Schwarzwald Capital made a strategic investment in Vesta a transaction guarantee provider for online payments The partnership includes establishing a joint venture focused on reducing fraudulent transactions in digital commerce Vesta processes over 100 million transactions annually across more than 40 countries providing fraud prevention for card-not-present transactions a venture capital firm focused on fintech and the creator economy aims to enhance security in digital payments through this investment in Vesta which was acquired by Goldfinch Partners in 2020 “We are thrilled to partner with Vesta to drive innovation in fraud prevention,” said Kyrillos Akritidis co-founder and managing director of Schwarzwald Capital seamless and secure payments are the backbone of their businesses we aim to develop groundbreaking solutions that empower the creator economy and revolutionize digital transactions.” New director promises faster investigations and clearer outcomes for organizations that proactively disclose bribery offenses Sample provisions offer blueprint for compliant data brokerage with foreign entities Majority of execs predict rise in fincrime in ’25 How to meet your obligations in the cloud's shared-responsibility model while preventing AI-specific attack vectors Privacy Policy | AI Policy CCI is the web’s premier global independent news source for compliance Got a news tip? Get in touch. Want a weekly round-up in your inbox? Sign up for free Please enable JavaScript to view this page correctly Giving Thanks To You - A Poem for Travel Advisors Bowman’s Travel Brief: Avoid Newark Airport Mastering the Art of Group Travel Bookings Fiesta Americana Travelty Celebrates Travel Advisors The Top 24 Most Powerful Travel Agencies of 2024 The Strategic Art of Pre-Planning Luxury Vacations: A Perspective for Travel Advisors For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter On the Pulse: Rental Escapes Message to Travel Advisors Collette - Expertly Crafted Tours for the Modern Traveler Donald Wood is TravelPulse’s senior news editor bringing nearly 15 years of experience to the desk Stellantis NV on Tuesday announced several changes to its top executive team including naming a new chief sales and marketing officer Luca Napolitano will take on the company's global sales and marketing role in addition to his role leading the Italian car brand Lancia who will now focus on expanding the Citroën brand retail sales and dealer management in several countries across Europe Olivier Bourges takes over as chief customer experience officer for Richard Schwarzwald Bourges previously worked in strategic planning for the Stellantis Finally, Stellantis said Clara Ingen-Housz, who joined the company earlier this year, will take over Bourges' current post as head of the corporate office and public affairs officer, joining the company's more than 30-member top executive team who had been in the role about three months Audi is examining existing and future plants as locations to build cars sold in the U.S (George) Pennypacker of Fleetwood and Keri J Joe was a 1995 graduate of Exeter High School and Berks VOTEC in Leesport He was a dedicated hard-working farmer all his life Wellsboro Services - Friends may call on Wednesday July 3rd from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at the Carleton Funeral Home Reading Services - Funeral Services will be held Friday PA 19606.  A visitation will be held from 11 a.m in the church.  Burial will be in the Schwarzwald Cemetery In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to your local FFA or County 4-H Official magazine of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) There is something peculiar about February The Romans knew it as the month of purification; the ancient Teutons as the time to get rid of accumulated grudges and other devilry; while the Catholic Church gave it a sort of special licence for Carnival before the Lenten fast To whatever mixture of these and other traditional elements the South German Fasching owes its origin the result is one of the strangest popular festivals to be seen in Europe Carnival is celebrated throughout the Black Forest It is the time known in Germany as Fasching the Schwarzwald revels are more hilarious and characterized by more bizarre customs than those in any other locality in the country The paradox lies in the fact that the Black Forest inhabitants are known during the rest of the year as extraordinarily earnest The character of these sober Germans has been moulded by the vast expanses of frowning Black-pine forest and by the hardships of their life Fasching offers an opportunity to escape briefly from the serious rôle of everyday and they throw themselves with astonishing lack of self-consciousness into a protracted spree of madcap frolic the true origins of the Black-Forest Carnival are lost in the mists of unrecorded time But it is generally conceded that the Narren-Treffen (literally Fools’ Meeting) as practised today is the outgrowth of early Germanic rites To the pre-Christian Teutons their forests and fields—the very air they breathed—were peopled with daemons And because the daemonic spirits played so terrifyingly upon the fears of these simple folk they imagined that fear could in turn be employed for devil-exorcism It was thus that they evolved the elaborate mechanism of fear-inspiring masks fantastic raiment and noise-making apparatus which makes a Schwarzwald Fools’ Meeting such a colourful orgy of the grotesque Ask the average villager why at this season of every year he and his neighbours don these absurd costumes cover their faces with uncomfortable carved wooden masks carry a weight of some sixty pounds in bells I questioned one massively built Swabian blacksmith whose mask was carved with enormous nose contorted mouth and sorrowful wooden beads of tears coursing down the cheeks “is it not like the barnyard beasts and the furry things of the wood and some that have horns get rid of those as well And at this time we can say what we want about our neighbours thus sloughing off the year’s accumulated grudges.” In every Fasching-season there is one week-end appointed for a mass-gathering of revellers from villages and cities scattered over the entire Schwarzwald On other Saturdays and Sundays during the period each town has its own separate celebration In the spring of 1936 the big meeting took place at Oberndorf a small manufacturing town in almost the exact centre of the Black Forest area and famed as being the native place of Mauser guns Dwellers from twenty-seven different communities assembled there for an entire week-end of carnival All Saturday night they danced and revelled in the town meeting-hall At eight o’clock on Sunday morning they held as preparation for the big procession which always takes place at two in the afternoon The rest of the forenoon is spent in gossiping and at a luncheon to the accompaniment of much singing and drinking of beer and ‘schnapps’ As the town clock strikes two they hurl themselves with a furious din of rattling bells laughter and shouting through the main street of the village traditional step which causes their harness of bronze bells to ring in rhythmic fashion On long sticks they carry supplies of pretzels which they fling right and left to the crowding spectators Witches with heavy brooms raise unsuspecting bystanders high in the air Man-horses gallop to