Black-Forest Travel Guide
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The Black Forest covers a triangular section roughly 145km (90 miles) long and 40km (25 miles) wide in southwestern Germany. The pine- and birch-studded mountains here are alive with fairy-tale villages, well-equipped spas, and modern ski resorts. The peaks in the southern part of the forest reach as high as 1,525m (5,000 ft.) and are excellent for skiing in winter and hiking or mountain climbing in summer. The little lakes of Titisee and Schluchsee are popular for boating, swimming, and ice-skating. Fish abound in the streams and lakes.
Getting to the Black Forest -- International airports serve the area from Stuttgart and the Swiss city of Basel, which is 70km (44 miles) from Freiburg in Breisgau, the "capital" of the Black Forest. Trains run north and south through the Rhine Valley, with fast, frequent service to such Black Forest towns as Freiburg and Baden-Baden. Motorists should take the A5 Autobahn, which runs the length of the Schwarzwald. From Lake Constance, continue along Route 13 for 64km (40 miles) until you reach the Black Forest.
Exploring the Region by Car -- Roads through the forest are excellent, especially the Schwarzwald Hochstrasse (Black Forest High Rd. or Ridgeway, Rte. B500), which runs almost the entire length of the region, from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt, then resumes at Triberg and goes on to Waldshut on the Rhine. While taking this scenic road, you'll have many opportunities to park your car and explore the countryside or to turn off on one of the side roads leading to hospitable villages, ancient castles, and rolling farmlands.
