Water, forests, sweeping views: dream destinations in the Black Forest | railtour travel blog

The Bächle in Freiburg’s Old Town alleyways are a popular spot for a quick dip: dip your feet in the water and then, depending on your mood, grab an ice cream, a coffee or a glass of wine to go. If you want to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind, start at the Schwabentor for a leisurely, five-kilometre walk along the Dreisam. Here, the river babbles quietly, dragonflies flit over the water and the peaceful stretches of riverbank invite you to take a break or have a quick dip. The vineyards on the Hirzberg serve as a reminder of just how close nature and the city are in Freiburg. At the end, the route leads back through Oberau – past inviting cafés and buildings that recall the industrial past of Germany’s sunniest city.

The fascinating cultural and natural landscape surrounding the highest mountain in the Black Forest offers some truly special moments: one magical spot in the Upper Black Forest is Feldsee, at the foot of the 1,493-metre-high Feldberg, where the water glistens like a still mirror in the evening sun. Equally impressive is the view from the Hochfirst over Lake Titisee and the surrounding sea of forests. At Schluchsee, the Amalienruhe Pavilion beckons, whilst near Schonach a walk around Lake Blindensee and through the moss-covered forest is well worth it. The Brend near Furtwangen also offers sweeping views and a peaceful atmosphere. 

Amidst gentle river landscapes, ancient floodplains and tranquil hideaways, Karlsruhe reveals a natural world that slows the pace and enchants. The ‘Fan City’ is the ideal starting point for delightful explorations on foot or by bike – always accompanied by a fresh breeze along the Rhine, the Alb and the Pfinz. Particularly charming is the almost 50-kilometre-long “NaturRADtour”, which leads from the palace out into a green oasis: forests, nature reserves and sweeping views alternate until a panorama opens up on the Rhine, surprising visitors with wildly romantic old Rhine arms and lakes. 

The Baden Wine Route winds its way through the most beautiful wine-growing regions of Baden, stretching for over 500 kilometres along the western edge of the Black Forest. Among the highlights for connoisseurs are culinary wine walks. In just a few hours, you can experience it all: the wine, the landscape and the regional specialities – served in stages throughout the day and in the vineyards, beneath fruit trees or at impressive wineries along the Baden Wine Route. Every day of the wine walk has its own character and offers the perfect opportunity to discover different grape varieties.

Just a few kilometres from Baiersbronn, a stronghold of Michelin-starred cuisine, an idyllic walk leads to a scene that touches the soul: Lake Sankenbach, one of the five mystical-looking cirque lakes within the Baiersbronn district, lies quietly amidst fragrant fir forests. Its dark, clear waters reflect the sky and treetops, lending this spot in the northern Black Forest a mysterious atmosphere. If hikers follow the path further uphill, they reach the Sankenbach waterfall. After heavy rainfall, it reveals its full power and offers an impressive natural spectacle: it plunges some 40 metres over several cascades – wild, unspoilt and fascinatingly beautiful. 

Measuring 219 by 216 metres, it was built in 1599 to plans by master builder Heinrich Schickhardt, and its layout is modelled on the board game ‘Mühle’: Freudenstadt’s market square is not only a real eye-catcher, but also the largest market square in Germany. It is surrounded by arcades designed in the late Renaissance style. Charming boutiques, cafés and restaurants ensure a vibrant city life, but in a relaxed way. Just a few steps away lies the wild nature of the Black Forest: the Friedrichsturm offers a fantastic view over the town, whilst on the Kniebis the view of Lake Ellbach, with its dense forests and the national park, is well worth the trip. 

Even from the outside, you can sense just how much variety the “Badeparadies Schwarzwald” in Titisee-Neustadt has to offer – but guests can only experience this mini-break for the soul for themselves by entering the 60,000-square-metre attraction in the Upper Black Forest: Hundreds of real palm trees create a South Seas atmosphere with 18 pools and 12 sauna worlds. Those who prefer a bit more action will find what they’re looking for in the Galaxy: with over 25 highlights, this world of slides offers fun and adventure for the whole family. 

In Bad Dürrheim, on the eastern edge of the holiday region, the “Solemar” – Europe’s highest-altitude saltwater spa – offers ideal conditions for health, fitness and well-being: across more than 13,500 m², guests can enjoy a spa complex featuring 13 pools with varying concentrations of saltwater. The wide range of facilities also includes a steam bath, a Dead Sea salt grotto, a Black Forest sauna and a variety of wellness treatments. The highlight of the adjacent spa gardens is the graduation tower: as the brine trickles down, the air is enriched with brine droplets and salt aerosol. Much like sea air, this has a positive effect on well-being, for example for those with pollen allergies and asthma.