the cracking of long whips wielded by hideous masked drivers The principal characters to be distinguished among the Narros are the G’schell (Bell-Fool) The Schuddig—most ferociously masked of all—is the licensed chastiser He is armed with a stick to which is attached a stout and with this harmless weapon he belabours fools and spectators alike The Schandle carries over his head a figured white-and-parti-coloured umbrella; under his left arm a large book This book is the pièce de résistance of the entire sport: in it are written down the petty rascalities the chicaneries of all the erring members of the community And when the parade is ended these titbits of evil gossip are read aloud by the Schandle for the ears of all and sundry If the butcher has sold doubtful cuts of meat or charged improper prices he is sure to hear of it at the free-for-all Fasching impeachment as there are many Schandles in every group of revellers it is not to be wondered at that an aftermath of lawsuits and processes follows each year’s Fasching celebration The masks are carved in schools of wood-cutting conducted by the Dominican friars These masks weigh on the average two pounds or more apiece Many of those in current use were carved as much as two hundred years ago and have been handed down as treasured heirlooms from father to son for generations Each year they are freshly painted so that all evidence of their antiquity is concealed For those who do not possess such inherited masks and have not the wherewithal to buy new ones (at a cost of about £4 apiece) there are masks to be rented from the Narren-Zunft or Carnival Association for a very modest price Most of the costumes are made of hand-woven white linen and are painted by hand in brilliant colours with figures of animals mediaeval courtiers and other fascinating designs An interesting analogy is noted by one of the German commentators on the history of these customs hobby-horse figures identical with those of the Schwarzwald Rössel or “Horse-fool” appear; also the fox-tails worn by the G’schell are familiar in the Morris-dance Another German commentator has drawn attention to the fact that the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district of southern Bavaria where these Shrovetide festivities have also been celebrated with great vigour from early times lies on what was once the great trade-route from Italy to Augsburg lies on the same route.) Traces of the Lupercalia the yearly festival of purification and fertility held by the Romans on February 15th (cf to purify) are found by this observer in the fact that only men may run masked through the streets; in the freshly made birch-brooms offered by the participants to women bystanders; and in the decorated ox-tails carried by the Schellenführer with their jingling bells The Black Forest also lay within the boundary of the Roman Empire and it may well be that elements of Roman origin have there become mingled with the early Germanic rites of devil-exorcism and have contributed to the weird medley of masked characters that throngs the villages at Fasching For a limited time, you can explore the original Fasching article for free in Geographical Magazine’s online archive. The March 1938 issue is now available for you to enjoy, featuring all articles and additional images from the Fasching carnival. Click here for full access to the issue More free articles from the archive here Filed Under: Geographical Archive Tagged With: Click Here for SUBSCRIPTION details Want to access Geographical on your tablet or smartphone Android or PC/Mac image below to download the app for your device Copyright © 2025 · Site by Syon Media 2016 Sony World Photography Awards - 2nd Place These could be inspired by many things – experiences important and less important observations – and are expressed through a variety of techniques As Schwarzwald himself says: “different messages need different executions” his often fantastical and surreal tales are composed with a precise and meticulous attention to detail – and particularly to the lighting of the image His work is unified by the sensation of serenity which one gains through “arousing small Oliver is a member of the Art Directors Club Germany Website | Instagram twinkle: lights hang from a Christmas-market stall Mulled wine and traditional gifts: Freiburg's Christmas market glühwein and song: the charm of traditional festive markets in south-west Germany In the depths of Germany's Black Forest lie some magical surprises I discovered a Christmas market worthy of a German fairy tale Entering the market at Ravenna Gorge More than 40 stalls are framed by the steep hills of the forest and the 40m-high Höllental Railway viaduct on which trains clatter by every 15 minutes or so The smell of glühwein and roasting bratwurst fill the air The best view of the market can be found on top of the Galgenbühl hill, behind hotel Hofgut Sternen which has hosted such famous guests over the years as Goethe and Marie Antoinette I head up there to watch the sun set behind the 12th-century St Oswald Chapel the oldest surviving parish church in the High Black Forest and admire the millions of fairy lights twinkling in the dusk From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox After dark is when the Christmas market really comes to life We enjoyed walking a riverside path through the illuminated woods that uses wooden sculpture to tell the story of the nativity Children were left spellbound by Santa's presence – and presents I also finally succumbed to a heaped mound of kasëspatzle from flammkuchen (a very thin sort-of pizza where they share the stories and history of the sport in the region it sprawls around the city's squares and cobbled alleyways sprinkling some sparkle everywhere you look We found mulled wine and traditional German foods they serve traditional cuisine from Baden-Württemberg The beef entrecôte with spätzle was a stand-out winter warmer while the Black Forest gâteaux in a glass was the perfect sweet end and shopped in the independent boutiques of the riverside quarter We spent the final evening of our Christmas trip at the Alte Wache a specialist wine shop and bar in a 300-year-old former guard station As I enjoyed a glass of Baden pinot noir under the heaters outside The Black Forest is the perfect place to get into the Christmas spirit A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com WHY IT RATES: The Black Forest region is offering a variety of cultural events over the coming months including exhibitions on HipHop and glassmaking a crystal festival and an art installation at St  The Black Forest region is packed with cultural highlights in the coming months, offering everything from historical abbey culture to modern exhibitions and concerts. Here’s a preview of the diverse experiences you can enjoy. www.kultur-schwarzwald.info and its "language" is understood worldwide The exhibition "Stories of HipHop" at the Pforzheim Jewellery Museum showcases the flashy jewellery Curated rooms explore the different aspects of HipHop www.schmuckmuseum.de and www.storiesofhiphop.de The Black Forest has a long history of glassmaking recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Schluchsee’s new exhibition at the Kurhaus highlights the Aeule glassworks and showcases both everyday glass and the local glassmaking history The exhibition focuses on the region’s glassware and the