The Big Database 2025 contains more than 11 million games from 1475 to 2024 GermanyWhere to indulge in this European wellness capital—according to the locals who know it best We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.Ever wish you could text the most stylish people in the world to ask them for their lists of things to do in the places they know best Here are insider travel tips for those who would never be caught dead in a tourist trap Offering a mix of haute culture, fine dining, spas, and forest bathing, Baden-Baden demands a capacious bag. Daily outfits may range from a gown and opera gloves to a resplendent cover-up to athleisure and hiking boots. What to Keep in MindAccording to Zamani three to four days is the minimum to spend in Baden-Baden—enough time to explore and take half-day trips to the Black Forest or Rebland wine region (When Olivia Palermo hosted her 10th wedding anniversary to Johannes Huebl in Baden-Baden a long weekend was perfect for guests visiting from out of town.) don’t forget to try gambling at the Baden-Baden Casino and nude bathing in the natural hot springs Ryanair just added new flights to the regional Baden-Baden airport making this German spa town more accessible than ever The indisputable top hotel is Brenners Park Hotel & Spa Guests love Brenners Park for its eternal regality and picturesque setting along Lichtentaler Allee park the grande dame property unveils a highly anticipated renovation modernizing the hotel while maintaining its old-world sophistication Renovations include redesigned accommodations preservation of the hotel’s historic architecture and introduction of new sustainability initiatives which according to Beus “marks the start of a new era of timeless elegance for Brenners.” Another popular hotel is Roomers Baden-Baden Kuhn recommends Roomers’s rooftop cocktail bar for a nightcap with a view Where to SpaWell-being and beauty are the main draws for Baden-Baden. From medical treatments to massages and cold plunges, Baden-Baden offers one-of-a-kind spa and wellness experiences. Caracalla Spa is a local favorite “It’s got a huge sauna landscape with a view of the Black Forest Friedrichsbad is another popular choice “Friedrichsbad combines Roman and Irish bathing traditions in a stunning Renaissance-style building It has been a symbol of the city’s rich spa culture since 1877 The unique bathing ritual here includes various stations from warm-air baths to cold-water plunges,” Beus says Beyond the bathhouses, Brenners Park remains an international wellness stalwart. Brenners Spa recently launched its own skincare brand and expanded its spa menu including a Visia skin analysis to survey skin conditions and a JetPeel facial to moisturize wizening skin Given Baden-Baden’s sierra-side location near France and Switzerland restaurants highlight prime cuts of the Black Forest and tastes of the regional wine country Gourmands travel to southwest Germany to savor the land where locally sourced ingredients are prepared forest-to-fork Maltes Hidden Kitchen is one such restaurant where Malte Kuhn and Judith Kuhn serve up some of the most sincere and lionized food in Baden-Baden you can enjoy coffee and cakes here in a relaxed atmosphere while fine dining at the highest level is celebrated in the evening.” Brenners Park is another oft-cited destination for dining, including Fritz & Felix and Wintergarten such as carving a lobster or preparing steak tartare For a petit town, Baden-Baden punches above its weight in retail therapy. Vickermann & Stoya produces custom shoes for discerning patrons “We are one of the last full bespoke shoemakers in Germany,” Vickermann says adding that her brand produces hundreds of pairs of totally handmade bespoke shoes for men and women each year For other luxury retail experiences in Baden-Baden, Vickermann recommends Juwelier Leicht for fine jewelry and watches, Mode Wagener for high-end ready-to-wear, and the newly opened Aston Martin showroom It’s really nice for high-class furniture and hand-selected jewelry.” Where to Enjoy Art and CultureBaden-Baden hosts no shortage of cultural institutions. For a brush with high society, look no further than the Belle Époque Baden-Baden Casino For music lovers, the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden is Germany’s largest concert hall (and Europe’s second-largest), with a world-class repertoire of musical virtuosos like the Metropolitan Opera’s Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Lisette Oropesa. For art, Museum Frieder Burda hosts outstanding exhibitions including a James Turrell room and blockbuster shows of Yoshitomo Nara and Richard Pousette-Dart Where to Get Some Fresh AirBaden-Baden offers plenty in the way of outdoor fitness and meditation. Forest bathing, foraging, and treks are easily accessible in the nearby Black Forest. Vickermann enjoys the Schloss Neuweier vineyard The Baden-Baden Rebland is renowned for its picturesque vineyards and exceptional wines produced with centuries-old traditions,” Vickermann explains as well as Winzersekt and fruit brandies.” WhenBaden-Baden is an apodictic year-round destination “I believe Baden-Baden has something special to offer in every season,” Kuhn says the splendor of nature’s colors is particularly beautiful with many blooming flowers of all colors or the golden leaves of the centuries-old trees Baden-Baden comes alive with its street cafes where you can enjoy delicacies It becomes a small Christmas town with our annual Christmas market taking center stage.” WhyBaden-Baden may be an incipient getaway for Americans but it’s been an inveterate sojourn among Europeans for centuries Visitors have long sought out Baden-Baden for its thermal baths dating back to ancient Rome Baden-Baden remains a popular spa town for German aristocracy and cognoscenti “Baden-Baden offers an insane concentration of culture,” says Zamani It’s an absolutely gorgeous German spa town with stunning architecture with no sense of the troubles of the world.” temperatures are predicted to rise by up to 3°C by 2040 - more than in other regions The enormous drought is putting plants and animals under stress The expected extreme weather is bad for agriculture and will have a major impact on supply chains which are essential for an economically strong region such as Baden-Württemberg More and more intense heatwaves also endanger the health of the population we want to be climate-neutral sooner than Germany as a whole - namely by 2040 climate protection has been regulated in a separate law since July 2013 the strengthening of environmentally friendly modes of transport and the clear focus on a climate-neutral economy we set a new record for the expansion of photovoltaic systems in the state This expansion is also fundamental for Baden-Württemberg as a business location as renewable energy production is increasingly becoming a location factor for companies The fight against climate change is the human challenge of our time The entire global community is therefore called upon to take the necessary steps Economically strong countries in particular can and must set an example in this respect About  .  Contact  .  Donation Archaeologists have just finished a thorough study of the Roman Imperial Baths (Kaiserthermen) under Baden-Baden’s marketplace in Germany This marks the first such examination in more than 180 years Experts from ArchaeoConnect and the State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD) led this dig Their work has shed new light on the structure and preservation of this ancient bathing complex which dates back to the late 1st century CE The Roman baths were known in antiquity as Aurelia Aquensis (“Aurelia-of-the-Waters”) after Emperor Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander Augustus These baths were among the biggest bathing spots in Baden-Württemberg The builders put them right on top of the hot springs of Florentinerberg This was the first known use of geothermal waters in the region Archaeologists first discovered parts of the site in the mid-19th century but research has been limited since that time sewer renovations gave experts a chance to study a 50-square-meter section of the baths using modern techniques the necessary replacement of water pipes in the market square area made it possible for the first time to gain archaeological insights on a meaningful scale in the area of the Imperial Baths.” The dig unearthed Roman-era walls just one meter under the current ground level with some walls not documented in earlier research Archaeologists also found hypocaust bricks used in ancient underfloor heating setups confirming that parts of the complex were heated In the part where the biggest known room of the baths once stood the team identified multiple layers of screed which once held up marble cladding on the walls and floors they found three well-preserved steps leading into a bathing pool giving us a direct link to the experiences of bathers almost 2,000 years ago The new investigation revealed the baths’ structure but it also showed how much damage later building projects caused “The construction of a branched tunnel system in the late 19th century and the laying of canals and pipes in recent decades repeatedly damaged and reduced the structural substance of the Baths under the marketplace,” Roth explained the study stands as the most extensive examination of the site in more than 50 years It’s also the first to use modern archaeological documentation methods “Some areas were uncovered for the first time since 1849 under archaeological supervision,” Roth added the preservation state of the ruins at this site was entirely unknown.” UNESCO has listed this place as a World Heritage site underscoring its cultural and archaeological importance More information: LAD / ArchaeoConnect and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative The Congress was opened by West German President Dr Carl Carstens with music composed by Leonard Bernstein exclusively for the event Pope John Paul II and the UN General Secretary conveyed their greetings Speakers included Prince Philip of Britain while the honorary guest was the 92-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner Lord Phillip Noel-Baker the IOC is the leader of the Olympic Movement and the guardian of the Olympic Games It acts as a catalyst for collaboration across the entire Olympic community Discover some of the key milestones in the IOC’s history from the first publication of the Olympic Charter in 1908 to the founding of the Executive Board in 1921 to the first ever Olympism in Action Forum in 2018 Olympic capitalThe IOC was originally based in Paris until Pierre de Coubertin moved it to Lausanne on the shores of Lake Geneva in 1915 Lausanne was officially designated the Olympic Capital Read here to discover more about the relationship between the IOC and the city it calls home IOC PresidentsSince the creation of the IOC in 1894 The president is elected by the Session in a secret ballot among the IOC Members the president is elected for a term of office of eight years The current President is Thomas Bach – meet him and his predecessors here This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page During Swiss Re’s 2024 Baden-Baden media conference specialists from across the business shared insights into what’s shaping today’s reinsurance marketplace – delivering updates on geopolitical risks Amid discussions about what’s happening in property and casualty – which can be expected to dominate discussions at the Baden-Baden Reinsurance Meeting – Jimmy Keime (pictured) head of engineering and nuclear at Swiss Re delivered a timely snapshot of the key themes shaping the specialty reinsurance market today Get the latest reinsurance news direct to your inbox twice a week. Sign up here “As the world continues to be faced with more geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty we’re also seeing an increased demand in the specialty reinsurance space,” Keime said “At Swiss Re we see three areas driving this specialty reinsurance demand in particular One is credit & surety.” Keime noted that credit & surety serves as a stabilizer and facilitator of global trades while coverage in this market helps to mitigate against increasing supply chain concerns It’s a line of business where the long-term dynamics are clearly set to grow and which has a large protection gap particularly among small- and medium-sized companies he highlighted how systemic events in 2024 have highlighted the importance of managing and pricing for cyber accumulation risks “Swiss Re is doing its cyber portfolio in a controlled and future-oriented way,” he said “We are committed to be in that space for the long term.” he shared that the organization has two important goals One is working closely with its partners to help companies and societies advance their cyber resilience The second is to ensure a sustainable cyber insurance market to cover growing protection needs The third key specialty topic for Swiss Re in 2024 is in engineering and construction “It continues to be one of the areas where we see the most growth due to the large need of infrastructure investment that is required around the globe,” Keime said “Global construction output is expected to grow by US$4.2 trillion over the next 15 years to US$13.9 trillion They will represent 50% of the construction market growth in the next years we see that the need is accentuated given the big push towards reindustrialization that we have seen after the COVID-19 pandemic the energy crisis and also geopolitical tensions That has made us realize how fragile some of our supply chains are and how important it is to have local manufacturing to secure them.” Digging deeper into the reindustrialization push being seen within Europe it's about reshoring and friendshoring That trend is forecast to bring US$33 billion of premium over the next five years globally and part of that conversation is around green energy with investments in renewable energy projected to represent a magnitude of more than $200 billion of insurance premium until 2035 it’s also important to note that the energy transition is another critical component of that conversation because the world still needs a lot of traditional energy resources to secure its energy supply Swiss Re has observed that a lot of the traditional risk landscape and risk profiles and exposures are evolving “One recent example of this is the creation of the Center of Competence for Renewable Energy that we have at Swiss Re that acts as a knowledge hub for us and for our clients so we can help them navigate this transition,” he said “[It’s clear] that there is plenty of dynamism and new trends in the specialty space we're looking forward to exchanging with our clients during Baden-Baden and we’re ready to support them to make the technical and evolving risks in the specialty risk landscape more manageable.” Get the latest reinsurance news direct to your inbox twice a week. Sign up here Our Baden-Baden Today publication reports live from The Baden-Baden Reinsurance Meeting in Germany the single most important gathering in the Pan-European reinsurance  calendar analysis and video content is available on this channel covering the latest news Get Intelligent Insurer's FREE newsletter today Oregon students in Germany fall term 2024.  