Black Forest Blog

We wish all friends of the Black Forest a Merry Christmas and a good start into the New Year!

Photos from the nature park market in Emmendingen from 25 September 2021. A small, cozy market with around 20 stalls with a wide range of products from the region, musical entertainment and a hands-on program for children.

In the next few weeks there will be a few more nature park markets, dates can be found here (in German).

The spa town of Baden-Baden has been awarded the title “World Heritage” by Unesco. Baden-Baden and 10 other German and European health resorts were named “Great Spa Towns of Europe”. The responsible committee of the UN organization for education, science, culture and communication made the decisions on Saturday, July 24th 2021.

The award was given to health resorts that achieved international importance from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. Natural thermal waters are the basis of a tradition of European bathing culture that spans epochs.

The President of the German Unesco Commission, Maria Böhmer, said: "With their spa tradition and their urban development peculiarities, the award-winning spa towns express the phenomenon of the European spa town in a unique way".

In Baden-Baden, the decision was watched live on screens by a large number of people, and the announcement sparked jubilation and great joy. With this award, the city naturally hopes for further impulses for tourism - but Baden-Baden has always been a nice destination for vacation or a day trip.

April 2021 was the coldest in over 40 years, and the first week of May was no better either. Cold, rainy and stormy, and yesterday even fresh snow on the Black Forest High Road.

But from today (Saturday, May 8th) the big weather change will come, and for tomorrow the forecast on the Upper Rhine is already over 25 degrees.

And another piece of good news: there is justified hope that tourism in the Black Forest can start up again in the foreseeable future. Apparently, the state government of Baden-Württemberg is planning to lift various bans, depending on the new infections. And these are currently decreasing every day. If there is anything more specific, you can of course find out here.

See you soon in the Black Forest!

Today (15 February 2021) is Rose Monday or Carnival Monday, actually the highlight of the Swabian-Alemannic Carnival in the Black Forest.

As is well known, due to the Corona measures, it must remain calm this year, all events have been canceled.

As a consolation, here is a small photo collection from the last few years from Schiltach, Wolfach, Schramberg (Bach-na-Fahrt), Oberndorf, Rottweil, Villingen and Elzach.

In 2022 it will get better again, in this sense: Narri-Narro!

Click on an image to enlarge it or to start the gallery.

Update March 2021: Form now you will find the current information to the corona measures on www.black-forest-travel.com/corona-info/

Update February 2021: Hotels and all the touristic facilities in the Black Forest stay closed at least until 7 March 2021.

Dear friends of the Black Forest,

www.black-forest-travel.com wishes you all a happy and healthy New Year!

Unfortunately, tourism in the Black Forest is still paralyzed by the Corona measures. I.e. Hotels and holiday apartments (with the exception of business trips), restaurants, cultural, sports and leisure facilities remain closed. Events, e.g. Carnival does not take place.

This applies until January 31, 2021, on January 25 the next federal-state consultation on how to proceed.

We hope that it will get better soon, and we are already looking forward to welcoming you again as guests in the Black Forest!

Due to the measures against the corona pandemic, tourism in Germany and thus also in the Black Forest is completely shut down until at least January 10, 2021. All hotels are closed, as are all leisure facilities. There are no Christmas markets or other events. How it will continue from January 11th is not sure. Depending on the number of infections, this will be decided in early 2021.

We hope the best - and stay healthy!

Every year the readers of the hiking magazine (-> www.wandermagazin.de) vote for “Germany's most beautiful hiking trails”. The result of the 2020 election was published on August 27th - and the Black Forest took first place in both categories!

The Belchensteig won the title in the day tours category, while the Baden-Baden panorama trail received the most votes in the multi-day tours category.

The Belchensteig leads almost 15 km as a circular route through the southern Black Forest and of course to the summit of the Belchen Mountain. This is 1414 meters above sea level. the third highest mountain in the Black Forest, and offers wonderful views in all directions from its treeless summit. The starting point is the Wiedener Eck (municipality of Wieden), but of course you can join the tour at any point. In addition, you can include the Belchenbahn (cable car) in the hike, depending on which direction you go as an aid to ascent or descent.

The Belchenhaus near the summit of Belchen Mountain

The Baden-Baden Panoramaweg leads around 45 km around Baden-Baden and into the Black Forest. Here, too, you can include a mountain railway in the tour and take the railway of the same name to Baden-Baden's local mountain, Merkur. The Panoramaweg is a circular route and can be divided into any number of stages. There are several entry and exit points that can be easily reached by car or public transport.

View from the "Alte Schloss" to Baden-Baden

The two excellent hiking trails are undoubtedly highlights - but of course there are many, many more, each with their own charm, varying degrees of difficulty and length. You can find out more about the long-distance hiking trails here at www.black-forest-travel.com in the hiking section.

May 8, 2020: The Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann has presented the timetable for the exit from the corona restrictions. This contains the following information regarding tourism:

From 18 May, indoor and outdoor restaurants, holiday apartments (including holidays on the farm) and campsites will initially be open to tourists. In addition, "open-air excursion destinations with low-contact offers", mini golf or boat rental are mentioned here as examples. We recommend that you inquire with the respective provider beforehand before heading for a destination.

From 29 May, other accommodation establishments, e.g. Hotels, inns and guesthouses, as well as amusement parks start operating again Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to open wellness and sauna areas and swimming pools until further notice.