historical importance of the Aeule glassworks www.hochschwarzwald.de and www.unesco-im-schwarzwald.de The Franziskanermuseum presents the exhibition "Grave Robbery: Tracing the Past through the Centuries," which explores the phenomenon of grave robbing from the Celts to the present day. Through artifacts and stories, the exhibition reveals how grave robbers reflect societal complexities. The exhibit runs from April 5 to July 6, 2025. www.franziskanermuseum.de the "Black Forest Music Festival" will present a range of performances Highlights include Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana performed with the band Spark (May 23–25) and various other concerts, such as "Violons Barbares" (May 29), "Brass2Go" (June 1), and "Singer Pur" (June 3). www.schwarzwald-musikfestival.de Welcome to the Sunny Side of Germany - Discover Baden-Württemberg Lacey Pfalz is Associate Editor at TravelPulse She's a passionate advocate of responsible travel and believes the best travel experiences happen outside of a planned itinerary She can be reached at lpfalz@ntmllc.com 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 The chest reveals an item that might be more significant than it appears The 4-star hotel in Germany has won an award for its circular design concept and use of recyclable materials a 4-star hotel in the Bad Herrenalb municipality in Germany has received a Sustainable Hospitality Award The hotel room concept is based on the principles of the ‘cradle to cradle’ design This means that in the selection of all building elements high social standards and regeneration quality The rooms feature 100% biodegradable or recyclable materials such as real moss and sheep’s wool The hotel’s location in Germany’s northern Black Forest has inspired the design which was realised with the interior design team of Fritz Schlecht I SHL and Rittweger and Team It took three years to develop the concept Three sample rooms were completed and ready for occupancy in December 2022 A further 21 rooms will follow by June 2023 and the entire fourth floor by spring 2024 The hotel states: “Our rooms are part of the solution towards the important milestone for the entire hospitality industry with regard to the Paris 1.5 degree target and the European Green Deal.” Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis Schwarzwald Panorama is part of the Green Pearls Hotel programme which chooses its members based on their sustainable initiatives and green credentials Recent hotel industry data shows that Germany leads Europe in hotel room construction. Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network. the Black Forest invites relaxation and reconnection with nature Discover the best things to do in Germany’s Black Forest region Gorge on Black Forest cake in local bakeries Cafe Rowing out to the centre of Titisee’s glacial lake to cast a line or enjoy a few moments of solitude can be a blissful experience consider walking the 90-minute trail that circles the water or hiking to the top of Hochfirst mountain for a bird’s-eye-view Hop on a bike and tackle more than 8,000km (4,971mi) of mountain trail until the blue beauty of the water beckons you back import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_1"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(window.canRunAmazon) { const amazonService = new AmazonBidService(); promises.push(amazonService.fetchBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Baden-Baden Thermal Baths Spa mind and spirit through a 17-station circuit be sure to scope out the preserved ruins to see how the Romans rocked their spa sessions Marc St / Unsplash Mummelsee Tours At the foot of the Hornisgrinde mountain sits Lake Mummelsee conveniently located on the Black Forest High Road Legend insists that mermaids call these waters home though you’re much more likely to find visitors enjoying a morning cup of coffee as they head out on the trail up Hornisgrinde Water activities such as renting a pedalo are ideal for warmer months Visiting when the area becomes a winter wonderland Plan a walk on the pathway around the lake and take in the snowy mountain views import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_2"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Glam it up at the casino in Baden-Baden Casino Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Whether climbing to the lookout or enjoying its 300-year construction effort from the Munstermarkt farmers’ market just outside the cathedral’s door the Freiburger Münster deserves a moment of reflection and reverence from every visitor import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_3"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); The Black Forest Museum Bruno Kelzer / Unsplash View Tours The small town of Triberg is a key destination for most Black Forest travellers The Erste weltgrößte Kuckucksuhr giant cuckoo clock and Schwarzwaldmuseum of Black Forest culture are great photo ops but all else in the town plays second fiddle to the Triberg Falls These falls are the tallest in Germany and can be admired from multiple angles via a nearby pathway Instead of an about-face after snapping pictures of the falls follow the trail for a fantastic hike into the mountains Schwarzwald Hochstrasse Natural Feature Aurélien Faux / Unsplash View Tours Worn out from all of the Black Forest’s hiking trails Rest up without missing out on the views by enjoying a drive along the Schwarzwald Hochstrasse This popular 60km (37mi) stretch of roadway is open to vehicles which means you’ll be sharing the unobstructed views with other visitors the stunning vistas present more than enough photo ops to go around Don’t try to tackle all 60km like a race; the small towns and nature trails are worth every generous pitstop the most obvious thing to do in a forest is to walk in it virgin coniferous forests and deep valleys with the most untamed section (some 100 square km (39 square miles)) in the north between Baden-Baden and Freudenstadt You can drive through on the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse but the experience will be so much more magical on foot Also advisable with a car, this spot some 4 km (2.5 miles) south of the Kinzig Valley is the home of the Schwarzwälder Freilichtmuseum a reconstruction of an early-17th-century farmstead The museum showcases original farmhouses that have been brought piece by piece to the museum site and painstakingly reconstructed not to mention demonstrations on how to smoke meat and fish © Dorotheenhutte Glassworks Dorotheenhütte Glassworks challenges you to create your own Black Forest souvenir The art and history of glassblowing are on full display at this museum and workspace Visitors even get the chance to blow their own glass vase to take home Don’t worry about blowing countless vases for family and friends – much better to stop by the year-round Dorotheenhütte Christmas Village and pick up a few stocking stuffers that won’t exhaust your budget or your lungs import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_9"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); German Clock Museum Museum Matthias Münning / Unsplash How can you earn one of the best views of the Black Forest A two-way cable car offers an instant trip to the top of the Schauinsland though there’s also a roadway that cars and motorcycles can climb to reach this mountain’s summit and Voges Mountains