The state of Oregon and the German state of Baden-Württemberg have engaged in a student exchange program for more than 50 years with alternating delegation visits between the two happening every five years the Germans are in Oregon for the first time in a decade for a visit that includes meetings at Oregon State on Tuesday and a two-day workshop at OSU-Cascades at the end of the week as well as stops at the University of Oregon and Portland State Since 1968, the state-to-state exchange has resulted in an estimated 1,100 Oregon students studying in Germany and 1,500 Baden-Württemberg students coming to Oregon. The Oregon program is administered at OSU by the IE3 Global Programs team and is open to all public universities in the state staff and faculty on the 45th anniversary of the exchange Oregon students can choose from among 14 institutions where they may elect to do a German-language intensive or pursue their field of study in a German university There are also faculty research connections between OSU and researchers in Baden-Württemberg for students to get involved in director of OSU’s Global Opportunities (OSU GO) program The vast majority of exchange students are undergraduates though some graduate students take advantage of the fact that master’s-level education in Germany is widely offered in English The goals behind this week’s visit are to discuss how the various institutions of higher education can better serve their increasingly diverse student populations as well as to find ways to strengthen research ties and offer more opportunities for research collaboration There is a particular focus on the signature areas of OSU’s strategic plan Baden-Württemberg is a research powerhouse area in Europe The state boasts more than 70 state and private universities and more than 100 research institutions German exchange students in Oregon this fall.  The delegation representatives are the directors of the universities’ international offices responsible for supporting research and student mobility “We’re particularly interested in moving forward in STEM areas both at the research level and at the level of encouraging STEM students to go,” Justice said “These are comprehensive universities just like the universities here in Oregon so they’re doing everything we’re doing — groundbreaking research in a wide range of academic disciplines.” Study abroad is the highlight of college for many students and helps to prepare them to thrive in an increasingly globally connected world where they may work with people from multiple cultures “We often hear from students that study abroad has a profound impact on them in terms of building their sense of self their independence and their resilience,” she said “A lot of students come back from an experience like this with a strengthened direction for their future Faculty interested in connecting with the Baden-Württemberg delegation should contact Michele Justice, [email protected] [email protected] Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker industry leaders warned at the Guy Carpenter Baden-Baden Reinsurance Symposium on Sunday Addressing a packed-out auditorium at the Kongresshaus in Baden-Baden Guy Carpenter’s CEO of EMEA and global capital solutions Laurent Rousseau urged the industry to move away from such a quantitative view of risk “Something very close to my heart is the difference between price and value What is the value that we bring to society a number of economic stakeholders are ready to step up and accept some risk at the economic price I just hope that in Baden-Baden we will have good negotiations.” Rousseau continued that he “does not buy into the idea” that uncertainty has never been so high although he did acknowledge that there are new risks in the form of AI and annual natural catastrophe losses regularly exceeding $100bn Panellists addressing the 600-plus industry executives at the event agreed that the industry is facing new and evolving risks as well as issues around loss creep from natural catastrophe losses and the impact of inflation on portfolios and industry exposure Swiss Re CEO Andreas Berger warned on the increasing impact of secondary perils on overall industry losses and issued a stark warning on the “stress” being caused by loss creep he pointed to recent severe convective storm losses in northern Italy He said that while early estimates pegged losses from the storms at $2.2bn recent figures published by insurers indicate the loss is closer to $6bn “or even higher” “The biggest topic that we need to address is the fundamental issue about loss creep,” he said “It basically boils down to detailed quantification of exposures Our models need to be adjusted and we still work with outdated assumptions in our costings and that's something that we really need to address very quickly because this is causing stress in the system.” partner in Oliver Wyman’s insurance and asset management practice highlighted that the current point in the reinsurance cycle presents a moment to react “We are seeing shifts in the industry so that change is the only constant we need to react to remain relevant,” said Taglioni “The speed of change and the speed of innovation can be much faster.” The cyclical nature of reinsurance formed part of the underlying theme of the Symposium with this year’s event focused on “Partnering through crises Rousseau described crises and shocks as “the raw materials” of reinsurance business although he warned that partnerships is an often overused term for what are nothing more than transactional relationships and one you keep making every day,” he said “The most intuitive way of looking at the reinsurance cycle and how incumbents see their role in the cycle is by very simply looking at the capital base of reinsurance.” Rousseau highlighted the sector’s strong capitalisation over recent years noting that a greater proportion of capital is now derived from financial markets through ILS transactions rather than a distinct class of new entrants He added that in the debate around partnerships across the cycle the return on equity of listed reinsurers in 2023 indicated that a balance has been struck “Following the knee-jerk reaction at the 1.1.23 renewals when insurers increased attachment points restructured programs and increased prices their returns have increased tremendously,” Rousseau continued insurers’ returns have inevitably decreased we have this point now of seeing how quickly this will happen for them as we slow down it really shows that there has been a balance in the cycle.” Also commenting on the theme of the Symposium member of the board at SV SparkassenVersicherung said the industry must focus on building strategic partnerships and promote industry collaboration to tackle the increasing complexity and scale of the risk environment as well as growth Oppermann stressed the importance of insurers particularly regional and specialist players forging long-term partnerships with reinsurers and intermediaries and highlighted the role both parties play in enabling primary carriers to grow and develop into new products and new markets “The reinsurers and brokers are our door to the international world,” he said This is only through reinsurers and through the brokers they have an important role in this business to transport the knowledge we receive.” Local nonprofit Baden Street Settlement is having its fourth annual Buckets for Baden fundraiser The fundraiser seeks to help raise money for a new headquarters — and to celebrate March Madness Chris Lopez hits the basketball court at Baden Street to find out more about the fundraiser and Baden Street's mission Buckets for Baden runs from 10am to noon on Saturday Click here to learn more The solo exhibition by the Berlin-based international collective Slavs and Tatars takes its title from Simurgh mythological bird-like creature with references to Persianate rich in themes of unity and the interconnectedness of all living beings offers important insights into the idea of coexistence and its relation to democracy self-governance,and the construction of hope Through various media – from sound to glasswork textiles to mirrors – Simurgh invites us to engage in a conversation on existence transforming the Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden into a space for self-discovery and conviviality.Simurgh includes newly commissioned works that connect this Eurasian creature to the context of Baden-Baden and Baden-Württemberg through the tradition of living Selected works by the pioneering conceptual artist Marcel Broodthaers (1924–1976) will feature in the exhibition promenade as referential forms alongside a sound-based installation by Istanbul-based artist Cevdet Erek These elements extend the horizons of Simurgh symbolically The artists aim to build upon Broodthaers’ seminal work Musée d’Art Moderne: Département des Aigles (1968–71) – where the role of the eagle in French and German heraldry and history is deconstructed – by replacing the eagle if not metaphysical.As part of their collective and discursive artistic practice Slavs and Tatars has invited Cevdet Erek to collaborate on a joint exhibit as part of the promenade – at the main space of the Kunsthalle originally presented outdoors, Courtyard Ornamentation with Four Sounding Dots and a Fake Shade (2024) Erek fosters a contemplation of rhythm by highlighting the connections between sound patterns featuring rhythmic repetitions His work focuses on these auditory elements as well as the visual and spatial aspects traditionally associated with architectural ‘ornamentation.’Slavs and Tatars have long been more interested in the peripheries of knowledge production and the margins of rituals rather than the centers; for it is at these borders where syncretism and hybridity thrive it is crucial today to also activate and redeem that which unites us as much as that which distinguishes us By focusing on the various iterations of a mythical and metaphysical symbol across a wide region, Simurgh reimagines the regionalism which lies at the very core of Slavs and Tatars’ artistic practice.The reach of this otherworldly bird extends from today’s central Ukraine (Semargl one of the nine pagan gods of pre-Christian Kyivan Rus’) to the Uighur region in present day China that one of the most prominent allegories of the Simurgh is the Sufi notion of finding oneness in multiplicity In Farid ud-Din Attar’s (1145–1221) The Conference of the Birds several birds embark on a long journey to find their leader only to discover in the end that God or the Transcendent resides within themselves.The curatorial frame of the exhibition is inspired by this 12th century epic where the Simurgh serves as a narrative device the birds must pass through seven valleys: the Valleys of Will The exhibition is conceived in alignment with this story juxtaposing earlier works by Slavs and Tatars with the new Simurgh-themed works.Simurgh is commissioned by the Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden The exhibition will be presented for the first time as a major solo show in both institutions: at the Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden from February 14 to May 18 followed by an exhibition at Frac des Pays de la Loire in Summer 2025 Images: © Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use When the curtain falls after the last performance of Madama Butterfly and the final chords of Beethoven’s Ninth fade away on April 21 a brief era in Baden-Baden will come to an end the spa town on the edge of the Black Forest has been the home of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Easter Festival We look back at memorable concerts and opera performances At this point we would like to show you a Vimeo video Please decide for yourself whether you want to view it If you click on the video, certain personal data will be sent to Vimeo.com, Inc., 555 West 18th Street, New York, New York 10011, USA ("Vimeo"). 