All offers are subject to various requirements for compliance with hygiene, the details are also most reliably available in this case directly from the respective provider.

So it looks like the friends of the Black Forest will be able to go on holiday here again in 2020, albeit with various restrictions. And it can be assumed that one is just as safe in the extensive landscape, and of course in the accommodation facilities, as at home.

We are looking forward to your visit!

8 May 2020: The Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann has presented the timetable for the exit from the corona restrictions. This contains the following information regarding tourism:

From 18 May, indoor and outdoor restaurants, holiday apartments (including holidays on the farm) and campsites will initially be open to tourists. In addition, "open-air excursion destinations with low-contact offers", mini golf or boat rental are mentioned here as examples. We recommend that you inquire with the respective provider beforehand before heading for a destination.

From 29 May, other accommodation establishments, e.g. Hotels, inns and guesthouses, as well as amusement parks start operating again Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to open wellness and sauna areas and swimming pools until further notice.

All offers are subject to various requirements for compliance with hygiene, the details are also most reliably available in this case directly from the respective provider.

So it looks like the friends of the Black Forest will be able to go on holiday here again in 2020, albeit with various restrictions. And it can be assumed that one is just as safe in the extensive landscape, and of course in the accommodation facilities, as at home.

We are looking forward to your visit!

March 23, 2020

Of course, tourism in the Black Forest is also significantly restricted in the wake of the Corona crisis. All accommodation facilities have closed, as have restaurants, and all events have been canceled.

Going for a walk, sport in the fresh air is still explicitly allowed, but only in pairs. This would e.g. Hikes, bike tours, mountain bike tours (limited) still possible, just without a stop in a restaurant or overnight.

We all hope that the crisis will soon be over and that as few people as possible are harmed.

We will keep you up to date here and we wish you all to stay healthy.

Traditional christmas markets take place in many places in the Black Forest every year. The flavour of mulled wine, waffles and fir needles, candlelights and the cosy atmosphere attract the guests every year anew. Besides eating and drinking of course you can find lots of local products for your own or for your christmas gifts.

Here you find dates and places of the biggest and most beautiful markets:

• 26.11. - 23.12.2018: Goldener Pforzheimer Weihnachtsmarkt
• 22.11. - 23.12.2018: Weihnachtsmarkt in Freiburg
• 29.11.2018 - 06.01.2019: Christkindelsmarkt in Baden-Baden
• 27.11. - 23.12.2018: Weihnachtsmarkt in Offenburg
• 29.11. - 02.12.2018: Märchenhafter Weihnachtsmarkt in Calw
• 27.11. - 23.12.2018: Christkindlesmarkt in Karlsruhe
• 30.11. - 02.12.2018: Romantischer Weihnachtsmarkt in der Altstadt von Altensteig
• 30.11. - 16.12.2018: Adventsmarkt in Gaggenau
• 30.11. - 20.12.2018: Bühler Adventsmarkt
• 26.11. - 23.12.2018: Weihnachtsmarkt in Rastatt
• ab 30.11.2018: An allen vier Adventswochenenden: "Romantischer Weihnachtsmarkt" in der Ravennaschlucht, im Höllental zwischen Freiburg und Hinterzarten.
• 01.12.2018: Weihnachtsmarkt in Alpirsbach
• 01.12. - 02.12.2018: Christkindlemarkt in Bad Dürrheim
• 29.11. - 28.12.2018: Sternlesmarkt in Ettlingen
• 30.11. - 22.12.2018: Adventsmarkt und das größte Adventskalenderhaus der Welt (zu besichtigen bis 06.01.2019) in Gengenbach
• 06.12. - 16.12.2018: Weihnachtsmarkt in Rottweil
• 06.12. - 16.12.2018: Lörracher Weihnachtsmarkt
• 07.12. - 09.12.2018: Schömberger Weihnachtsglück - mit musikalischem Programm, Weihnachtsdörfle
• 07.12. - 09.12.2018: Weihnachtsmarkt Bad Säckingen
• 07.12. - 16.12.2018: Weihnachtsmarkt in Freudenstadt
• 14.12. - 16.12.2018: Weihnachtsmarkt auf dem Kirchplatz in Oberkirch

25 -30 December 2018: Triberger Weihnachtszauber - thousands of lights enchant the waterfall in Triberg and the neighboring nature adventure park into a Christmas sea of lights. There are many other attractions, fire show, children's carousel, nativity scene and lots of music and other performances.

Already in April the Landesgartenschau (horticultural show) 2018 started in Lahr on the Upper Rhine. Being opened until Ocotber 14, there are lots of interesting and fascinating things to see, many shows and events, as well as nice places for rest an relaxation.

Definitely worth a visit - here are some pictures, please click to enlarge.

Today's photo series, March 20, 2018. Calendar start of spring.

Looking for the spring, it still looks quite wintry in the area of Hardt and St. Georgen in the middle Black Forest.

Even in the lowest elevations, almost in the Upper Rhine Valley (photos of Waldkirch and Emmendingen), today it was not much warmer, but at least it was snow-free and the first splashes of color showed themselves.

At the height of the "fifth season" some photos of the last years from the strongholds of the Carnival in the Black Forest.

-> More about the Carnival in the Black Forest

-> Dates of the biggest events 2018 (in German)