are visible from the mountain side and there’s no better way to take in these magnificent views than taking the time to appreciate them on a long This treacherous road to Hollental was originally named for its treacherous terrain but navigating it is a far less frightening ordeal these days A surprisingly spacious highway and a railway both provide a smooth and safe ride for sightseeing in the Valley of Hell Badeparadies Schwarzwald is a little slice of Caribbean paradise in Titisee-Neustadt Renewed vitality awaits in the textile-free Palais Vital-themed sauna; while pina coladas mai tais and white Russians loosen every muscle in the Palm Oasis While the intrepid children are orbiting 23 slides in the Galaxy Schwarzwald parents are free to indulge in a Black Forest Mist steam bath that’s out of this world Lace up a pair of comfortable hiking shoes for this exciting trek through the Black Forest Over the river valleys and through the forests to Wehraschlucht’s gorge the full Schluchtensteig trail runs for just under 120km (75mi) reaching an airy 3,000m (9,843ft) above sea level The majestic gorges are well worth the six-stage hike Along the southern edge of the Black Forest is the town of Nagold peacefully surrounded by woodlands and offering the chance of a stroll through a Stone Age settlement Nagold itself is a pretty town with a handful of shops With trails along the Nagold River and the Schwarzwald Nature Park nearby this small town is an ideal place to rest tired feet and replenish supplies for yet another hike through the Black Forest Explorers who want to conquer the Black Forest cannot claim victory without taking on Hornisgrinde Though not the most challenging hike in Germany but the sheep-lined mountain sides are too picturesque to resist Hornisgrinde’s observation deck offers a unique view for every season and its sunsets cannot be missed What better way to experience the Black Forest than a stroll among the treetops Baumwipfelpfad Schwarzwald in Bad Wildbad takes visitors on a 1,250-m (4,101-ft) walk alongside the trees Although the walkway does stretch up to 20m (66ft) high the mild grade allows strollers and wheelchairs to easily climb towards the sky Skip the treetop walk and opt for a ride on the Sommerbergbahn funicular railway or wind up the spiralling observation tower for an unbeatable view With an Adventure Forest playground and educational activity stations throughout the park Baumwipfelpfad Schwarzwald is a family-friendly way to enjoy the Black Forest without trekking too far is a drive along the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse from Baden-Baden through the picture-perfect villages in the Kinzig and Gutach Valley Plan a stop in the brewery town of Alpirsbach and get your Instagram ready for the half-timbered houses in Schiltach and Calw Somewhat surprisingly, the group of nine villages known as Baiersbronn is something of a foodie hotspot with no less than three Michelin-starred restaurants embracing the magic of the ancient forest to produce something truly supernatural on the plate but it’s worth making a night out here the focal point of a trip to the Black Forest Stop giggling – it’s pronounced ‘titty-zay’ This 2 km (1.2 mile)- long lake was carved straight out of a glacier which makes the water a special green blue colour Design The Most Beautiful Churches in Berlin Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do A Guide to River Cruises in Germany: What to Know See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do Germany's Most Beautiful Abbeys and Monasteries See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July See & Do The Best Weekend Trips From Heidelberg Art 10 Masterpieces You Can Only See in Munich US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd The Black Forest is famed for its cuckoo clocks and the German Clock Museum (Deutsches Uhrenmuseum) in Furtwangen is the best place to get up close and personal with several examples visitors will find a collection of more than 1,000 iconic clocks some 160 years old and others extremely rare as well as troves of information on the history and technology of clock-making Visit the main exhibition to see items like an atomic clock and the first-ever radio-controlled wristwatch which features books on horology from the local university be sure to also take advantage of organized treasure hunts for children and workshops on how to make and decorate a clock Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at notification@afar.com. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC 2017Photo: Courtesy of Tom BursonSave this storySaveSave this storySaveA few hundred years ago witches procured deadly apples from the thorny trees across the dark forest and vibrant herbs along the forest floor turned princes into frogs Roman soldiers called it Silva Negra because of its wall of darkness This same darkness inspired Grimm folklore and childhood fairy tales of foreboding bright red rosehip dangles from mountainside shrubs Exotic—and toxic—mushrooms test hikers' palates Wild cherries form the base of the region’s infamous chocolate-cherry gateau Distillers at the Schwarzwaldbrennerei (Black Forest Distillers) transform poisonous fruits like rotting cherries and Williams pear into herbaceous And a group of chefs have created a culinary mecca with more three-star Michelin restaurants than Chicago hidden in the middle of Germany’s Black Forest Baiersbronn, a town of 16,000 in Germany’s Black Forest, mere miles from France and in the almost unpronounceable state of Baden-Württemberg, isn’t rife with romanticism like Regensburg or Rothenburg or Fairytale Franconia no beaches; just low-lying mountains in a sea of thicket so dense that it’s pitch-black even at noon Its darkness spooked Teutonic soldiers and inspired Kinderfresser (child-eaters) like that in Hansel and Gretel but now the red-roofed houses that overlook a vast valley of colorful autumnal timberland and pastures of lounging livestock is an epicenter of haute cuisine The village boasts a collective eight Michelin stars (one two-star and two three-star restaurants) and is perhaps the world’s most unexpected restaurant capital thanks in large part to chef Harald Wohlfahrt Wohlfahrt has defended Schwarzwaldstube’s three Michelin stars for roughly 25 years Arguably the most influential chef in Germany today his tutorship is responsible for the chefs at four of Germany’s nine three-star restaurants along with innumerable others who together have earned over 60 Michelin stars altogether Its façade reads “French Restaurant,” but it should probably update to the Grimm moniker “Das Waldhaus” (The House in the Forest) timber-laden lodge exhibits an Old European elegance with a sort of hunting cabin charm The wild hare with Brussel sprout leaves and a sauce rouennaise with cranberries reads almost like a French ode to the Schwarzwald’s wildlife and the sour cherry sorbet plus a Kirschwasser soaked bonbon with chocolate crumble plays off the region’s famous gateau (Black Forest Chocolate Cake) in the booziest way imaginable Photo: Courtesy of Tom BursonJust a few miles away, hidden amongst towers of pines, Chef Peter-Claus Lumpp of Bareiss Baiersbronn’s second three-star restaurant and gourmet restaurant of the luxury Hotel Bareiss prepares autumnal comforts for an intimate room of eight tables The entire experience exudes Gemütlichkeit