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More information can be found here the Berliner Philharmoniker and Chief Conductor Kirill Petrenko will  move their Easter Festival back to Salzburg where it was originally founded by Herbert von Karajan in 1967 The Berliner Philharmoniker’s Festival had a long tradition in Salzburg; what led the orchestra to move to Baden-Baden in 2013 “The situation in Salzburg was difficult,” recalls Eva-Maria Tomasi violinist and member of the orchestra’s board “The orchestra wanted to break away from old conventions and update the Easter Festival programme Salzburg was unwilling to make any concessions The offer from Baden-Baden arrived at the perfect moment was convinced that we could create something new there and the orchestra was also ready to explore new possibilities.” The festival would be more modern and open to new ideas but at the same time would not abandon its core principles The festival’s centrepiece continued to be an opera production led by the chief conductor with the Berliner Philharmoniker in the orchestra pit which opened in 1998 and had 2500 seats as well as modern stage technology While Salzburg had offered only two performances of the annual opera a more reasonable return on the extensive time required for rehearsal and staging And because there is a certain magic in every beginning the Berliner Philharmoniker and Simon Rattle chose Mozart’s Magic Flute Kate Royal and Pavol Breslik sang the main roles of Pamina and Tamino Simon Rattle conducted further operatic blockbusters: Puccini’s Manon Lescaut with Eva-Maria Westbroek in the title role (2014) Strauss’ Rosenkavalier with Anja Harteros as the Marschallin and Magdalena Kožená as Octavian (2015) The second pillar of the festival – concerts featuring world-class conductors and soloists – also remained intact The program of the first Baden-Baden Easter Festival with Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony conducted by Simon Rattle Violinist Maxim Vengerov and pianist Krystian Zimerman performed Brahms’ Violin Concerto and First Piano Concerto respectively Brahms greatly admired the spa town: he regularly visited Baden-Baden during the summer months and took advantage of the city’s peace and tranquillity to compose Rattle and the orchestra performed Peter Sellars’ staging of Bach’s St Long-time companions of the Berliner Philharmoniker who performed as the Festival’s guest artists included conductors Bernard Haitink and Tugan Sokhiev as well as soloists Anne-Sophie Mutter orchestra the opportunity to showcase the diversity of their chamber music activities – as soloists as well as in newly-formed and established ensembles of the Berliner Philharmoniker The entire town of Baden-Baden was filled with music: in historic venues such as the Casino Baden-Baden’s Florentine Hall Concert programming often drew inspiration fromthe current opera production. “It has been wonderful to see how well the orchestra established itself in this community over the years” says Andrea Zietzschmann Managing Director of the Berliner Philharmoniker.”We developed a dedicated audience for these chamber music concerts one that appreciates the unique proximity to the musicians The orchestra’s educational work also played a prominent role in Baden-Baden: as part of the Deutsche Bank Foundation’s Akademie Musiktheater Heute each festival’s opera was adapted for children by a young opera team in cooperation with the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden Aspiring opera singers were given the opportunity to gain their first experiences on an opera stage in a chamber opera with musicians from the Berliner Philharmoniker - for example Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon and Jacques Offenbach’s La princesse de Trébizonde With short concerts by members of the Berliner Philharmoniker at various locations in the city the mobile stage provided unique musical experiences A concert with the National Youth Orchestra of which the Berliner Philharmoniker is a patron young instrumentalists played alongside the experienced orchestra musicians The opera projects of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Festival are normally chosen by the chief conductor when Simon Rattle had left and his successor Kirill Petrenko had not yet been appointed: Zubin Mehta directedVerdi’s Otello as a guest conductor the orchestra looked forward to coming to Baden-Baden with new chief conductor Kirill Petrenko Andrea Zietzschmann recalls: “As an outstanding opera conductor Kirill Petrenko has many connections with stage directors and singers That made planning his first festival a wonderful experience Thefestival was to be dedicated to the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth – and would include performances of his only opera Fidelio But the Covid pandemic meant that all of these plans had to be suspended Covid once again prevented the planned Festival. the orchestra held an autumn residency in Baden-Baden and Kirill Petrenko was able to realise a project that was close to his heart: a concert performance of Tchaikovsky’s opera Mazeppa Petrenko finally achieved his goal of presenting rarely performed operas by Tchaikovsky’s operas with a staged production of The Queen of Spades as well as a concert performance of Iolanta  “Kirill Petrenko specifically chose these works because he viewed them as an opportunity to further develop the orchestra,” says Zietzschmann the performances of these relatively unknown operas became something very special Tchaikovsky’s operas have been a true voyage of discovery for the orchestra.” Two sensational productions were to follow both of operas by Richard Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten For Andrea Zietzschmann and Eva-Maria Tomasi these two productions were particularly unforgettable the orchestral concerts under Petrenko’s direction like Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben and Brahms’ Fourth Symphony were also among the highlights in recent years one of the most frequently-performed and popular operas will be on the program in Baden-Baden for Easter 2025 before the orchestra returns to Salzburg in 2026.  “Our DNA is still closely linked to Salzburg,” explains Eva-Maria Tomasi “Herbert von Karajan founded the Easter Festival in this city especially for the Berliner Philharmoniker almost 60 years ago; it was our festival But we are still very grateful to Baden-Baden for all the wonderful experiences we had there!” Andrea Zietzschmann also looks back with gratitude while at the same time viewing the future with optimism: “We have had thirteen wonderful years here and we appreciate the trust that the Festival and the audience have placed in our orchestra and we are already looking forward to future collaborations we will be organizing a special weekend in Baden-Baden So we can happily say that ourfarewell in 2025 will be directly followed by a return.” The centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) emerged victorious in the 2025 German federal elections but building a coalition government is proving difficult The Social Democratic Party (SPD) suffered a historic defeat reflecting a significant decline in its national influence The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has achieved its best electoral performance yet Substantial setbacks for the Greens and FDP complicated their role in coalition talks Germany’s fractured political landscape forces the CDU to seek coalition partners for a stable government The new administration faces major challenges: immigration and adapting foreign policy to the changing global landscape based on local sources and meetings held during our visit to Baden-Württemberg  aims to analyse Germany’s political landscape after the elections and potential implications for governance and stability On February 23rd, 2025 German voters elected representatives to the Bundestag under the country’s mixed-member proportional representation system a notable improvement from its 2021 result but still below the 40% target The Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) also saw a resurgence in regional support Baden-Württemberg’s federal election mirrors the federal government’s results, with the CDU securing a clear victory at 31.6% (+6.8 percentage points), according to preliminary ultimate results The AfD surged to second place with 19.8% of the vote contributing to significant national gains the party’s standing improved from 9.4% in 2021 to 15.2% mainstream parties continue to ignore the AfD in coalition talks the socialist Left Party secured an unexpected victory This represents a near-doubling of its previous result signalling a shift in urban voter sentiment The Greens also suffered losses in the capital Voter turnout was exceptionally high, reaching 83.5%, the highest since unification in 1990 This surge in participation reflected heightened public interest amid growing polarisation and concerns over economic and security issues Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the SPD acknowledged his party’s defeat describing the outcome as a significant setback despite strong campaign efforts Although he plans to stay on as acting Chancellor he acknowledged the party’s preparations for a generational shift He declined to participate in coalition talks but reiterated the SPD’s commitment to its principles notably social justice and EU migration policy the CDU’s chancellor candidate and next Chancellor declared victory and expressed gratitude to voters He stressed his dedication to a government representing all Germans while acknowledging the difficulties of coalition talks While he would prefer a one-party coalition he recognised the likelihood of needing a second partner Merz emphatically rejected any collaboration reaffirming his commitment to stricter immigration policies and the enforcement of bans on illegal immigrants he acknowledged that cooperation with the party could be necessary depending on the dynamics of any coalition celebrated the party’s best-ever election result She expressed a willingness to join the government and claimed that the CDU has adopted several AfD policy positions that mainstream parties still refused to work with hers Weidel foresaw an unstable coalition government of the CDU potentially leading to the AfD overtaking the CDU in later elections highlighted his party’s strong regional performance He reiterated the CSU’s refusal to cooperate with the AfD highlighting major disagreements on European integration While he favoured a government without the Greens he acknowledged the need for flexibility in coalition negotiations He also criticised the Greens’ positions on economic and migration issues expressed relief that her party secured parliamentary representation despite initial concerns She clarified the Left Party would not join a coalition but would instead remain in opposition both in Parliament and through grassroots activism She pledged to resist any attempts by Friedrich Merz’s government to roll back social welfare protections acknowledged a disastrous election outcome for his party He said he would resign after eleven years as leader if the FDP did not win any parliamentary seats He attributed the party’s poor performance to an inability to communicate its achievements effectively within the outgoing coalition government Mohammad Ali of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) described the election results as uncertain for his party as it remained on the threshold of entering Parliament he considered the party’s regional growth a success He expressed no regrets about splitting from the Left Party Friedrich Merz will begin coalition discussions on Monday Given his firm rejection of an alliance with the AfD his most viable coalition partners are the SPD or the Greens A three-party coalition involving the FDP also remains a possibility Germany may face a hung Parliament or new elections Germany’s political landscape remains fragmented despite the CDU’s electoral victory Coalition discussions will shape the new government’s approach to immigration it faces formidable challenges in securing a stable governing alliance and the FDP’s potential parliamentary exit underscore the shifting dynamics of German politics The outcome of coalition talks will be critical in shaping Germany’s domestic and international trajectory in the coming years Contact us at info@specialeurasia.com and request our tailored report or consulting regarding elections in Germany Don’t Miss Our Next Course in Geopolitical Intelligence Analysis This is the SpecialEurasia online course designed for professionals and investigators aiming to enhance their ability to produce geopolitical forecasting and risk assessment reports Testata giornalistica registrata presso il Tribunale di Cagliari n 54/2025 del 09/01/2025 ©2024 All rights reserved The Black Forest is synonymous with Black Forest cake: traditionally a German cake with layers of rich chocolate sponge my favorite restaurant Waldgaststätte Bütthof re-envisioned this famous staple into a molten chocolate cake served with pistachio ice-cream I still drool over the memories of this dessert The restaurant sits in the Grobbachtal Valley and is a perfect dinner stop after a day of hiking to see the Geroldsau Waterfall The dishes are prepared with fresh regional ingredients which was a savory slow-roasted pork shoulder with potato dumplings you can stay at one of many Baden-Baden heritage properties Belle Epoque is a boutique hotel and an ode of elegance to the history of Baden-Baden It is in the center of the city and just a short walk to the neighboring Caracalla Thermal Spa The rooms are styled ornately with decor such as The nightly rate includes a breakfast buffet and afternoon tea with homemade cakes They also host an afternoon high tea for a separate rate It was an easy walk to the center of town and other sites we wanted to see A continental breakfast is included with the room rate and the hotel has a public underground car park so it was nice to have close parking and know that our car was safe visit ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/baden-baden UNESCO named Baden-Baden a World Heritage Site as one of eleven of the Great Spa Towns of Europe Baden-Baden was founded over 2,000 years ago Friedrichsbad Spa and Caracalla Thermal Baths are the main attractions in this town my spouse and I decided to pamper ourselves and book “The Day Spa for Two,” a private bath and massage treatment package at Caracalla For those new to the European therme culture booking a private bath means you can experience all the benefits of the thermal spring water and 145-year bathing tradition while having privacy We felt pampered and joked about stealing the fluffy white robes we got to wear all day To check out both spas’ day passes and other packages We spent four days in Baden-Baden and still didn’t get to do everything on our list We went on the Sommerrodelbahnen (alpine coaster) which went surprisingly fast through the forest but the ricochet is quite thrilling regardless “We enjoyed strolling through town and seeing architecture dating back to antiquity as well as popping into some of the many art exhibits.” After walking just a few hundred feet into the forest I found the black forest lived up to its reputation The woods got much darker and cooler because of the dense trees It was easy to see how people imagined (or maybe not) creatures peering from behind the trees and witchy huts tucked into the dense shrubbery My husband and I recently spent