The Essential Guide to the Black Forest
Baden-Württemberg’s Black Forest measures 124 miles from top to bottom, stretching magnificently from the spa town of Baden-Baden to the border of Switzerland. One of Germany’s most stunning natural landscapes, it’s been a popular leisure destination since the 19th century, especially among German and European nobility—and has served as the source of many a German fairy tale. In addition to 18,000 miles of hiking trails, which can also be used in winter for cross-country skiing, the area offers cycling routes and pristine lakes, plus top-notch spas, museums, and other cultural delights.
Schloßbezirk 10, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Built between 1715 and 1718, the Baroque Karlsruhe Castle served as the residence of the electoral princes and grand dukes of Baden for more than two centuries. Designed by Jakob Friedrich von Batzendorf, the palace exterior is especially...
Lichtentaler Allee 10, 76530 Baden-Baden, Germany
Baden-Baden’s city museum traces 2,000 years of the spa town’s history via several compelling and often quirky exhibitions. Beginning with the settlement of Baden-Baden and its early life as a Roman town, the museum details the...
Schillerstraße 4/6, 76530 Baden-Baden, Germany
Opened in 1872, Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa enjoys a distinguished reputation throughout Germany and beyond. The Shah of Persia, the King of Siam, and a young King Edward VII all stayed here at one point, drawn by the hotel’s remarkable...
Lange Str. 100, 76530 Baden-Baden, Germany
One of the swankiest hotels in Baden-Baden, Roomers features stylish interiors by Piero Lissoni, including a seductive lobby with an old, 13-foot church door and playful Pop Art re-creations of Old Master works. Conveniently situated close to the...
Münsterplatz, 79098 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
While construction started on Freiburg’s iconic Gothic church in 1200, it wasn’t finished until almost 300 years later. Today, the cathedral is known mainly for its 380-foot west tower (famously described by art historian Jacob...
Robert-Gerwig-Platz 1, 78120 Furtwangen im Schwarzwald, Germany
The Black Forest is famed for its cuckoo clocks, and the German Clock Museum (Deutsches Uhrenmuseum) in Furtwangen is the best place to get up close and personal with several examples. Here, visitors will find a collection of more than 1,000...
Titisee, 79822, Germany
One of several lakes in the Black Forest, Lake Titisee—a mile or so long and around 130 feet deep—is particularly picturesque thanks to its surrounding hills, mountains, and woods. At the lake’s main shore, about 20 miles east of...
Hauptstraße 69, 79295 Sulzburg, Germany
This elegant family-run restaurant in the charming village of Sulzburg was founded by Hans-Paul Steiner and his French wife, Claude. Today, it’s helmed by their daughter, Douce Steiner, who, after learning the ropes from her father and then...
Badbergstraße 23, 79235 Vogtsburg im Kaiserstuhl, Germany
Located in the wine-growing region of Oberbergen, this long-running restaurant earned a Michelin star way back in 1969—and has held firmly to it ever since. Owner Fritz Keller’s family has been producing and importing wines since the...
Karlstraße 42, 88045 Friedrichshafen, Germany
Felders Restaurant has a fantastic location right on the harbor, looking out over shimmering Lake Constance. Housed in the all-glass Medienhaus building, it features a contemporary, urban-feeling aesthetic, with a red-and-black color scheme,...
