranteeing the preservation of the richness of their forests, their culture, and their ecological richness.
Recommended Hotels
Do you dream of exploring the Black Forest in Germany? Stay at the Hotel Maison Messmer in Baden-Baden and enjoy a luxury experience in an incomparable natural setting. This 5-star hotel offers you everything you need for a perfect vacation: spa, restaurant, elegant rooms, and a privileged location.
We also recommend the Hotel Rebenhof. Surrounded by rolling vineyards, this charming and intimate country hotel offers free Wi-Fi and modern and cozy rooms. It is conveniently located, 3 km from the Schwarzwaldhochstraße panoramic route and 9 km from the center of Baden-Baden.