Lumpp uses the fruits of the forest—foraged vegetables and herbs—and the restaurant’s own farm (Bareiss breeds cows and fish) to concoct dishes like Breton-style turbot with freshly plucked topinambur and caramelized hazelnuts or black-feathered chicken with butternut squash and sprigs of verbena The entire setting is an olfactory amuse-bouche, with scents of rose and pine—the forest—waltzing with the dishes. And it’s this aroma of the Black Forest that has livened the German senses for centuries. Arabia Australia Brasil Britain China Czechoslovakia España Germany Italia Japan Korea México Nederland Paris Polska Portugal Russia Taiwan Thailand Türkiye Ukraine US Portfolio Wedding Directory Culture & Living Whats New Weddings Diaries of a Working Woman Wellness How To Myntra Masterclass To India With Love The gin comes wrapped in history, heritage, and fine craftsmanship. What’s better? It has an origin rooted in India. It’s a batch-distilled, handcrafted spirit that fuses the quintessential British spirit, the exoticism of Indian spices, and the rich landscape of the Black Forest with the genius of the Monkey 47 founder, Alexander Stein. It was during the 1950s when love and curiosity drew wing commander Montgomery Collins, a British Royal Airforce officer born in Madras, to an isolated valley in the Black Forest, where he took over the “Wild Monkey” guesthouse and became acquainted with the great Black Forest tradition of distilling fruit and – out of a longing for his own British passions – developed the black forest dry gin. Remembering the innovation behind and early days of Monkey 47 Gin, Stein recalls “We didn’t want to create a brand, but rather the best gin possible. We set out to produce aromas, not alcohol. For that reason, we shouldn’t be mistaken for typical spirits producers or liquor entrepreneurs; we are schnapps distilleries to the core and, like a perfumer, constantly on the hunt for aromas and fragrances.” Amongst the botanicals are six different types of pepper, as well as Acorus calamus, almond, lavender, lemon, lemon balm, bitter orange, blackberry, cardamom, cassia, chamomile, cinnamon, lemon verbena, cloves, coriander, cranberries, cubeb, dog rose, elderflower, ginger, grains of paradise, hawthorn berries, hibiscus abelmoschus, hibiscus syriacus, honeysuckle, jasmine, kaffir lime, lemongrass, liquorice, monarda didyma, nutmeg, orris, pimento, pomelo, rosehip, sage, sloe, and much more. As for how it’s made – The botanicals are steeped in warm ambient temperature of twenty degrees, in a mix of highly rectified ethyl alcohol and spring water, for at least thirty-six hours in air tight containers after which they are blended with the macerate in drums, along with extracted oils, and hand-spun together. Next, the macerate is then moved on to distillate in copper stilts which involves using steam extraction to channel alcoholic vapours through fresh botanicals. This way, the master distiller can coax out individual notes of the ingredients, each in perfect balance with the other. Lastly, the Monkey47 Schwarzwald dry gin is matured for a hundred days in amphora-like earthenware vessels to achieve the soft, rounded and balanced taste it is renowned for. Whether with tonic, or as a sling, the unique and intricate taste of Monkey 47 with the distinctly pure scent of juniper along with a tangy and crisp citrus note and a sweet, floral aroma, your Schwarzwald dry gin is bound to offer you a harmoniously balanced complexity with a tremendously racy finish. Now that's one way to encourage people to get outdoors 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sidney Frank Importing Company and Black Forest Distillers of Germany jointly announce that Sidney Frank Importing Company Inc will become the exclusive importer and distributor of MONKEY 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin in the United States handcrafted dry gin that skillfully unites British traditions the exoticism of India and the purity and nativeness of the Black Forest It is this eccentricity that defines the enigmatic character of Commander Montgomery Collins from whom MONKEY 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin originates Collins' childhood as the son of a diplomat in East Asia his military career in Berlin and his late-adopted home in the Black Forest supply the background for a recipe that represents an audacious combination of 47 handpicked natural ingredients Collins was not willing to give up his appreciation for gin and used regional and unusual botanicals such as lingonberries and exotic Asian botanicals to develop his Black Forest Gin Founder and Managing Partner of Black Forest Distillers learned of Collins' extraordinary gin recipe and made the acquaintance of the highly acclaimed distiller Together they fine-tuned the recipe and tirelessly worked to introduce a high-quality gin in honor of Commander Collins and his monkey Max a dry gin with an unrivaled complexity and quality distilled from 47 botanicals and macerated in a combination of pure molasses alcohol and extremely soft natural spring water "The global response to MONKEY 47 has been overwhelming and we have seen a tremendous demand to expand into other markets Our first batch was sold out within a few short weeks and all further batches were ordered before the bottles had even been filled," says Alexander Stein "We are excited to partner with brand building expert Sidney Frank Importing Company as we bring our highly sought after schwarzwald dry gin to the United States." "We are delighted to add the ultra-quality dry gin Executive Vice President of Marketing at Sidney Frank Importing Company "MONKEY 47 is the rare but true combination of a handcrafted product with an authentic story award-winning packaging and a perfectly balanced taste." MONKEY 47 was first introduced in Germany in May the monkey from the Black Forest is available in 20 countries and has received top honors from around the world for both taste and design including Gold Medal at the Beverage Tasting Institute Gold - Best in Class for Gin Worldwide at The International Wine & Spirits Competition a Red Dot award for packaging design and the recent nomination for Spirit of the Year at The Mixology Awards Drink International Global Survey just ranked MONKEY 47 as number four of the top 10 trending gin brands served at the World's 50 Best Bars Kate LauferDirector, Public RelationsSidney Frank Importing Co., Inc.Phone: 914.637.5752[email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140528/91854 Do not sell or share my personal information: rent a car (a German performance car is worth the splurge to get the authentic Autobahn experience) and take the A5 toward Basel/Darmstadt take the Gaggenau exit to B462 and follow directions to Baiersbronn Since you’re going at least in part for the food don’t risk being turned away at the door because you don’t have a reservation Don’t let the slightly kitschy alpine décor fool you: The menu is eclectic and modern and pear (billed as “essence of deer”) and goose liver cannelloni with pineapple the hotel’s rustic mountain cabin restaurant—a great spot for freshly baked pretzels If visiting a storybook castle is also on your list keep driving east for another 30 miles to the implausibly photogenic hilltop castle of Hohenzollern Take one of the guided tours (they get crowded) or explore on your own There’s a pretty beer