Starry Black Forest
What is so black about the Black Forest? A book of documents from the 9th century reverently calls the dark forest "Saltus Svarzwald". Even today the dense high spruces radiate a mysterious aura. But the Black Forest is by no means dark and gloomy. The mountain range between Pforzheim and Basle has long been a colourful leisure paradise.

The Black Forest region is one of Germany's most popular tourist destinations. Like Bavaria to its east, the Black Forest combines great outdoor scenery with unique local customs, products, and fare. Sportly people like colours. And the valleys and hills above the Rhine valley are ideal for mountain biking, kayaking, surfing and cross-country skiing. Yes, the Black Forest is good for your health! Claen air fills the lungs of the hiker, and the waters of the hot springs protect young and old from many kinds of gout.

There is no opportunity to become bored. Almost every community has its own museum of local history. Many places remind you of the ancient trade of glass blowing and charcosal burning, and of course also of the raftsmen who transported the huge Black Forest trees all the way to Holland. Mines open their galleries, castles their doors and visitors are welcome everywhere.

Just like a hundred years ago historic steam engines puff across viaducts and up the hills. Because old age is revered in the Black Forest. It is no coincidence that Germany's oldest restaurant is in the Black Forest. And many more records are broken here. You will find: the smallest free town of the Holy Roman Empire, Germany's largest leisure park, its highest waterfall and the area where you will find most of the Michelin stars given to restaurants all over Germany.

Somehow all roads lead to the pleasures which are essential for body and soul - the Badische Weinstraße (Baden Wine Route), the Asparagus Route and whatever all the others are called. There is probably one for the Black Forest ham, for the river trout, one for the beer brewed with spring water and one for the mineral water. But all these delicacies are served in every decent restaurant. Accompanied by a local Riesling, Silvaner (white wines), Burgunder and Gutedel (red wines) from Ortenau, Breisgau, Kaiserstuhl or the Markgräfler Land (wine growing regions in the Black Forest). And at the end of a meal a potent fruit brandy should not be missed.

The city of Baden-Baden is sometimes referred to as the gateway to the Black Forest, as it sits among the foothills near Autobahn 5 not far from Strasbourg, France. Spas have been famous at Baden Baden since the Roman Era. The two big spas are Caracalla and the Roman-Irish spa but you might be surprised at how affordable a spa visit is in this town whose name is "bath-bath". Just about anyone can be pampered.

But there are even special highlights. The brilliant chefs of the Black Forest have once again managed to receive almost three dozen Michelin gold stars. Due to the open borders to Alsace and Switzerland, Black Forest people are very receptive to innovations coming from the opposite side of the Rhine. The Black Forest ham, the cherry gateau and the cherry brandy, the tasty honey and fresh trout have long since been as famous as the typical hats with the red pompons from the Gutachtal valley. Between Pforzheim in the northern part of the Black Forest and Lörrach at the Swiss border families receive royal treatment. Kids are kings. For instance on a farm. They find animals to stroke and everywhere are small creeks.

The Black Forest is divided into regions.
It is common usage to talk about the north and the south of the Black Forest. But it makes things clearer if we divide the Black forest into three areas and add the middle region of the Black Forest as a third area.

Glaciers and lakes: the primeval landscape
You can read entertaining facts concerning the geological history of the three regions of the Black Forest. You find information beginning with the early history, when the Black Forest was still a marine region to the ice age in which the lakes and valleys were formed.

Typical regions are the upland moors
They came into existence during the ice age. A lot of interesting plants grow there.

The "Schluchsee": sports and energy
This lake has a size of 123,500 acres which means it is the biggest lake in the Black Forest. It is not only interesting for recreation and water sports but it is also used to produce electricity.

The "Titisee": it is the biggest natural lake in the Black Forest
It is probably called after the Roman general Titus. Here you can enjoy all sorts of sports activities.

The "Höllental": it was as bad as hell in former times
Our predecessors thought a trip across this valley which takes on the shape of a gorge several times gave you a taste of hell. Today a road follows this valley on which you can cross the south of the Black Forest quickly and easily.

The gorge of the river Wutach is very popular with hikers
Many kinds of animals and plants which have already died out elsewhere, have survived here. Hikers love this canyon like gorge and they frequently come here.

The "Belchen" is something special
In the Alemannic language "Belchen" means a mountain without a peak only with a hilltop. That is why there is not only one "Belchen" but quite a few, because we are in a highland region.

The "Schauinsland": a fantastic view and narrow bends
From this point you have a marvellous view. You can see the "Feldberg"( a mountain) and the "Vogesen" (a region west of the river Rhine) and Switzerland. A suspension railway takes you to the top or you drive up on a former race track.

The "Feldberg": the highest point in the Black Forest
Actually it is only a hilltop - the "Feldberg" does not have a peak. The area is ideal for hiking. The whole area is a nature preserve.

The "Markgräflerland" (an area in the southwest of the Black Forest)
Does it still belong to the Black Forest? Some doubt that. We believe it does, it is the south western part of it and it is an essential part of the Black Forest.

The "Breisgau": a region at the edge of the Black Forest
It stretches out to the river Rhine. Its name comes from the little town of "Breisach". "Freiburg" is the centre of this region .The small mountains of the "Kaiserstuhl" and the "Tuniberg" belong to this region, too.

The "Kaiserstuhl": it is not known where its name comes from
It is a small volcano situated between the slopes of the Black Forest and the river Rhine. Here we find the warmest region in the whole of Germany.

The "Hotzenwald"
The "Hotzenwald" is the most southern part of the Black Forest. This area is good for lonesome hikers, as there are not too many tourists around.