Holiday in the Black Forest

What makes Black Forest special as a destination?

The Black Forest, Germany's highest and most famous low mountain range, stretches over 160 kilometers along the French border and combines dense fir forests, idyllic valleys, picturesque half-timbered villages, and a culinary tradition that goes far beyond the famous Black Forest cake. The Feldberg rises as the highest peak at 1,493 meters and offers a panorama up to the Alps on clear days. The Triberg Waterfalls, at 163 meters in height, are the highest in Germany, cascading down seven steps through moss-covered forest. Triberg is also the center of the cuckoo clock tradition — the handcrafted clocks from the Black Forest have been a symbol of German craftsmanship since the 18th century, and in the clock museum, one can trace the development from simple wooden mechanisms to intricate carvings. Baden-Baden, the elegant spa town on the northwestern edge of the Black Forest, has attracted visitors with its hot thermal springs since Roman times. The Friedrichsbad (1877) offers a Roman-Irish bathing experience in magnificent neo-Renaissance architecture, while the modern Caracalla-Therme provides a more relaxed atmosphere. The Festspielhaus is Europe's second-largest opera house, and the casino in the Kurhaus even inspired Dostoevsky for his novel "The Gambler." Over 24,000 kilometers of marked hiking trails crisscross the Black Forest — including the Westweg (285 km, one of the oldest long-distance hiking trails in Germany) and the Schluchtensteig. In winter, Feldberg and Belchen transform into ski areas, while the smoking men figurines glow in the huts. Culinary highlights of the region include Black Forest ham, Flammkuchen, Spätzle, Bibbeliskäs, and the robust red wines of Ortenau. The Black Forest is not a single destination — it is a whole world of nature, tradition, and enjoyment.