
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)...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Pforzheim © weidegruen
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...
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Triberg © vladislav.bezrukov
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....
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