almost a month exploring Germany, and three days of our trip were dedicated to its Black Forest The Black Forest is said to have famously inspired many Grimms' fairy-tales with its castle ruins and lush green landscape complete with swirling fog it's a hiker's paradise with delicious cake and famous cuckoo clocks Here's what we loved about our experience in the Black Forest — and two of the mistakes we made Our first taste of fairy-tale magic was the epic hike to All Saints' Abbey The trail starts at the parking lot for the Allerheiligen Waterfalls past a farm and a seemingly out-of-place Romanesque sculpture It was easy to imagine the structure that once stood here — and to dream of adventures our favorite fairy-tale heroes might encounter on a particularly foggy day here at the ruins I loved that the hike took us high up a mountain for spectacular views of the valley but the sour cherries and accompanying taste of the Kirschwasser (a brandy made from sour cherries) keep it from tasting too sweet I'm more of a savory guy who enjoys his pork schnitzel but the Black Forest cake ranks high on the list of things I ate while abroad Baden-Baden is a spa town on the northern edge of the Black Forest Visiting its Friedrichsbad spa was one of the most adventurous things we've ever done we had to get completely naked with a bunch of tourists and locals in order to enjoy the steam rooms Once we got over the initial strangeness of being nude with strangers We also visited the Caracalla Spa next door which seemed better for families: Everyone wears their swimsuits but you still get to enjoy the thermal waters Baden-Baden was a great starting point for our hike to the Hohenbaden Old Castle The stunning ruins are on a mountainside and overlook Baden-Baden It took us about an hour to hike from the city center to the castle We went to the city of Triberg for two reasons: to see its famous cuckoo clocks and the waterfall This was fine since we'd seen several waterfalls that morning during our hikes for free and we would've had to pay to see the one near Triberg we browsed the shops and saw some cuckoo clocks we felt like this city inside the Black Forest was mostly a tourist trap with a lot of souvenir shops It reminded us of shopping in Tennessee's Gatlinburg — definitely a fun time but not quite the authentic German experience we were hoping for We missed out on hiking southern certain trails and seeing Lake Titisee because our home base was in Baden-Baden That made it challenging to see the southern end of the forest and still make it home before dark we plan to stay in Freiburg im Breisgau to explore the southern region This riverside restaurant in Baden-Baden offers a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence–winning wine list and unmatched views of a historic park In the northeast corner of Germany’s Black Forest mountain range, you’ll find Baden-Baden, a historic spa town known for its thermal springs, striking architecture and Lichtentaler Allee, a 350-year old park along the Oos river. Alongside the scenic park, on the ground floor of the Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, is Wintergarten a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner with an impressive wine list to pair with contemporary European cuisine The gardens of Lichtentaler Allee are like the restaurant’s backyard and Wintergarten’s two main dining areas capitalize on that local beauty: The main dining room features floor-to-ceiling windows and large skylights letting light pour in over flowery decor and white wicker chairs the windows frame a sea of greenery in Lichtentaler Allee and diners can enjoy an alfresco experience on the restaurant’s plant-filled terrace which overlooks the river and is open April through October Chef Stefan Naatz’s menu draws primarily from German and French traditions (the French border is just eight miles west) contemporary influences appear throughout: Tuna espuma accompanies a smoked veal fillet Hokkaido pumpkin appears in a ham terrine and Atlantic tiger prawns are served with grilled avocado and salsa More traditional and local options include venison with Brussels sprouts and spaetzle as well as Wiener schnitzel served with a potato-cucumber salad The lunch and dinner menus include prix-fixe and à la carte options, and breakfast is served daily. Wintergarten also offers a daily afternoon tea service, which consists of small sandwiches, canapés and sweet treats, plus an optional accompaniment of Bollinger Champagne Master of Wine Konstantin Baum curates the restaurant’s 220-selection list which offers impressive variety for its size The list also includes informative paragraphs with each section providing insights on regions and grape varieties Wine pros share their favorite bars and restaurants for wine in “Sin City”—on and off the … The wine destination, which boasts three dining venues and a massive cellar, is a top spot … This Sag Harbor dining favorite features an Award of Excellence–winning wine cellar to … Just outside of Dublin, this Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winner shows that Ireland … Cellars at eco-friendly restaurants are reinforcing the environmentally friendly approaches … The Philadelphia spot from restaurateur Ellen Yin serves small plates while making a simple … SPIE is the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications Our 55,000 employees are committed to achieving the energy transition and responsible digital transformation alongside our customers SPIE aims to contribute to a more sustainable Do you want to use your skills to contribute to projects that help society a key player in the energy transition and digital transformation We are committed to the fight against climate change and mobilised for a responsible digital transformation intall and maintain energy-efficient and environmentaly-friendly facilities Find in this section all the useful information you can access SPIE's profile and key figures Would you like to interview an SPIE spokesperson the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications has been awarded three new contracts for substations in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg These orders are all part of the grid expansion plan of Netze BW The grid expansion plan covers a whole package of measures designed to transform the electricity grid such as the conversion and expansion of routes and line systems as well as the enlargement and installation of new substations The aim is to ensure a reliable power supply in the face of rising energy requirements and integrate renewable energy sources into the electricity grid in order to tackle the challenges of the energy transition SPIE is responsible for comprehensively planning implementing and commissioning the substations Beginning this summer in the Neunstadt area of Ellwangen SPIE will be setting up a 110/20-kilovolt (kV) substation on behalf of Netze BW and Netze ODR the largest distribution grid operator in the East Württemberg region and the neighbouring state of Bavaria The services include among others the erection of the operating building the installation of the 110/20 kV transformers as well as the entire 20 kV system and the telecontrol system used for monitoring and controlling remote systems Individual components of the 110 kV overhead system such as busbars line panels and control cabinets will also need to be put in place Commissioning is planned for the end of 2027 The complete renovation of the existing substation in Obersteinach commenced in February of this year Apart from renewing primary and secondary technical components the work also includes erecting two operating buildings and two terminal pylons including line connections and BIM (Building Information Modelling) coordination The work is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028 Both substations are primarily designed to feed renewable energy into the grid the 110 kV switchgear at the substation in Höpfingen will be enlarged to include a switchgear panel capable of connecting up to four additional substations to feed in wind and solar power going forward The energy supply delivered by the Obersteinach and Höpfingen substations will also be continuously ensured during the renovation and expansion phase we are making a significant contribution to implementing Netze BW’s grid expansion plan,” says Thomas Kühne Head of Projects at the South-West branch of the Substations business unit of SPIE Germany Switzerland Austria’s High Voltage operational division “The short planning and implementation phases call for a strong team with a high degree of technical ability We have the necessary experience and expertise that is key for projects of this size and complexity.” SPIE has completed over 70 projects for Netze BW we are actively driving forward the energy transition in Germany and helping our customers to take on one of the greatest challenges of our time,” adds Burkhard Sager General Manager of the High Voltage operational division at SPIE Germany Switzerland Austria.  Insurance Insider is the premier intelligence solution for the London and global (re)insurance markets Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy the Black Forest is a magical land full of cultural traditions Here’s our guide to some of the most beautiful spots in the area or stay in the town center and enjoy the curative waters of the thermal baths including a 5-mile (8-kilometer) trail around the lake that leads up the Hochfirst Mountain Surrounded by tall pine forests on the low Titisee Lake is a place of otherworldly natural beauty Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Black Forest High Road Architectural Landmark Sahara Prince / Shutterstock Black Forest Tours Tours One of Germany’s most famously beautiful driving routes begins in Baden-Baden and carves its way through the scenic countryside of the Black Forest Far from just connecting you to many of the region’s most scenic spots traversing the Schwarzwaldhochstraße is an experience in and of itself Be sure to plan plenty of stops so you can properly appreciate the surrounding natural beauty and don’t forget to keep those eyes on the road the Triberg Falls look beautiful surrounded by snow a famous ramble along the banks of the Neckar where Heidelberg’s philosophers and professors came to contemplate their high-minded ideas © travelpeter/Shutterstock This idyllic mountain resort is made up of nine separate villages, and the recent addition of high-end hotels and bed and breakfasts serving incredible cuisine have put Baiersbronn on the map. The area boasts an incredible 12 Michelin stars in total including two restaurants with three stars So there’s no shortage of choice if you want to indulge in fine dining When you aren’t gorging on excellent cuisine or enjoying long walks through the conifer-strewn forests take a trip to the ski slopes or visit the area’s golf courses And don’t miss the nearby 12th-century monastery – the Allerheiligen ruins – hidden in a quiet © LaMiaFotografia/Shutterstock Not quite as well known as Baden-Baden, Bad Wildabad is another popular spa town and a cheaper option for a home-base in the north of the forest A tunnel cleverly diverts through traffic so that the area feels as isolated from the world as possible Bad Wildbad has beautiful views of endless pine trees and the gorge of the Enz river This town is also filled with thermal baths which naturally hover around 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) and be sure to visit the idyllic Wildsee – a small lake outside of the town center mmuenzl / Shutterstock Allerheiligen Tours The walking trails leading to All Saints Waterfalls were first created back in the 1840s The water spills dramatically for around 83m and a set of seven basins have formed naturally in the rocks creating an aesthetically pleasing set of steps for the water to trickle (or torrent) along The short but immersive trail also leads to the striking ruins of an old Gothic abbey making this off-the-beaten-path stop even more worthwhile © Sergiy Bykhunenko/Shutterstock Calw sits in the north of the Black Forest with a reputation as being one of the forest’s prettiest towns. Nobel Prize-winning novelist Hermann Hesse (1877-1962) who wrote Siddhartha among many other books The town features a museum and a statue dedicated the famous author The picturesque market square is a great place to start your tour of the city Surrounded by 18th-century half-timbered houses Calw’s square is the picture of a quintessential Black Forest town The city owes its current growth to tourism – many new bistros shops and ice cream parlors have recently opened to cater to visitors © Thomas Klee/Shutterstock Take the scenic drive along the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse from Baden-Baden to see the central Black Forest region’s quaint towns Kinzig and Gutach Valley are heavily forested areas where many traditional Black Forest customs originated visitors will feel the magical and mysterious nature of the Black Forest come to life make a stop in the brewery town of Alpirsbach and visit Schiltach to see classic examples of timber houses that burst with color and character photos2webgallery / Unsplash Just south of Freiburg is Schauinsland one of the tallest and most beautiful mountains in the Black Forest Today it’s a popular ski spot – hikers and mountain bikers flock here too – but it was once a rich seam for silver mining Take the cable car up to the top of the mountain (there is a road but that’s less romantic) to enjoy some utterly spellbinding views On a clear day you’ll not only see the Black Forest but you can also catch a glimpse at the Rhine Valley Voges Mountains and sometimes even the Swiss Alps is most beautiful in the peak of snowy season All recommendations have been independently sourced by Culture Trip Read Next Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November Design The Most Beautiful Churches in Berlin See & Do A Guide to River Cruises in Germany: What to Know See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Art 10 Masterpieces You Can Only See in Munich See & Do The Best Weekend Trips From Heidelberg See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do Germany's Most Beautiful Abbeys and Monasteries US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd It’s when there’s relative stability across the property & casualty (P&C) reinsurance landscape that specialty gets its well-earned moment in the sun And with the weather likely to dominate P&C conversations at the 2024 Baden-Baden Reinsurance Meeting and cyber is very much part of that conversation He noted that as a monoline specialty cyber reinsurance underwriting firm Envelop has enjoyed a front-row view of the changing nature of conversations about cyber reinsurance.  