The Black Forest Travel Guide

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The Black Forest

Baden-Baden © BBT

The Black Forest (Schwarzwald in German) covers a range of birch and pine studded hills along 100 miles (161km) of southwest Germany's border with France. The forest is renowned as a popular holiday destination in Germany with its picturesque fairy-tale villages, spa-bath resorts, hiking trails and ski resorts.

The first famous holidaymaker to enjoy rest and recuperation in the Black Forest was the Roman emperor Caracalla who stopped at the natural spring waters, at what is now the town of Baden-Baden, around 2,000 years ago. Since then the Black Forest has been the chosen destination of the rich and famous: everyone who is anyone from Napoleon to Mark Twain has come to take the waters and enjoy the forest's natural beauty.

In medieval times the local people developed the traditional skills of woodcarving, glass-blowing, jewellery-making and clock-making, and these are still followed today to the delight of tourists with spending money in their pockets. The Black Forest has also become known for its local delicacies like Black Forest ham and cherry cake.

The most central town in the Black Forest is Freudenstadt, which is the starting point for hundreds of miles of hiking and ski-trails through the nearby hills. Most visitors, however, prefer to find accommodation in guest lodges in the small villages sprinkled throughout the region, exploring by car, on foot or bicycle.

Resorts

See our separate guides to the following The Black Forest holiday resorts: Baden-Baden

Attractions

Freiburg © David G...

Freiburg

Black Forest cake and cuckoo clocks are what most visitors travel to Freiburg for, but the beautiful city has far more to offer than the expected. The recommended way to explore the town and environs is by bicycle (there are plenty for hire)... see full details

Freudenstadt © M Weitzel

Freudenstadt

The largest city in the Black Forest region of Germany, Freudenstadt is a great place to start a holiday in the Black Forest. The town is known for its sunny, warm weather, meaning visitors can enjoy its many outdoor attractions like the central town... see full details

German Clock Museum © dierken

German Clock Museum

Although you may find yourself inundated by cuckoo clocks everywhere you look in the Black Forest, the German Clock Museum's large collection of timepieces is the most comprehensive of its kind, and offers over 8,000 examples of clocks going back 150 years. Cuckoo clocks... see full details

Hohenzollern Castle © playlight55

Hohenzollern Castle

The magnificent castle at Hohenzollern is perched on a hilltop 31 miles (50km) outside of Stuttgart. Built in the 15th century, the structure's fairy-tale visage is set against spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding countryside of the Black Forest, and the castle hosts a... see full details

Pforzheim

Founded by the Romans as a mercantile centre on the northern edge of the Black Forest, Pforzheim, at the confluence of the Wurm, Enz and Nagold Rivers, is today the centre for traditional jewellery and clock-making. The town features a fascinating Technisches Museum to... see full details

Triberg

The true spirit of the Black Forest is brought to life in the Schwarzwald-Museum of Triberg, which documents the old traditions and lifestyle of this unique region, with displays of costumes, handcrafts (including clocks) and furnishings. It also boasts Europe's biggest barrel organ collection.... see full details

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