The Black Forest is one of my favorite places in Germany!
The Black Forest, or Schwarzwald in German, is located in the southwest corner of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It covers an area of 12,000 sq. km.
It gets its name for the dense conifers that block out a lot of light.
Here’s why I love it so much:
It offers many easy hiking trails with idyllic scenery. Although if you’re looking for something more challenging there are several hundred km of hiking trails to choose from as well! I haven’t done any of the longer hikes here …yet!
The Black Forest does have a dark side though:
This is a henker site where women who were suspected of witchcraft were routinely beheaded. We came across it while hiking. That’s what I love about hiking here. You just never know what you will find. Minutes before, we had come across a Christmas Market in the nearby town of Calw.
A lot of people living there are Catholic and it’s not uncommon to see huge crosses or statues of the Virgin Mary in pastures.
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We see several crosses every time we go hiking in the Black Forest.
While hiking I’ve frequently come across quaint farmhouses and pastures with either sheep or cows. I see them on almost every hike I have done.
It’s not just the Black Forest itself that I like, but also the half-timber houses that you see in small towns and villages. They look like something out of a Hans Grimm fairy tale.
Laurel — I wish I could take a trip to Germany to see how my German (Deutschlanders) relatives lived in Germany (Deutschland). Thank you for this beautiful information on Germany —
your friend Danny !
My Grandpa relative – Francis Bloss and Marion Marguerite Billin are from BeierN, Germany, and came directly to Welland, Ontario, Canada in the 1800 hundreds. (Buchner or Boughner) came directly from Hess, Germany in 1800 hundreds directly to New Jersey to Grand Island, New York, Usa into Welland, Ontario, Canada.
Weasner is a Switzerland surname —My relatives came from Switzerland down the Rhine River to the Black Forest to Wurttemberg, Germany, then to Pennsylvania, USA, and finally over to Welland, Ontario Canada –200 years back they lived in Welland, Ontario, Canada here.—My Switzerland Surname is spelled Weasner originally —-Weasner, Waesner, Wessner, Wissner, Wisner—this surname changed back and forth consistantly !
@Daniel John – Interesting history.
(Woessner — Waessner)–Weasner !
Laurel — I wish I could take a trip to Germany to see how my German (Deutschlanders) relatives lived in Germany (Deutschland). Thank you for this beautiful information on Germany —
your friend Danny !
Fabulous post! I am aiming for views like your last photo (rolling hills dotted with farmhouses). Which is a good base and a good trail you would recommend? Thanks!
@Carol – Thank you! Freiburg makes a good base. The highest peak in the Black Forest (Feldberg) is not far away and offers fantastic views. I’ve also heard great things about Wutach Gorge, but haven’t been. Have fun!
Theres some really good bands from calw/black forest area
Like The Booze Bombs. Devils and Sohns
Dr Aleks and the F*****s
And some really good whisky , like Black Wood..
@Ben – Cool! Thanks for the recommendations!