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What to do in the Black Forest in bad weather?

In the railway muyeum in HorbEven if the weather is not so nice: there are plenty of options for activities throughout the Black Forest, where you are regardless of the weather. Here are a few tips for recreational activities and attraction:

Museums and visits, as

And yes, there remains the (according to weather forecast justified) hope for a beautiful "Indian Summer".

Photo: TEE (Trans Europe Express) in the railway museum in Horb.

Feel free to add more interesting offers by comments to this entry.

Cherry tree blossom 2014 has begun

After a mild winter and a very friendly March 2014, nature flourishs significantly earlier than last year. The cherry blossom along the Upper Rhine, in the Ortenau, Breisgau and Markgraeflerland has already begun, meanwhile, almost 3 weeks before Easter many daffodils are already over.

Also in the next few days glorious spring weather is expected; at temperatures above 20 degrees in the Upper Rhine Valley and even in the middle layers of the Black Forest, it can only mean: Get out into nature and enjoy the spring!

Here are a few Spring Impressions, pictures taken 31 march 2014, near Durbach.

Flowering cherry trees Flowering cherry trees dandelion Flowers Flowers cherry tree blossom

Black Forest national park

protected forestThe national park in the Black Forest was founded in January 2014, and is the first national park in Baden-Wuerttemberg in southwest Germany. This area lies in the northern part of the Black Forest between the Black Forest High Road and the Murg valley. It consists of two separate parts, the area in Ruhestein (district of Baiersbronn) and Hohen Ochsenkopf/Plättig which is near Baden-Baden.

In February, the visitor's program for 2014 has been published. A total of 283 tours, Guided visits and information sessions are offered in the National Park and the surrounding region in the northern Black Forest over the entire year. Other services and facilities will follow in the next months and years, especially interesting for tourists would be the establishment of a visitor's center offering suggestions for tours on foot or by bicycle as well as a travel concept for environmentally friendly travel etc.

Of course the national park priority is to look after the nature and its species. When the touristic concept exists it will become a top tourist attraction in the Black Forest. A taste of how it might look again in the national park, there is the protected forest 'Wild Lake' (photo) which now belongs to the National Park. This forest reserve was established over 100 years ago, since that time this area has looked after itself.

Christmas 2013

christmas tree www.black-forest-travel.com wishes a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2014 to all friends of the Black Forest !

Also in the year 2014 you will find your current information for your trip to the Black Forest on our website.

Our tip for the next few days: Triberg Christmas Magic (25 - 30 December 2013), from where originates this photo of the Christmas tree on the right. One million (!) lights illuminate the environment of the Triberg Waterfalls, Germany's highest waterfalls. Additionally there is a spectacular show program on three stages and at the "burning" waterfall, in the Christmas village and many more facilities snacks and refreshments await the visitors.

See more at www.triberger-weihnachtszauber.com

Knights' Tournament 14-16 June 2013

Traditionally over the third weekend in June the the Maximillian Knights' Tournament (Maximilian Ritterspiele) take place in the city of Horb am Neckar at the eastern border of the Black Forest. The little town is the scene of one of Europe's biggest medieval spectacles: About 40.000 visitors from all over the region travel annually to experience knights mounted high on horses, the big medieval market and a wide diversity of other attractions like jugglers, minstrels, camp life and the festival parade.

The tournament site will once again take on a central role at the 17th Horber Ritterspiele from 14 to 16 June 2013. Additionally to the big tournament shows, there will be something happening the whole time in the tournament ring on both Saturday and Sunday thus making it even more attractive for visitors - with several smaller tournaments, exercises, stunt displays, exhibition fights and other performances. Taking place parallel is the large medieval market in the alleyways and streets around the centre of Horb and up to the market square. "Hawking" their wares are about 200 traders and craftsmen, including soap boilers, calligraphers, glass painters, armourers, wood carvers, elixir purveyors, leather braiders and many more. In between are enticing stands with a feast of foods and all sorts of thirst quenchers - from knight's beer to mead. Amongst the colourful folk at the Horber Ritterspiele are also jugglers and minstrels, fire-breathers, stilt walkers and drummers, artistes, medieval music groups and there's the medieval camp giving visitors an authentic insight into what life was like 500 years ago. And naturally for the younger fans of knights, there's also the children's Knights' Tournament in the castle gardens.

The colourful goings on, which catapults Horb back to medieval times for the duration of the June weekend, is based on an historical event. In 1498, King Maximilian, later the German Emperor, signed, for the state of Württemberg, the agreement governing the successor to the throne in front of the Horb town hall. He disempowered the inept Duke Eberhardt and enabled southern Germany to blossom economically in the years afterwards - from today's point of view it was the begin of a democratisation process. And a good reason to celebrate the historical event with a festival - especially as Maximilian was a fervent fan of knights' tournaments. The signing of the agreement is re-enacted in Horb's historical town centre on Sunday. Immediately afterwards, kings and dukes, nobles and commoners, dancers, jugglers and trumpeters all go on an impressive celebratory parade through the centre of town to the tournament showground where King Maximilian presides over the trials of strength and skill.

Official website -> http://www.ritterspiele.com

Christmas Markets 2012 in the Black Forest

Next week, from 26 November, the first Christmas Markets in the Black Forest will open. 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.