He highlighted that when Envelop first went to Baden-Baden three years ago cyber was an “alternative” topic of conversation in meetings – for some a welcome break from discussions on property and casualty with a back-to-back schedule of meetings with risk carriers looking to move into cyber for the first time or established players looking to expand their existing portfolio or geographic footprint cyber is now front and centre of attention Despite the rapid growth of both cyber risk and the cyber re/insurance market generally the last two years have been relatively quiet with pockets of the market where growth has been markedly tempered The theme from the 1/1 renewal conversations Envelop is starting to have is that growth is firmly back on the agenda but in a much more focused way than before Get the latest reinsurance news direct to your inbox twice a week. Sign up here rather than a catch-all phrase of ‘growth in cyber’ the market is taking a much more nuanced and targeted approach,” he said “Many carriers are looking at geographies distribution models and other specific niches within the market for that growth potential or alternative distribution – those are some of the themes we’re seeing emerging as focal points.” It's conferences such as the Baden-Baden meeting that help to open up discussions about Europe and other regions as a marketplace and how re/insurance players can help it reach its full potential given how limited the global penetration rate of cyber remains I think while new-opportunities will be a key theme of conversation,” he said “it’s also important that people don’t forget about what’s happening back within their existing portfolios And this year has been a good reminder of that.” while this is an exciting class of business and there are huge runways of opportunity in emerging markets and other parts of the ecosystem Big losses can happen and cat events in one form or another can happen We're keen to make sure that people don't lose sight of their core portfolio’s exposures while they go on these new growth journeys within their business.” affirmed Baddeley’s conviction that looking forward to the future while making sure the house is in order will be top of the agenda at Baden-Baden this year Another element of the cyber evolution that fascinates him is how it has grown from zero to a mature business line in such a short space of time There are so many parallels between the growth of cyber and even other specialty lines including terrorism But for it to have gone from being non-existent to where it stands today in terms of developing modeling techniques and now ILS and other financial instruments has been extraordinary which followed the quite a traditional path of quota share being the best way to do it and then excess-of-loss and then event excess of loss we’ve learnt the lessons of multiple other lines of business but even so you have to consider that we weren’t really able to look backwards when cyber was first being developed You can go back through 1,000s of years of earthquake history and even in liability lines you can look back over many years of litigation records These didn’t exist for cyber and so we have built a massive ecosystem around this dynamic threat in a short space of time Get the latest reinsurance news direct to your inbox twice a week. Sign up here At least two people have died and another is reported missing Officials said the flooding is likely to continue for the next few days A weather system referred to as storm “Orinoco” by Germany’s Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) brought extremely heavy rain from 31 May 2024 in particular the states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria The German Meteorological Service – Deutsche Wetterdienst (DWD) – said that some areas recorded more than a month’s worth of rain within 24 hours from 31 May 2024 During this period the village of Zeisertsweiler in Sigmarszell District of Bavaria recorded 135 mm Kißlegg in Baden-Württemberg saw 130 mm and Bad Wörishofen recorded 129mm Further storms and heavy rain were expected Multiple rivers broke their banks in the two states Danube and Isar all reached above the level 4 (highest) warning levels in several locations Several dam breaks and dyke failures were also reported including in Augsburg District and in the district of Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm where around 800 people have been evacuated from the town of Baar-Ebenhausen the biggest concerns were levels of the Danube River and its tributaries According to the Bavarian State Office for the Environment the Danube was above the level 4 warning in 11 locations The Amper at Inkofen and the Paar at Manching and Mühlried were also above the level 4 warning A state of emergency was declared in several districts and cities in Bavaria the list included the districts of Günzburg The cities of Straubing and Regensburg were also included Authorities were called on to carry out rescues and evacuations At least twelve people were rescued from balconies and roofs in Günzburg using a police helicopter According to the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior 3,000 people have been affected by evacuations including in the districts of Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm Evacuations were also carried out in Baden-Württemberg As many as 1,300 people were ordered to evacuate homes in Meckenbeuren Evacuations were also carried out in Ebersbach an der Fils a train carrying around 180 passengers was derailed due to a landslide on the tracks near Schwäbisch Gmünd Tragically the floods have resulted in fatalities A firefighter died when a rescue boat capsized in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm Three other firefighters in the boat were able to pull themselves to safety German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on expressed his condolences “The death of a firefighter in Pfaffenhofen has shocked me,” he said adding that his thoughts were with the firefighter’s relatives and colleagues Another firefighter was reported missing in similar circumstances in Offingen A second fatality was reported after rescuers found the body of a person reported missing in a flooded basement of a building in the town of Schrobenhausen As of 03 June there were also unconfirmed reports of a flood-related fatality in Baden-Württemberg “I have just been informed that we must also expect that there is now a death in Baden-Württemberg,” the state’s Interior Minister Thomas Strobl told press during a visit to the municipality of Erbach An employee of an energy company suffered serious injuries after he was electrocuted in a flooded area in Allershausen Richard Davies is the founder of floodlist.com and reports on flooding news Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Metrics details The COVID-19 pandemic affected the diagnostics and treatment of breast cancer Numerous studies reported an early decline in breast cancer (BC) incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic Less evidence is available on changes in medical care Reports from individual patients have provided anecdotal evidence for a shift from breast-conserving surgery to mastectomy to reduce the number of visits to radiation units during the pandemic This study aimed to explore changes in BC incidence and surgical treatment in the south of Germany Using data from the Baden-Württemberg Cancer Registry the age-standardized incidence of BC (ICD-10 C50 and D05) (women) in 2018–2021 was investigated overall and by age and stage using standardized incidence ratios Among pre-operative stage I/IIA BC patients differences in the time to surgery and type of surgery were investigated using negative binomial and logistic regression models The incidence of invasive BC decreased significantly from 170.9 per 100,000 women in 2018/2019 to 159.7 in 2020 and increased to 169.2 in 2021 This decrease resulted from a lower incidence around April 2020 and was also observed for non-invasive BC incidence of invasive BC was still decreased by 8% in women aged 80 + years Surgical treatment was analyzed in 22,708 BC patients with a pre-operative stage ≤ IIA The median time to surgery was 33 days in 2018/2019 The proportion of mastectomies increased from 16.1% in 2018/2019 to 17.1% in 2020 and 17.3% in 2021 (adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (2021 vs The adjusted increase was strongest for patients aged 50–59 years (1.34 (1.09–1.64)) and those with high-grade tumors (1.27 (1.07–1.51)) While the early return to pre-pandemic age-standardized BC incidence rates is promising missed cases have not been caught up until 2021 the decreased incidence in elderly women in 2021 warrants further attention a slightly greater rate of mastectomies was observed although such a change was not recommended This result underlines the importance of good communication of adapted treatment guidelines in such exceptional circumstances it was suggested that endocrine therapy be administered pre-surgically to delay surgery Surgery for non-invasive BC (except for extended high-risk ductal carcinoma in situ) and for breast reconstruction Anecdotal evidence from patient reports at the Cancer Information Service in Germany suggested that there may have been a preference for mastectomy to avoid adjuvant radiotherapy during the pandemic The aim of this study was to investigate changes in BC incidence and in surgical treatment of early-stage BC in the federal state of Baden–Württemberg (Germany) in the 2020/2021 pandemic years compared to the pre-pandemic years 2018/2019 Following the adapted treatment guidelines and the anecdotal evidence changes in time to surgery and mastectomy rates were investigated in detail The study is based on data from the Baden–Württemberg Cancer Registry The cancer registry collects information on all cancer cases who live in or were treated in Baden–Württemberg The registry covers a population of 11.28 million people (end of 2022) in the south-west of Germany Reporting of cancer cases is mandatory for all physicians and health care providers involved in the diagnosis or treatment of cancer disease progression or unremarkable follow-up or death a uniform national and legally binding oncology data set defines the basis for reporting mandatory reporting was introduced in 2009–2011 Women living in Baden–Württemberg with a primary invasive (International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10: C50) or non-invasive (D05) BC diagnosis in 2018–2021 were included in the incidence analyses If the month of diagnosis was not reported to the cancer registry or was marked as “estimated” by the notifying physician/pathologist Selection of the cohort for type of (1) and time to (2) surgery analyses Monthly population data were not available a constant population was assumed for the whole year The years 2018 and 2019 served as reference years The histological codes (ICD-O-3) were categorized as ductal carcinoma of no special type, lobular carcinoma, ductal and lobular carcinoma, other specific histology, or unspecified. The codes used are provided in Table 1 and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptor statuses were classified as positive or negative Hormone receptor status was classified as positive (HR +) in patients who were ER + or PR +  Surgery was classified using the German procedure classification (Operationen- und Prozedurenschlüssel – OPS) BCS was defined by the codes “5–870” and “5–871” The codes “5–872” to “5–877” were defined as “mastectomy” The first mastectomy or BCS within one year after diagnosis was defined as the surgery of interest To support the interpretation of the main analyses data on neoadjuvant therapy and adjuvant radiotherapy were extracted from the cancer registry database These variables are collected by the registry but standardized aggregation of individual treatment reports into a best-of dataset has finally not yet been implemented and validation of these treatment factors has not yet been conducted Neoadjuvant therapy was defined as start of therapy after diagnosis but prior to surgery Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy was defined as neoadjuvant therapy indicated as endocrine therapy We defined adjuvant radiotherapy as the start of radiotherapy from date of surgery up to 6 months after surgery The incidence was age-standardized to the population of Baden–Württemberg in 2021 using 5-year age groups up to 85 + years and reported as cases per 100,000 person-years Age-specific incidence estimates were standardized within age groups following the same approach The incidences in 2020 and 2021 were statistically compared to those in the reference period (2018/2019) by standardized incidence ratios Stratified analyses were conducted for invasive and non-invasive BC and by age and stage Characteristics of BC patients were described by calendar period Distributions were compared using Chi-square tests for categorical and Welch’s test for continuous variables As neoadjuvant therapy increases the time to surgery the proportion of patients who received any neoadjuvant therapy was reported overall and by age the proportion of HR+ patients who received neoadjuvant endocrine therapy was computed Time to surgery was reported as median and mean by calendar period and month overall and by calendar period and age Differences were statistically tested using a negative binomial regression model with number of days between diagnosis and surgery as dependent and the above-described factors (with and without neoadjuvant treatment) as independent or stratification variables Incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals were extracted the IRR shows the factor change in time to surgery in days that is