garden inside the castle that’s perfect for a German-style rest Finish the day back at the hotel’s three-Michelin-star restaurant, Schwarzwaldstube which ignited Baiersbronn’s culinary revolution in 1977 when it picked up its first star the protégé of legendary chef Harald Wohlfahrt (who’s responsible for the third star) intensely flavored dishes with influences from far beyond France and Germany—from coriander marinated tuna with shiitakes and ginger in a light wasabi foam to Brittany lobster escabeche You can order à la carte or pick one of the tasting menus (including a vegetarian one) dinner at Schwarzwaldstube is an epic affair of memorable course after memorable course take the cake: Instead of one or two petit fours after dessert the server wheels in an entire cart of them Don’t be tempted to wave him away on account of being too full or you’ll miss gems like ultra-tender Black Forest cherry macarons and gold-covered chocolate truffles with passion fruit flavor A (short) detour to Lossburg is worth it for a visit to Monkey 47 Surrounded by conifer-shrouded hills that seem to contain all the shades of green the hotel is an excellent starting point for a morning in the great outdoors You can take one of a dozen or more hikes practically from your doorstep The 60-mile Murgleiter trail connecting Baiersbronn to Gernsbach—one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Germany according to the German Hiking Institute—is a bit of a commitment (although you don’t have to go the whole way) But even if you just walk along one of the small paths outside the hotel it doesn’t take long before the thick fir trees start filtering out the sunlight and you’re suddenly skipping across creeks in the middle of the woods—it feels remote but you’re actually not that far from civilization you can always opt for some poolside relaxation although you may need that exercise to build an appetite for lunch chef Claus-Peter Lumpp crafts artful plates using vegetables like fried milk-fed veal with grilled asparagus and lovage (a very haute riff on Wiener Schnitzel) or pinot-noir-and-juniper-marinated leg of roe deer with apple and celery salad up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Whether you’re doing a deep dive into the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) or you only have time for a quick weekend trip Triberg will give you the quintessential Black Forest experience Located one and a half hours south of the larger spa town of Baden-Baden Triberg is tucked away in the iconic German forest that the Romans considered mysterious and uninhabitable But with so many places to explore in this area It is safe to say that Triberg is most well-known for the waterfall Triberger Falls These are the highest accessible falls in Germany evidenced by the fact that you can easily walk to the main entrance of the falls from the city center There are four additional entrances you can explore for different views and experiences evenings in Triberg offer a lovely sight of the falls lit up in different colors and patterns more adventure is in order at the Burggarten where you can see remains of the castle and its garden From April to October you could test your adrenaline on the High Level Rope Course The tower of “Stöcklewald” allows you to climb up to the observation deck for beautiful views where you can then sit and relax for a quick break For those wanting to take their exploring off their own feet the famous mountain railway through the forest that was lauded as an engineering feat when it was finished in 1873 photographers and others wanting a more in-depth historical experience a trip to the Nature Discovery Park is another option to get your kids out and about in this world-renown forest A trip to the Black Forest is not complete without a little cuckoo clock fun Triberg can happily claim home to the largest and smallest cuckoo clocks in the world The world’s largest cuckoo clock contains a bird that is 330 pounds and 14 feet long and the smallest clock will fit in the palm of your hand There are a number of shops worth visiting to learn more about the history and craft of cuckoo clocks where you will find the charming Tribear Family welcoming you in A few other must-sees (and must-eats) include visiting the Black Forest Museum to learn of the region’s history and traditions and the Pilgrimage Church (Wallfahrtskirche) This idyllic looking forest church was named for Mary or “Maria in der Tanne” after the water nearby was said to perform two healing miracles the quintessential Black Forest Cake (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte) can be found at almost any bakery in town and for those looking for something uniquely savory try the town’s version of Black Forest Ham the Triberg Spruce Ham (Triberger Fichtenschinken)—you could even visit for the Ham Festival There are a number problems with this meme For one, a forest can't "cause" a person to go missing. This phrasing likely derives from the Black Forest's reputation as a haunted area (in large part due to its association with the Brothers Grimm fairy tales) The earliest posting of the meme we found was from August 2014, on CreepyPasta, a Facebook page that specializes in spooky (albeit fictional) short stories The page describes itself as "a series of fictional and non-fictional stories that are posted on the Internet and are designed to unnerve and shock the reader." the image displayed with the claim doesn't actually show the storied forest The Black Forest is outlined in green on the map (left) and the city of Hameln is marked in red (right) Jonathan Manshack took the photograph, which National Geographic chose as the Photo of the Day on 11 June 2011: This photo was taken during autumn in Hameln which is the birthplace of the infamous Rattenfänger—or Pied Piper This shot is actually on top of the last few hills that soon sink into the state of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) This area is essentially lowland plains—hence the name Lower Saxony There's also no basis for the claim that 15,000 people went missing in 2013 -- or any other year -- in the Black Forest.Germany's Initiative on Missing Children did not mention the forest as an area of particular concern, nor the The European Child Rescue Alert and Police Network on Missing Children. 15,000 is such an astronomically high number that the meme is clearly inaccurate.  