Mysterious Black Forest, Germany

The famous Svarcvald, Black Forest in the region of Bavaria, Germany, is a birthplace of many European fairy tales. It’s the birthplace of werewolf, dwarfs and fairies. Locals tell that there are gold and silver mines deep under, and only dwarfs know the exact locations. All stories of Hoffman, Hauff and Grimm brothers took their origin here.

The Black Forest is a large forested mountain range in south Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is the origin of several European rivers, and its highest peak is Feldberg, with height of 1493 meters. The total area of Black Forest is approximately 6009 square kilometers.

The name Black Forest suggests mystery, leafy paths in dark, forbidding woods, inhabited by fairies and gnomes. In reality, the forest is a region of picturesque villages and wooden hills, laced with hiking trails. Its south west Germany, on border of France and Switzerland. The forest is about 105 miles long and 20-37 miles wide.

The central region, called the Upper Black Forest, is noted for its scenic countryside and attractive villages. The area is a popular holyday destination among European tourists, but not too much renown among tour audience worldwide. Indeed, nowhere you will find any crowd except some spa centers. You can get a good impression of the region with a one day circular drive, beginning at the university town of Freiburg. At the start or end of the tour, it’s a wise decision to visit Romanesque-Gothic cathedral there, from the early 13th century. Climb the tower for the town view and Vosque mountains on French border.

The are many historic buildings, with flowered balcony and old tree shadowed squares.

A Peak Panorama

To begin your journey, drive from Freiburg to Waldkirch. Visit the old section around the church of St. Margaret, from one can see the ghostly Spruce Mountain, described in the novel “Heart of Stone” by Wilhelm Hauff. For a panoramic view of the region, continue trip to the church at Kandel Peak. Next you drive to Titisee, a charming lake side resort, where tourists have pleasures of walking on hill slopes and enjoying sandy beaches, where are paddle boats for rent. The road now climbs to Kappel, another hilly village with nice overview and the largest lake in the region, Schluchsee. Drive on through forested road and you will see signs of Feldberg. From the parking lot, there is a 15 minute chair-lift ride to famous statue of Bismark. Another 15 minute walk and will reach the highest point of the region, with yet another panoramic view.

A Choice of Routes

A few miles down the road, at Todtnau, a decision is needed. There are two routes, equally interesting, towards Freiburg. The main Schauisland Road, turns north, following signs for Todtnauberg and Gunterstal. Be forewarned: A section of the road, south of Guntersatl, is a site of auto-race attractions. It has some hairpin curves that will test your driving skills. If you take your time, there should be no trouble, and the rewards are substantial.

Taking the main road, you pass through Todtnau and get to an area of waterfalls, to which there are trails. Though the signboard says it’s a 10 minute walk, in reality the trail is longer and all uphill. If nice stroll is preferable than climb, take the alternative route. It is important to have at least 1 hour of daylight to reach to Freiburg.

Winding Towards Aitern

The alternative drive from Todtnau, beside main road, turns south just pass Todtnau, towards Utzenfeld. Just south of Utzenfeld, turn west, following signs of Belchen and Staufen. Climbing steadily, you soon reach the Aitern village. This is a delightful place to spend the night, if you have an extra day at hand. It has rustic guest houses, small hotels and traveler friendly resting places. At the dinner, feel free to talk to locals – and you will hear the fascinating stories of dark forest with gnomes, fairies, monsters and ghosts. There you will know the tale of little Glass Man, who fulfills wishes, the terrible werewolf and Michel the Giant, who scares the villagers on the rainy nights.
Spruce forest, timber houses, ruined castles, meadows and wispy waterfalls will make this visit a memorable one.

An idyllic town in Germany’s Black Forest, Bad Wilbad, offers an array of trails, walkways and stunning views. Located an hour from Stuttgart, this place has an elevated walkway to wander through the spruced trees and spiral ways. The Tree Top Path, Mountain Bike Park, Pedestrian Suspension Bridge and Fairytale Bridge are the known leisure activities over here. Its also famous for spa healing over the last 650 years.

The 19 century town Baden-Baden is an old center of culture and resorts since Roman times. The cultural touch can still be traced to house of musician Johannes Brahms and medieval castle Hohenbaden, surrounded by breathtaking view of Rhine valley.