associated with an increase in the independent variable by one while holding all other variables in the model constant The proportion of patients who underwent mastectomy was calculated for the same subgroups as in the time-to-surgery analyses Odd of mastectomy during the pandemic and reference years were compared using a logistic regression model with type of surgery (reference: BCS) as the dependent variable and the above listed factors as independent or stratification variables As changes in mastectomy rates can lead to changes in the utilization of adjuvant radiotherapy The proportion of patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy were calculated overall Odds ratios were computed using the same model as for the odds of mastectomy with adjuvant radiotherapy (reference = no) as dependent variable The number of patients with missing information is shown in the tables Patients with missing information for relevant variables were excluded from the analyses A p value < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance No multiple comparison corrections were conducted 39,084 invasive and 2,541 non-invasive BCs were reported to the Baden–Württemberg Cancer Registry 848 (2.2%) were known only by death certificate and 110 (0.3%) had an estimated month of diagnosis Monthly age-standardized incidences for invasive (A) and non-invasive (B) breast cancer Monthly age-standardized incidence for invasive breast cancer by age at diagnosis (A: < 50, B: 50–59, C: 60–69, D: 70–79, E: 80 +). Monthly age-standardized incidence for breast cancer by stage at diagnosis (A: I A total of 22,708 patients with early-stage BC were included (Table 3) the proportion of patients with PGR + tumors decreased significantly from 81 to 79% in 2020 while all other characteristics were comparable Patients diagnosed in 2021 were less likely to be aged 70–79 years but more likely to be aged 60–69 years more likely to have other/unspecified histology (6% vs Overall, administration of neoadjuvant therapy was slightly higher in 2021 (18.1%) compared to 2018/2019 (16.2%, Table 4) Administration decreased with age and stage negative HR status or positive HER2 status were more likely to receive neoadjuvant therapy for only 11,439 (57.9%) of the 19,744 HR + patients an administration of endocrine therapy was notified to the cancer registry indicating an underreporting in the registry dataset The proportion decreased from 60.2% in 2018/2019 and 56.6% in 2020 to 54.2% in 2021 it was in a neoadjuvant setting in 637 (5.6%) patients This proportion was particularly increased in 2021 (242 (9.0%)) compared to 107 (4.0%) in 2020 and 288 (4.8%) in 2018/2019 Median days to surgery (A) and mastectomy rate (B) for early-stage breast cancer per month After adjustment for differences in patient and tumor characteristics the odds of mastectomy were 13% greater in 2021 than in 2018/2019 Stratified analyses revealed the strongest differences for high-grade tumors with 287% greater odds of mastectomy in 2020 and 2021 than in 2018/2019 Significantly greater odds of mastectomy in 2021 than in 2018/2019 were also observed for patients aged 50–59 years Overall, 62.4% of patients with early-stage BC received adjuvant radiotherapy, with 71.9% receiving it after BET and 15.0% after MAS. The rate of adjuvant radiotherapy were lower in 2021 than in 2018/2019, overall and stratified by type of surgery (Table 7) rates were only significantly lower for patients with high-grade tumors The age-standardized incidence of invasive and non-invasive BC decreased during the pandemic in April 2020 but recovered quickly resulting in comparable incidences in 2021 and 2018/2019 women aged 80 years or older still had a decreased incidence of invasive BC in 2021 The time to surgery was slightly shorter in 2020 but longer in patients aged 70 and older in 2021 The proportion of patients who underwent mastectomy increased overall in 2021 While the fast recovery to pre-pandemic levels is promising a catch-up of cases missed during the pandemic phase was observed only in some countries by the end of 2021 7% of potentially missed cases in 2020 were not caught-up in 2021 indicating that women were still reluctant to go to mammography screening and/or clarify symptoms Incidence rates and stage distributions should be monitored in the upcoming years to evaluate whether the pandemic led to a stage shift at time of diagnosis some of the missed diagnoses may have never occurred because the affected individual died from competing causes (including COVID-19 infection) before the cancer occurred or was detected This is a likely scenario as the COVID-19 pandemic caused deaths primarily in individuals who also had an elevated cancer risk necessitates monitoring the time to surgery in the following years While no increase in time to surgery was observed for HR + patients our results showed an increased utilization of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in 2021 Data quality was not sufficient to conduct detailed analyses and results should be interpreted with caution the trend is in alignment with the expert opinion during the pandemic described above and necessitates further monitoring and evaluation of its impact on BC outcomes Although the increase in mastectomy for high-grade early BC in 2020 could be explained by the uncertainty regarding the risk of the virus during this time the elevated mastectomy rate in 2021 is not plausible as adapted cancer treatment guidelines were already developed and recommendations for dealing with the pandemic were in place The strengths of this first cancer registry-based study of the impact of the pandemic on BC incidence and surgical treatment in southern Germany are its population-based design (covering 11.07 million inhabitants) and the resulting large number of BC patients the data set allowed monthly analyses and the use of pre-surgical staging information The lack of population data by month is a limitation that requires the assumption of a constant population size throughout the year Approximately 11% of the patients had to be excluded because no surgery or procedure code was reported to the cancer registry While a minority of patients may not have received surgery this proportion partly reflects underreporting of treatment there was no temporal trend in the proportion of patients without notification of surgery this limitation should not affect the comparison between the pandemic and the reference period Data quality for neoadjuvant therapy and adjuvant radiotherapy was limited and showed a potential underreporting detailed analyses were not possible and results should be interpreted with caution information on other factors routinely collected in the registry Information on mammographic tumor size might have been a better predictor for mastectomy than staging Our study showed that the age-standardized incidence of invasive and non-invasive BC decreased early during the COVID-19 pandemic but recovered by summer 2020 there was no catch-up of missed BC patients until the end of 2021 Whether the missed cases will lead to a stage shift in the upcoming years needs to be monitored We did not observe a strong impact on the time to surgery for early-stage BC patients A tendency toward a greater proportion of mastectomies instead of BCS was observed during the pandemic years although a change in the type of surgery was not recommended This result underlines the importance of good communication and guidelines to find the best possible cancer treatment in such uncertain times The data that support the findings of this study are available from the Baden-Württemberg Cancer Registry but restrictions apply to the availability of these data which were used under license for the current study Data are however available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of the Baden-Württemberg Cancer Registry (contact: l.jansen@dkfz-heidelberg.de) Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; hormone receptor status Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries Robert Koch Institute (ed.) and the Association of Population-based Cancer Registries in Germany (ed.) Breast cancer incidence and mortality before and after implementation of the German mammography screening program Effect of radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery on 10-year recurrence and 15-year breast cancer death: meta-analysis of individual patient data for 10,801 women in 17 randomised trials ESMO management and treatment adapted recommendations in the COVID-19 era: breast cancer Statistics Office. GENESIS-Online, Table 12411–0013: Population: Federal States, key date, sex, age years. [https://www-genesis.destatis.de/genesis/online] (accessed: 11 January 2023) TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours 8th edn Dritte Aktualisierung der “Retrospektiven Phaseneinteilung der COVID-19-Pandemie in Deutschland” COVID-19 related decline in cancer screenings most pronounced for elderly patients and women in Germany: A claims data analysis A systematic review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer screening and diagnosis Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in Denmark during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide population-based study Madrid cancer registry (RTMAD) investigators Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer diagnosis in Madrid (Spain) based on the RTMAD tumor registry (2019–2021) Decline and incomplete recovery in cancer diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium: A year-long Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on female breast colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer incidence stage and healthcare pathway to diagnosis during 2020 in Wales using a national cancer clinical record system Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer incidence and tumor stage in the Netherlands and Norway: A population-based study Changes in breast cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Dutch population-based study Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delays to breast cancer surgery: Ripples or waves? Therapy delay due to COVID-19 pandemic among European women with breast cancer: Prevalence and associated factors What is elective oncologic surgery in the time of cOVID-19 A literature review of the impact of surgical delays on outcomes in patients with cancer A systematic review and meta-analysis of surgery delays and survival in breast lung and colon cancers: Implication for surgical triage during the COVID-19 pandemic Psychosocial distress in adult patients awaiting cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic Roskam, J. S. et al. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mastectomy outcomes for breast cancer. Clin. Breast Cancer 23(4), 431–435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clbc.2023.02.010 (2023) What is the relationship between body image and the quality of life of women who underwent surgery for breast cancer Download references We would like to thank all cancer reporting facilities and cancer patients for providing the data we would like to thank the Baden-Württemberg clinical cancer registry and trust center for their work in data handling and cleaning Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL Epidemiological Cancer Registry Baden-Württemberg LJ contributed to the conception and design of the study and to the preparation of the dataset LJ conducted the analyses and wrote the original draft of the manuscript and VA contributed to the acquisition of data the interpretation of data and substantially revised the manuscript VA additionally contributed to the conception and design of the study All authors approved the submitted version and agreed both to be personally accountable for the author’s own contributions and to ensure that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work even ones in which the author was not personally involved and the resolution documented in the literature The authors declare no competing interests Data collection within the cancer registry has been carried out according to the Cancer Registry Act of Baden-Württemberg The notifying physician must inform the patient of the content of the notification and the further processing and use of his/her data by the authorities named in the Cancer Registry Act by handing out an information sheet and documenting the information in text form The patient is informed that he/she has the right to object [§ 4 (2)] The epidemiological cancer registry Baden-Württemberg is allowed to use the data for clinical-epidemiological analyses [§ 6 (2) Due to the regulations in the Cancer Registry Act of Baden-Württemberg and as only anonymized data were used for the analyses approval of an Ethical Committee is not necessary The study was conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the Declaration of Helsinki by the World Medical Association Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75084-y Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Cancer newsletter — what matters in cancer research Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover 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vibrant hub The focus for most visitors is the Black Forest itself – a sprawling mass of spruce trees tightly knit rural communities and sparkling lakes stretching for 160km (99 miles) from north to south It’s a place for adventure seekers and fans of slow travel with plenty to keep the kids entertained away from their screens on a family outdoor holiday This nine-day Black Forest itinerary takes you from Stuttgart through the Black Forest to the shores of Lake Constance (Bodensee) eat Black Forest gateau in Triberg and hang out with the students of Freiburg in front of the city’s medieval Münster There are no airports inside the Black Forest, but Stuttgart Airport is the major international airport serving Baden-Württemberg state and the Black Forest region S-Bahn trains and trams can get you from the airport to the center of Stuttgart in about 30 minutes.  For those traveling from elsewhere in Europe, fast trains connect Stuttgart to Paris and Strasbourg arriving at Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof station in the center of the city – conveniently close to hotels and the sights.  