To give you an idea, The Bundeskriminalamt, Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office, in its report on missing persons said that a total of 6,400 people were missing in Germany in 2007 -- and that number included cases that were as many as 30 years old that would mean that almost three times as many people had gone missing in one small area of the country in 2013 an event that would warrant both major media coverage and a large-scale criminal investigation This material may not be reproduced without permission Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com 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 exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries the Black Forest is a star that just keeps on rising when it comes to eco-friendly initiatives cities shining with solar power and mile upon spirit-lifting mile of diligently marked hiking and e-biking trails this region has swiftly become one to watch Snuggled away in Germany’s southwest, the Black Forest has a timeless feel once you dive into its remotest reaches tight-knit valleys where spruce forests bristle above dark-wood-shingle farms you’ll find scenes ripe for a Grimm bedtime story – not to mention the kind of off-the-radar solitude that’s becoming increasingly rare in an age of overtourism Gigantic cuckoo clocks and chocolate-cherry gateaux have given the Schwarzwald global fame over the years but in reality there’s far more to this neck of the woods than kitsch nostalgia and retro desserts If the Black Forest has remained rooted to tradition in some ways, in others it is light-years ahead. Take Freiburg, for instance, a vivacious university city where medieval lanes fan out from an impressive Gothic minster Just a gargoyle’s wink away from the French and Swiss borders this is officially Germany’s sunniest city and all of that solar energy has been put to clever use with Freiburg installing more photovoltaic panels than any other German city – and more than some European countries whose impeccable environmental approach involves recycling and building with energy-efficient materials Central Freiburg has upped its environmental game recently with a new town hall designed by Ingenhoven Architects that flaunts a curving façade of photovoltaic cells It has been hailed the world’s first public net-surplus-energy building the Black Forest spreads itself luxuriantly across thick forests of larch Being green here comes as second nature to locals but they’ve only really just woken up to the charms of their great outdoors a forest-rimmed glacial cirque lake at the foot of 1164m Hornisgrinde More recent still is the arrival of the Black Forest’s Unesco Biosphere Reserve status which now protects 632-sq-km of its precious woodland human intervention is minimal and conservation is the watchword Neighbouring Switzerland and Austria may have bagged the sky-scraping peaks, but there’s no place like the Black Forest for a walk in the woods. This region practically coined the concept of wandern (hiking), with the Schwarzwaldverein busily marking trails with red diamonds since 1864 And with a cool 23,000km of way-marked paths to explore today many taking you deep into the national park and nature reserves the question is not if you can hike but how Long before forest bathing became on trend Waldeinsamkeit – the experience of being alone in and at one with the forest – was a thing here And whether you’re watching the crisp morning light raking through the treetops foraging for wild berries in a forest glade or padding through snow on a twinkling Winterwanderweg (winter walking trail) this immense forest is perfect for slipping away from civilisation and feeling the restorative power of nature stretching from Pforzheim in the northern Black Forest to Basel in Switzerland A shorter but scenic ramble is the 40km Panoramaweg above Baden-Baden a high-level ridge trail weaving through orchards and woodlands Or head deeper into the mountains for a 12km hike on the Feldberg-Steig and crosses a nature reserve where you might sight chamois grazing the views of the Alps from up here are glorious the half-day hike from Gütenbach to Simonswäldertal on a silent forest trail opens up beautiful views and passes a sandstone figure of Christ that has grown into a tree The 10km circular trail at Martinskapelle is just as lovely affording incredible views of overlapping mountains and forest on repeat You’ll find well-maintained cycle paths and forestry tracks practically everywhere you go in the Black Forest. The catch? The hills. A lot of the terrain involves at least an element of ascent, but you can always hop on an e-bike if you don't fancy the uphill slog. City, mountain and e-bikes are available for rental in most towns and villages, including in Freiburg. Or you can use the Deutsche Bahn Call a Bike service at train stations There are some wonderful green options when it comes to accommodation in the black Forest. Farm stays are sure-fire kid pleasers, often with farm animals to pet, organic dairy produce for sale, fine views, starry night skies and walking trails right on the doorstep. A one-stop shop is Urlaub auf dem Bauernhof where farm stays are searchable by theme and area a back-to-nature farmhouse hostel using renewable energy gazing wistfully out over hill and vale and serving season-driven cuisine in its romantic wood-panelled restaurant Dishes like venison with wild mushrooms and Spätzle (the local take on egg pasta) star on the menu https://shop.lonelyplanet.com/products/munich-bavaria-black-forest-travel-guide-6 the Black Forest ("Schwarzwald") is a range of hills stretching east of the Rhine River Ancient Romans found the thick forests here inaccessible and mysterious This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing Germany — The Black Forest gets its name from a canopy of trees so dense that the woods seem dark Mushrooms sprout across the damp forest floor Red squirrels scamper up the towering trees; streams tumble over rocks No wonder this magical place inspired so many Grimms’ fairy tales But the bleak name Black Forest — Schwarzwald in German — does not capture its beauty My family and I camped there late last summer in one of hundreds of valleys scattered across the forest’s vast The forest stretches across 2,320 miles in southwestern Germany the beds were inflated and our 3-year-old daughter had achieved her goal of muddy feet we sat and relaxed in the sunshine with cool German beers I was assigned mule duty and burdened with our small picnic rucksack carrying his daughter in a backpack on a six-hour hike There are well-maintained paths here of all types sizes and shades emerge from rotting tree stumps You mustn’t try them without expert guidance we drove an hour to medieval Schiltach and another half-hour to the town of Triberg Traditional half-timbered houses have gabled roofs and framed windows that form distinctive geometric patterns on the building facades Triberg also boasts three claims to fame: cuckoo clocks Black Forest cake and Germany’s highest waterfalls The waterfall trails were busy with visitors watching the Gutach River plunge in seven cascades an activity which prompted a debate over whether one would suit our sitting room wall Prices range from 20 euros for the tiniest clock to more than a thousand for a large carved timepiece and the Black Forest’s culinary showstopper demanded to be tasted Triberg claims the original recipe of the famous Black Forest cherry cake which is not as sweet as variations elsewhere Other destinations in the region include spa towns such as Baden-Baden Visitors to the Black Forest can fly to Frankfurt A daily fee of 2 euros for visitors 18 and older covers free use of Black Forest trains and buses plus occasional discounts in shops and restaurants We stayed at campsite Muellerwiese in Enzklosterle (www.muellerwiese.de) You can bring your own tent or RV (RV rentals are available at the Frankfurt airport); rent a tent cabin or apartment; or choose from a variety of hotels ShareSaveLifestyleTravelBliss Out In The Legendary Baths Of The Black ForestByJoni Sweet Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Joni Sweet is a journalist who covers travel 01:18pm ESTShareSaveThis article is more than 5 years old.Soak up the atmosphere in the Palais Thermal spa and all its Art Nouveau glory You might head to Sweden for massages or Finland for saunas