Christmas Market in FreudenstadtHere you find dates and places of the biggest and most beautiful markets:

  • 26 November - 30 December 2012: Christkindles market in Baden-Baden
  • 26 November - 23 December 2012: Christmas market in Freiburg
  • 27 November - 23 December 2012: Christmas market in Offenburg
  • 29 November - 23 December 2012: Christkindlesmarkt in Karlsruhe
  • 29 November - 28 December 2012: Sternlesmarkt in Ettlingen
  • 29 November - 2 December 2012: Magical Christmas market in Calw
  • 26 November - 22 December 2012: Christmas market in Pforzheim
  • 7 December - 16 December 2012: Christmas market in Freudenstadt
  • 30 November - 23 December 2012: Advent's market and the world's biggest 'advent calendar house' in Gengenbach
  • 30 November - 9 December 2012: Advent's market in Gaggenau
  • 30 November - 16 December 2012: Christmas market in Bühl
  • 1-2 December 2012: Christkindlemarkt in Bad Dürrheim
  • 6-16 December 2012: Christmas market in Bad Krozingen
  • 7-9 December 2012: Christmas market Bad Säckingen
  • 14-16 December 2012: Christmas market on the Rosenplatz in Baiersbronn
  • 14-16 December 2012: Christmas market in Oberkirch
  • 25 -30 December 2012: Triberg Christmas Magic - thousands of lights illuminate the waterfalls and the nature park nearby

New photo gallery "lookouts in the Black Forest"

Schauinsland lookout tower

In our new photogallery "Magnificent views in the Black Forest" you find a series of 30 high resolution photos of the most spectacular lookouts in the Black Forest - mountains, viewpoints, lookout towers.

-> start photo gallery "Lookouts in the Black Forest"

Photo: The lookout tower on the summit of Schauinsland Mountain near Freiburg


Bus and train free of charge

Train near the shores of Lake SchluchseeThe Schwarzwald Tourismus GmbH (official Black Forest Tourist Office) has prepared a special service for your stay in the Black Forest: In addition to the discounted prices offered everywhere throughout Black Forest, you can also use the KONUS Guest Card to travel on busses and trains for free throughout the KONUS region (2nd class, does not include IC, EC, ICE trains or mountain railway). The KONUS region almost covers the entire Black Forest, detailled information will be provided by your host.

You will receive the KONUS-Card from your host in the Black Forest on your arrival. KONUS is valid starting on the day of arrival upon arriving at your accommodation provider (check-in) until the day of departure.

Definitely the most comfortable way to discover the Black Forest during your stay!

Photo: Train near the shores of Lake Schluchsee

Hiking in the Black Forest

View on Ibach in the Southern Black ForestOn www.black-forest-travel.com, in the section "Hiking in th Black Forest" you can find plenty of information about the long-distance hiking trails in the Black Forest.

The most famous hiking trail in the Black Forest ist the West Trail (Westweg). The Westweg leads on 285 km from Pforzheim to Basel. The Westweg can be completed in 12-13 days in sections of 15-25 km. Certainly it can be joined and left anywhere on the route.

The Middle Route (Mittelweg) and the East trail (Ostweg) also lead from north to south through the Black Forest.

The Gorge Trail leads through the most beautiful valleys and gorges in the Southern Black Forest. The Ortenau Wine Trail and the Markgräfler Wine Trail go through the vineyards on the western slopes of the Black Forest.

Hiking is definitely the best option, to discover and enjoy the Black Forest - and, of course, good for health and fitness!

Foto: Magnificent view on Ibach in the Southern Black Forest

Winter sport in the Black Forest

ski-lift Feldberg

A new category "winter sport in the Black Forest" has been setup at www.black-forest-travel.com. There you will find plenty of information about the ski regions and ski lifts, cross-country skiing and ice-skating. Furthermore there are a couple of links for further information, e.g. wintertime photo-gallery, current snow situation and the sites of the lift operators.

Photo: Valley station of the Seebuck ski-lift, Feldberg Mountain


Christmas Markets in the Black Forest 2011

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.

Christmas Market in FreudenstadtHere you find dates and places of the biggest and most beautiful markets:

  • 22 November - 26 December 2011: Christkindles market in Baden-Baden
  • 21November - 23 December 2011: Christmas market in Freiburg
  • 24 November - 23 December 2011: Christmas market in Offenburg
  • 24 November - 23 December 2011: Christkindlesmarkt in Karlsruhe
  • 24 November - 28 December 2011: Sternlesmarkt in Ettlingen
  • 26-27 November 2011: Magical Christmas market in Calw
  • 22 November - 20 December 2011: Christmas market in Pforzheim
  • 2 December - 11 December 2011: Christmas market in Freudenstadt
  • 26 November - 23 December 2011: Advent's market and the world's biggest 'advent calendar house' in Gengenbach
  • 27 November - 4 December 2011: Advent's market in Gaggenau
  • 25 November - 11 December 2011: Christmas market in Bühl
  • 26-27 November 2011: Christkindlemarkt in Bad Dürrheim
  • 8-18 December 2011: Christmas market in Bad Krozingen
  • 2-4 December 2011: Christmas market Bad Säckingen
  • 8-11 December 2011: Christmas market on the Rosenplatz in Baiersbronn
  • 9-11 December 2011: Christmas market in Oberkirch
  • 25 -30 December 2011: Triberg Christmas Magic - thousands of lights illuminate the waterfalls and the nature park nearby

Springtime has come

SpringtimeIn the last warm days nature has developed rapidly, the meadows are full green and dotted with yellow dandelions and blooming fruit trees, and deciduous forests show the first tender green.

In the next few days spring-like weather is expected, inviting to a trip to the Black Forest and a short hike. So far still the deeper layers are recommended, in the higher elevations from 800-1000m it takes a little longer until spring comes.


Springtime

Photos from April 8, 2011:
Above: blooming fruit tree, in the background the ruins Hohengeroldseck
Bottom: Spring idyll at Schweighausen, community Schuttertal