The source of the Danube River can be found in Germany’s Schwarzwald, or Black Forest. This mountain range, similar to the Bohemian Forest, is not only the source of this great river, but also of driving experiences of the highest level – a single day driving tour Black Forest. The roads there are among the best in Europe, but unlike the Alpine roads, they are perfectly passable from March to November due to their lower location. In addition, they connect interesting destinations that are surprisingly varied in a relatively small area. In the Black Forest, you can be lost in the rhythmic serpentines of the wooded hills one minute, driving past luscious vineyards an hour later and getting out of the car for lunch in the picturesque spa town of Baden-Baden, the popular Calw with its well-preserved half-timbered houses, or the university town of Freiburg with its impressive Romanesque-Gothic cathedral with its nineteen bells. Each of these towns is a pleasant starting point for all kinds of excursions to the surrounding area. In Baden-Baden, Brenners Park resort is ideal for this purpose, proving that even a traditional spa hotel can be very modern.
Tastes of the Black Forest
Baden, which includes the Black Forest, is Germany’s third largest wine-growing region and is often referred to as the Burgundy of the Black Forest. Its best vineyards are located right on the slopes of the Black Forest. There is even a little-known Baden wine trail 160 kilometres long, part of which is located in the Black Forest. It is better to try out the white wines here, as the Black Forest is similar to Moravia from an oenological point of view.
There is a surprisingly wide range of Michelin-starred restaurants in the Black Forest, but the most interesting is the three-star Schwarzwaldstube of chef Torsten Michel in Baiersbronn. In the spirit of European trends, it draws primarily on local inspiration, but it’s the not exactly German Gillardeau oysters with caviar and champagne sauce that stand out on the menu.
The traditional folk cuisine of the Black Forest is also worth sampling, defined primarily by spätzle in all its forms and the delicate cured and smoked Black Forest ham.
German flair for mechanics
Black Forest is also strongly linked to the art of horology. The cascading building of the Junghans watchmaking brand is one of the architectural gems of the Black Forest and an unquestionable landmark of Schramberg. In the field of mechanics, however, those who prefer the smell of octane to the smell of watches will also find something to their liking in Schramberg. The local private Autosammlung Steim museum traces the history of the automotive industry from its beginnings to the present day. The collection includes attractions such as the Mercedes-Benz 500 K Cabrio C, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster and the spellbinding Maybach DS8 Zeppelin, of which only 25 specimens were produced in 1932.