spa culture is squarely focused on thermal baths which bubble up from thousands of feet below the Black Forest were first discovered by Romans seeking “health through water” some 2,000 years ago When a soak in these therapeutic pools eased their aches and pains these early wellness-seekers knew they had found what they were looking for Bathing has since become a religion in German spa towns like Baden-Baden and Bad Wildbad your body is sacred and the spa is its temple—a word befitting of the luxurious colonnaded spaces that house the thermal baths Visitors spend as much time soaking in the pools as they do soaking up the serene atmosphere Ready to experience the centuries-old ritual of bathing in the Black Forest Make a pilgrimage to these three enchanting spa towns in Southwest Germany this summer While you might expect a town focused on relaxation to be subdued The “Summer Capital of Europe” brims with bustling beer gardens a lively casino and outdoor dancing on midsummer eves—all part of the charm of this endlessly appealing destination Float in a thermal pool beneath a domed ceiling at the Friedrichsbad spa in Baden-Baden After stripping down to your birthday suit and showering get exfoliated by staffer brandishing a brush and soap soak in steam rooms and whirlpool baths and savor an eight-minute cream massage a burly attendant will wrap you in warm blankets and tuck you in to one of the soft beds in the circular relaxation room where you’ll have the best nap of your life While the Friedrichsbad will transport you back in time, the nearby Caracalla Spa gives travelers a chance to experience the modern take on thermal bathing in Baden-Baden The indoor-outdoor spa devotes most of its impressive real estate to pools and fountains filled with curative thermal spring water Travelers can also enjoy a variety of saunas hydrotherapy and waterfalls around the family-friendly facility The mountain’s panoramic views extend over the Black Forest and even across the border into France on a clear day By night, make your way to the famous Casino Baden-Baden it’s worth swinging by for the sightseeing The casino’s floor-to-ceiling oil paintings massive chandeliers and royal purple and red carpets would have made Marie Antoinette feel right at home Centrally located and oozing character, Dorint Maison Messmer is a smart place to stay in Baden-Baden where you can perch in the evening and watch passersby in the streets below as well as open fireplaces and private saunas spacious rooms at Dorint Maison Messmer in Baden-Baden the hotel has its own glamorous spa with saunas covered in mosaics and a ritzy pool beneath a colorful glass dome is one of the Black Forest's premier spa destinations Bad Wildbad feels like a fairytale setting brought to life boxy wooden buildings in pastel colors and expansive parks and gardens While they’re often overshadowed by the more famous spas in Baden-Baden Bad Wildbad’s thermal baths might be among the most alluring in all of Europe You’ll easily adapt to the laid-back atmosphere in this German resort town and you may even come to appreciate its unofficial muse Gioachino Rossini—Bad Wildbad throws a festival for the Italian opera composer and his contemporaries every summer Art Nouveau style floods the Palais Thermal Bad Wildbad’s premier bathing and sauna spa The black-and-white-striped arches of the giant doorways and windows contrast the blushing pink walls Romanesque statues add a heavy dose of elegance to perfectly symmetrical pools filled with turquoise water Sunlight streams into the building through stained glass windows And the geometrically patterned tile floors practically hypnotize anyone who looks at them It’s hard to believe that the spa’s beautifully restored ground level It's hard to believe that the beautifully restored Palais Thermal is 170 years old It would be a mistake to spend all your time on the lower level The decidedly modern upstairs area at Palais Thermal features tons of saunas cold plunge pools and foot baths that will soothe your every bodily woe The spa comes with a rooftop lounge with an outdoor pool and “panoramasauna,” where you can take in views of Black Forest from the heated wooden room Points of interest in this verdant area include the quaint English Church royal theater and a picturesque rose garden Climb the spiraling canopy walk in Bad Wildbad For more of the great outdoors in Bad Wildbad, take the funicular to Sommerberg You can climb to the top of the spiraling canopy path go forest bathing and walk across the 1,250-foot-long suspension bridge that dangles over the Enz valley You can’t leave Bad Wildbad without picking up some souvenirs from Rossini’s Soap Factory Its sweet shopkeepers make bars of moisturizing soap using essential oils and the thermal water of Bad Wildbad so travelers can continue experiencing its healing properties long after they’ve gone back home If you want to maximize your time at Palais Thermal, book a stay at Mokni’s Palais Hotel & Spa It offers guests access to the bathing facilities which are conveniently located right next door Stay at Mokni’s Palais Hotel & Spa on your spa holiday in Bad Wildbad Mokni’s sunlight-drenched rooms prove to be restful places to take sanctuary attentive service throughout the hotel and its on-site restaurant Bad Urach is a lovely destination for travelers eager to escape the big city The mountain valley town’s cobblestoned streets and half-timbered houses look like the scene of a postcard and you’ll feel instantly welcomed by its friendly Swabian culture While technically outside of the Black Forest area the destination has tons of nature to explore Hike to Bad Urach’s castle ruins and waterfall then restore your body at its extensive spa If you love saunas, you’re in for a treat at AlbThermen The Bad Urach spa boasts nearly every type of sauna on the planet in its sprawling sauna world and garden While it has traditional saunas in just about every temperature and humidity level you could imagine You can watch a hot mineral stone get lifted and lowered into a copper pot filled with cold water in “Haslauer Steinbad,” a gently heated wooden space that feels like a family heirloom inhale the deeply relaxing scent of herbs and fir boughs steaming over a traditional oven in the “Brechelbad” sauna These two experiences are completely distinct from others you’ll find in this region of Southwest Germany Relax in rustic saunas and thermal baths at AlbThermen in Bad Urach chill out in AlbTherman’s beautiful thermal pools The modern facilities contain both indoor and outdoor baths You’ll feel like a new person once you leave this variety-packed spa You can also make the easy, but steep trek to the ruins of the Hohenurach Castle mightiest and most important ruins in Southern Germany,” this attraction dates back to the 11th century and offers a glimpse at the history of this area You can also get amazing views of the sea of red-roofed houses in the town below Its historic building was once home to an old movie theater and brewery The owners have converted the space into a chic modern hotel Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, a classic chocolate, whipped cream and cherry cake, is staging a comeback in the Black Forest, a wedge of southwest Germany where the dessert was invented in a humble confectioner's kitchen almost a century ago. 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