A car is your best option for getting around in the Black Forest especially if you want to drive along the Black Forest High Road The main towns are well connected by train but the sheer size of the Black Forest and the spread out nature of its attractions mean that you’ll rarely be traveling in a straight line.  Many hotels and apartments have on-site parking, but it’s always good to check ahead. If you do choose to travel by public transport, most hotels will give you a KONUS card when you check-in allowing free travel on the entire regional public transport network Comfortable shoes or trainers are fine for city stops in the Black Forest region all year round but walking boots or trail shoes are useful for forest hikes A cap or hat to keep the sun off your head is also essential.  rivers and water parks in southern Germany bringing swimwear along is a good idea from late spring to early fall with temperatures that fall well below 0°C (32°F) How to spend the day: Stuttgart the capital of Baden-Württemberg state and the Black Forest region has a proud history of engineering and innovation local inventors gave the world the automobile Good places to stay include the budget-friendly a&o Stuttgart City, which offers affordable private rooms, dorms and easy access to public transport, and higher-end EmiLu Design Hotel which was restored to its original baroque glory after a public referendum in 1957 rejected turning it into a hotel.  Deemed too small to be a suitable royal residence by the young Duke Carl Eugen of Württemberg in 1746, the nearby Altes Schloss (Old Palace) now houses the Landesmuseum where you can marvel at a 35,000-year-old flute or head underground to the royal crypt For art lovers, the Staatsgalerie is a must-visit This contemporary art gallery packs a punch with modernist works by Monet and Picasso and classic paintings dating back to the 14th century The gallery is part of Stuttgart’s cultural mile on Hauptstatter Strasse, which also includes the Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg (History Museum of Baden-Württemberg), and the town’s historic Stadtpalais and Rathaus Evening: Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a drink at one of the city’s Besenwirtschaft – friendly pop-up wine taverns The atmosphere at these convivial watering holes is friendly and homely generous pours and live music; a broom hung out the front signifies “We’re open.” How to spend the day: Use day two to dig into Stuttgart’s motoring history, after breakfast at Netzer a popular corner cafe with healthy brunch bowls plenty of outdoor seating and fantastic coffee Nothing is more synonymous with Stuttgart than the Porsche motor company This luxury car manufacturer still operates from its original site in Zuffenhausen just 15 minutes out of town by train.  Petrol-heads from around the world gather at the factory’s dedicated museum which displays nearly 100 Porsche vehicles a racing simulator and a comprehensive audio tour you can even rent a Porsche for the day from the ticket desk Across town in Bad Cannstatt, the Mercedes-Benz Museum celebrates the evolution of the “Merc” over 135 years placing its vehicles in the context of world history The collection is as impressive as it is vast – highlights include Gottlieb Daimler’s first internal combustion engine the Mercedes-Benz once owned by Princess Diana and the world’s most expensive car – the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé.  The museum itself is an architectural marvel with its double-helix design earning an entry in the Guinness World Records for the world’s biggest artificial tornado – a feature in the atrium designed to quickly suck out smoke in case of fire Evening: Located in the spacious Schlossgarten, popular Biergarten im Schlossgarten has great local meals at low prices Go from Stuttgart to Baden-Baden: The drive from Stuttgart to the spa town of Baden-Baden takes around 1¼ hours. The charming city of Heidelberg is a popular stop along the way if you have the extra time.  For accommodation, Hotel am Markt is a small family-run hotel offering package stays in Baden-Baden's bathhouse district. If your pockets are deep, there’s no better place to stop for a luxury spa getaway than the Brenners Park Hotel How to spend the day: A member of Europe’s premier league of spa towns, fashionable, UNESCO-listed Baden-Baden is a swish art nouveau spa town, picturesquely located at the foot of the Black Forest’s spruce-cloaked hills. For travelers seeking wellness and rejuvenation, the historic Friedrichsbad bathhouse and the modern Caracalla Spa promise soothing soaks in curative thermal waters.  Temple-like Friedrichsbad is the more traditional of the two with a 17-stage bathing regime that includes hot and cold thermal baths it’s all done completely naked; more prudish travelers might want to head next door to Caracalla whirlpools and steam rooms invite you to linger a little longer.  Evening: Ater dark, try your luck at the famed Casino Baden-Baden; with its ornate ceilings The strict dress code requires men to wear a suit and passports must be presented at the ticket desk you can join a daytime guided tour in English to learn more about the casino’s secrets; participants get a free entry pass to return to play in the evening How to spend the day: Take a second day in Baden-Baden to see more of the city sights. Bookend the day with stops at Maltes Hidden Kitchen and a cozy spot for a gourmet dinner at night.  When you’re ready to explore, the green parklands of Lichtentaler Allee take you from grand hotels and museums to even grander theatres and festival halls Take a stroll for 2.3km (1.4 miles) through the park to soak up the tranquillity, and stop in at the Museum Frieder Burda a private collector’s gallery featuring more than 1000 modern artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries explore the ruins of the free-to-visit Altes Schloss Hohenbaden castle at the top of the city from where you can take in sweeping views and listen to the delicate notes of the castle's 4m-tall (13ft) wind harp.  Evening: If you don’t return to Maltes Hidden Kitchen, treat yourself to dinner at one of Baden-Baden’s gourmet restaurants. Set at the top of town, Nigrum features a moody interior and impressive set menus of modern international cuisine. Alternatively, try Rizzi a lively and glam riverside restaurant presenting modern Asian fusion cooking at its best.  Go from Baden-Baden to Triberg: Drive for 1½ hours from Baden-Baden to Triberg at the heart of the Black Forest. If you have the budget, there are some stylish four-star stays in the area; Fritz Lauterbad near Freudenstadt is a sophisticated hotel with an outdoor pool and expansive forest views from all rooms, while Alpine-style Hotel Schlehdorn in tiny Altglashütten is perfect for a summer or winter escape How to spend the day: Triberg is a busy little tourist town where cuckoo clocks outnumber inhabitants and Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest gateaux – a dark chocolate cake with cherries and Kirsch) is a staple Triberg’s main street is kitsch but charming with souvenir shops overflowing with wooden ornaments and clocks.  Take a break from the tourist vibe by visiting the Triberg Waterfalls (Triberger Wasserfälle) Germany’s highest waterfall at 163m (535ft) The entry ticket gets you access to over 2km (1.2 miles) of winding boardwalks and walking paths that offer beautiful views.  where twice-daily flight shows provide a chance to see owls and other birds of prey in action Just out of town, two enormous timepieces compete for the title of “World’s Biggest Cuckoo Clock,” with both chirping every half hour. Stop in at the Rombach & Haas clock store in Schonach where a collection of ultra-modern cuckoo clocks are on display and you can see master clockmakers at work.  Evening: Eating at a mountain hut is a quintessential Black Forest experience. Consider making the trip southwest from Triberg to Höfener Hütte a chalet-like hut with good food and impressive views that can be reached by car or on foot Explore the villages of the Black Forest: This is a day for experiencing more of the landscapes and traditions of the Black Forest head out for breakfast in the picturesque town of Titisee a quaint tourist village on the shores of the lake of the same name that has some good restaurants and interesting boutiques if you want to shop for Black Forest souvenirs.  How to spend your day: If you’re feeling active devote the day to a walk in the Black Forest The path up to the summit of the Belchen is a hike with everything – sweeping views restaurants and even a cable car halfway up if you find the going hard and want to call it quits.  The 15km (9.3-mile) circular hike to the top of Belchen involves a fairly moderate ascent for the first half then an easy downhill stretch after you reach the summit and you can leave your car in the car park at the bottom of the hill or catch the regional bus to the trailhead from Münstertal or Titisee train station.  If you prefer artistic endeavors, visit the Dorotheenhütte glass factory in Wolfach a center for glass production since the 12th century The factory shop has a big selection of glass ornaments and Christmas decorations and you can join a short history tour or try your hand at glass-blowing and create your very own vase or bauble Smoked ham is another long-standing Black Forest tradition, and you can learn about the process at Pfau Schinken in the village of Herzogsweiler master butcher Frank Pfau hosts guided tours of the smokehouse and shares his secret recipes before giving you the chance to sample the house hams Evening: Take the opportunity to sample some of the local tipples. Visit Rothaus in Grafenhausen to learn what makes this cult beer so special, or delve into the process of making great fruit schnapps at Emil Scheibel Schwarzwald-Brennerei in Kappelrodeck.  climb the 333 spiral steps up the Münster's tall spire; from here you’ll be rewarded with dizzying views of the red-tiled rooftops and surrounding hills And don’t miss paying a visit to Freiburg’s historic Rathaus where you’ll find the coats of arms of Freiburg’s 12 sister cities at the entrance the hill swarms with couples and groups of friends soaking up the last light Join them under the chestnut trees in the beer garden or check out the views from the 360-degree viewing tower.  Go from Freiburg to Lake Constance: The drive from Freiburg to Lake Constance (Bodensee) takes about two hours. Spend the night like a king or queen in a real castle at Schloss Hotel Wasserburg; despite the regal setting Head out onto Lake Constance to explore the privately owned island of Mainau It was purchased by Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden in 1853 and he immediately set to work transforming it into a lush Mediterranean garden Mainau opened to the public in the early 20th century and the “Island of Flowers” has been delighting botanists ever since.  so make a day of it to get your money’s worth You can access the island by ferry from Konstanz or Meersburg Tickets for Mainau can be purchased with your ferry ticket Evening: After a day of sightseeing, grab dinner at Tolle Knoll a Konstanz institution where potatoes take a starring role on the menu Go to Meersburg: With so many lakeside towns vying for your attention, consider spending your last day exploring under-the-radar Meersburg, a patchwork of hillside vines, perky turrets, cobbled alleys and swimming spots on the eastern shore of the lake. A car ferry departs about every 15 minutes from Konstanz to Meersburg Before you board the boat, Das Voglhaus in Konstanz has plenty of cozy nooks for enjoying a coffee or slice of cake. If you feel like stopping overnight in Meersburg, three-star Hotel Zum Schiff has a prime position on the lakeshore How to spend the day: Dating back to the 7th century, Burg Meersburg takes center stage in Meersburg with restored rooms giving insights into the town’s layered history and a sense of what the castle looked like when it was in use.  You can also check out the Vineum exploring Meersburg’s long history of viticulture; test your nose by sniffing sample aromas before heading to the bar downstairs to put your newly honed sense of smell to work at a wine tasting For some fresh air, take in the panoramic views of the lake from the raised terrace of the Neues Schloss then meander down to the lakeside promenade the satirical Magische Säule (Magic Column) sculpture and inviting Weinstube (wine taverns) where you can celebrate the completion of this Black Forest itinerary This article was adapted from Lonely Planet’s Munich, Bavaria & the Black Forest guidebook from June 2024. Amidst a world rapidly changing under the weight of climate change the exhibition "I Feel the Earth Whisper" at Museum Frieder Burda invites us to contemplate the fragile beauty of the natural world and our profound interconnectedness with it Sam Falls and Ernesto Neto – including sculpture video and photography – the show curated by Patricia Kamp and Jérôme Sans invites us to reflect upon our relationship with the forests and unique ecosystems of the planet and to rekindle our historically rooted role as guardians of these vibrant living spaces the artists' works not only draw our gaze outward to the natural landscapes but also invite the living world inside creating immersive spaces that allow us to experience the interconnected realms of the human and the more-than-human the exhibition encourages its guests to listen to and feel the voices and vibrations of the Earth anew.As the Museum Frieder Burda commemorates its 20th anniversary the exhibition "I Feel the Earth Whisper" pays tribute to its founder Frieder Burda's visionary spirit and enduring legacy Connected to the greatest minds and creators of his generation the German collector built his museum at a human scale Designed by Richard Meier nestled within the picturesque park Lichtentaler Allee a UNESCO World Heritage site in Baden-Baden the museum's light-filled spaces create a harmonious symbiosis between art The interplay of light and nature within the museum’s architecture blurs the boundary between the outside and inside creating a dynamic and immersive environment that challenges the traditional white-cube museum aesthetic Situated near the borders of France and Switzerland the museum resides within the enigmatic Black Forest a region with legends and spiritual resonance As a response to the museum’s unique history and positioning in Baden-Baden a town steeped in the tradition of healing and restoration due to its mineral-rich thermal waters and historical bathhouses the exhibition explores the concept of healing on multiple levels – physical and environmental – calling for environmental stewardship and inspiring a harmonious relationship with ourselves and the Earth.A rich accompanying program expands the museum space and conventional exhibition practice engaging visitors to experience nature and community The German state of Baden-Württemberg has announced a series of investments in its digital infrastructure to support its police and security services The investments include €160 million ($169.1m) for the State Police and Office to Protect the Constitution IT infrastructure €55 million ($58.1m) for a data center located at the State Criminal Police Office in Stuttgart and €43 million ($45.4m) to improve the police electronic filing system The investments will occur over two years and include developing new tools based on artificial intelligence The data will be made available through a research and analysis platform which is expected to cost €9.5 million ($10m) a year "With targeted investments and the latest technology we are giving our officers maximum support and making our country safe and ready for the challenges of the future," said CDU parliamentary group leader Manuel Hagel Baden-Württemberg currently has four data centers, three of which are in Stuttgart. In October the state was announced as the home of IBM's latest quantum data center at its Ehningen campus near Stuttgart It is IBM's second quantum data center It features three systems—one based on IBM's Heron processor and two new systems that will be made available to customers through IBM's cloud service Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia European casualty business is not exposed to the challenges of the US market Aon co-CEO of reinsurance solutions EMEA Tomas Novotny reiterated during a video interview with Insurance Insider at this year’s Baden-Baden conference long-tail reinsurance players are fewer in number and cedants are typically a bit more selective towards reinsurers “Less competition is resulting in relatively favourable pricing for reinsurers – so I would expect and we already see some new entrants in this class from the reinsurers,” he said European property cat rates stabilised and decreased this year following significant corrections in 2023 With reinsurers looking to maximise the benefit from hard market pricing Novotny said he would “naturally expect the same dynamics going into 2025” "Consequently I would expect some rate decreases.” the broker suggested that the fact events represented a high return period type loss meant that there was no need for structural changes to reinsurance deals Novotny estimated activity to date had translated into a cat loss ratio of not more than 50% for reinsurers Cedants are looking for a more equitable split of exposure and premium in 2025 the reinsurance partners to honour the partnership rules,” he said Reinsurers needed to help solve the volatility challenges faced by cedants or their relevance would slowly disappear You have reached the limit for gifting for this month A small bunch of roses lies in the grass at the side of the road. The flowers are red and white - like the plastic barriers in the background. They line the spot in Stuttgart city center where people were standing at traffic lights the day before and were hit by a luxury SUV. A 46-year-old woman dies as a result of the accident. Seven other people are injured. Among them are five children. The police and public prosecutor's office are investigating the 42-year-old driver for involuntary manslaughter and involuntary bodily harm. As there are no grounds for arrest, the German, who has no criminal record, is released. Alongside the grief and remembrance, there is also a sense of relief: investigators still have no evidence that the driver had a motive for an attack. There were immediate suspicions - and rumors - on Friday evening. The memories of Mannheim, Munich and Magdeburg are too fresh. That evening, the police and public prosecutor's office in Stuttgart emphasized: "According to the current state of the investigation, there are currently no indications that suggest a deliberate act of violence or an attack." It is therefore assumed that it was a "tragic traffic accident". On Saturday morning, a police spokesperson said that the German had a five-year-old child in the car with him. Like his father, it had remained unharmed. Perhaps a further indication that the man had no ill intentions. On the other hand, there is the search for answers. It remains unclear what led to the accident at a major intersection right next to a light rail stop. The investigators' statement on Saturday evening only mentions that the car left the road "for reasons as yet unknown" and crashed into the railing of a crosswalk. An expert was on site on Friday evening. Police officers measured the black-painted car involved in the accident, took photographs and shone a flashlight under the Mercedes G-Class as a tow truck lifted the vehicle into the air with the help of a crane. The police kept the driver in custody overnight. He is reportedly being questioned. The spokesperson did not say what he had to say about what happened. He also did not say whether the man was already known to the police. The public prosecutor's office is also not providing any information. Nor does it say whether the man was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It also remains unclear whether the car belonged to the 42-year-old or was perhaps a rental or company car. In any case, according to initial findings, he drove into the group of people while turning right onto a two-lane road. Three adults were reportedly critically injured. The 46-year-old succumbs to her injuries shortly afterwards in hospital. The other two are being cared for by teams at Stuttgart Hospital. Nevertheless, the victims are no longer considered to be in mortal danger after the night. Is one reason for the number of casualties the force of an off-road vehicle? It will probably be a while before this is clarified. However, accidents involving large, heavy vehicles - often so-called SUVs (sports utility vehicles: off-road sedans or city SUVs) - do occur from time to time. In October, for example, a driver in Esslingen near Stuttgart skidded and veered to the right onto the sidewalk. A mother and her three and six-year-old sons were killed. In 2019, an accident in Berlin caused a sensation: After an epileptic seizure, the driver of an SUV rammed a traffic light and the car rolled over several times. At a speed of more than 100 kilometers per hour, he hit four people on the sidewalk. They had no chance. A debate broke out about banning SUVs in city centers. And died down again. SUVs are no more dangerous than other cars when it comes to accidents, the Björn Steiger Foundation announced in December after analyzing statistical data. "Basically, many parameters influence the real risk of injury. A high front end is not necessarily more dangerous than a short front end in a small car," explained Siegfried Brockmann, accident researcher at the foundation, which was set up after the death of an eight-year-old in a car accident. The severity of a victim's injuries therefore depends to a large extent on whether the head hits the windshield frame. This is the hardest part of the vehicle. The so-called secondary impact cannot be predicted at all. This refers to a collision with an obstacle or the road surface. In 2023, the Federal Statistical Office recorded 159,118 road accidents with personal injury in which the vehicle was classified in a segment. SUVs were the main culprit 15,285 times and off-road vehicles 8,885 times. The proportion of pedestrians among those killed in accidents was low in each case: 7 pedestrians were among 121 fatalities following accidents caused by SUVs. For SUVs, it was 8 out of 81. The results of an insect biorefinery research project (InBiRa; InBiRa – the insect biorefinery - Fraunhofer IGB) were presented at a closing event in Stuttgart on 21 October. Olivia Palermo first met Johannes Huebl, who is a model, back in 2007 through a mutual friend at a movie screening in New York City. The two began dating that November, and this year marks their 17th year of being together and their 10th year married. “I proposed to Olivia on New Year’s Eve in 2013 while we were on holiday in St. Barts,” Johannes remembers. “It was just the two of us in an idyllic setting and a very special moment.” Olivia Palermo and Johannes Huebl at their 2014 wedding in Bedford, New York The couple worked closely with the events team at the Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden, Germany, which is Johannes’s home country. Olivia and Johannes first visited the property for the Gala Spa Awards in March 2012—two years before their civil ceremony—and loved it so much they decided to return for their 10-year anniversary celebration. Olivia is a self-described “super-visual person,” so the majority of her planning took place via her iPhone photo reel—she notes she made an album of more than a thousand screenshots—and Zoom calls and WhatsApp messages with the Brenners Park-Hotel events team. On Friday night, guests arrived at the hotel for a cocktail reception via the path along the Oos River that runs through Baden-Baden. Olivia wore a short pink Simkhai dress for getting-ready photos and then changed into Look 31 from the Giambattista Valli Haute Couture show—the first of three Giambattista Valli dresses that she wore over the course of the milestone weekend. The driver of the car, a 42-year-old man, is arrested, according to the police. According to initial investigations, the incident is most likely an accident, according to the police. "According to the current state of the investigation, there are currently no indications that suggest a deliberate act of violence or an attack", according to a joint statement from the police and the public prosecutor's office. The investigation is ongoing. Lord Mayor Frank Nopper and Mayor of Public Order Clemens Maier announced in the evening: "We are shocked by this tragic traffic accident." Emergency services protect the scene of the accident from prying eyes The emergency services are treating the slightly injured in a kind of fire department bus, which people can gradually leave and are led away. The fire department, emergency services and police work in a cordoned-off area and cover the scene of the incident with tarpaulins to protect them from view. Photos still show the remains of the rescue workers' equipment: Plastic gloves, bags, bandages. There is also a folded up baby carriage at the scene of the accident. However, a police spokesperson was unable to say whether children were involved. Car comes to a partial stop on pedestrian path The exact background to the incident is still unclear. It is also not yet known how fast the car drove into the crowd. According to a police spokeswoman, accident specialists are taking a close look at the scene and witnesses are being questioned. The incident occurred at around 5.50 p.m. at the Olgaeck subway station above ground. The vehicle comes to a halt partly on the road and partly on the area where pedestrians normally have to wait at the traffic lights. The metal railing behind it, which actually appears stable, is bent over. According to initial findings by the police, the man turned right from a single-lane side road onto the multi-lane main road leading out of the city and drove into the group of people, who were probably coming from the light rail stop. The stop is in the middle. On this side, the road leads out of the valley basin towards the city, on the other side towards the city. The accident site is located outside the partially traffic-calmed city center, east of the Cityring. Several important subway lines depart from the above-ground stop. The traffic situation at this important junction slowly returned to normal in the evening. After the road and the railroad line were completely closed at times and neither vehicles nor trains were able to pass, the police initially reopened the oncoming lane in the evening. Streetcars also pass the accident site again. In the evening, a tow truck loads up the accident vehicle - according to the police, a black Mercedes G-Class, i.e. a kind of off-road vehicle - and transports it away. All that remains on the road are white marks indicating the position of the car. Photo: BoerderijYet another state in western Germany is reporting the presence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in its wild boar population The virus emerged in a population in Baden-Württemberg The state authorities confirmed this on Friday A hunter shot the animal and its carcass tested positively A confirmation by the state reference laboratory Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut is expected in the course of this Friday That state has been reporting ASF since June this year When the second test confirms the infection it means that different infection zones will have to be enlarged this Friday the authorities reported that in total 97 infected wild boar have been found Most of these were found in the Groß-Gerau district The virus was also discovered on 8 pig farms in this district The 3rd state in western Germany that was found infected is Rheinland-Palatinate The latest count shows 33 infected wild boar there the majority of which having been found in the district Mainz-Bingen ASF is not a completely unfamiliar phenomenon a farm of 35 pigs near Forchheim was reported infected in the deep south That turned out to be a one-off infection without any further consequence in terms of spread The outbreak in western Germany now likely covering 3 states requires an even greater deal of coordination Most responsibilities with animal disease control lie with the individual states and each of which will have to have their own staff