Top Things to do in Black Forest
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10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Black Forest That You Shouldn't Miss
Fairytale villages, thermal baths, casinos and pine and birch-blanketed mountains beckon travelers to southwestern Germany's Black Forest. Scenic drives and train trips showcase the best of the area. Skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, boating and ice-skating are popular activities. Baden-Baden's Roman-Irish baths, 19th-century performance hall, casino and fresco-adorned Pump Room are much visited. Gothic masterpiece Freiburg Cathedral and its famous Boys' Choir also draw visitors.
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1. Jewelry Museum
2. Schwarzwalder Freilichtmuseum Vogtsbauernhof
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 664 reviews
In the Black Forest Open Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof the Black Forest culture and history come to life. Visitors will find out how people lived and worked in Black Forest farmhouses during the last 400 years. As well as six fully-furnished farmhouses from different parts of the Black Forest, the visitors will find a labourer's cottage and about 15 outbuildings, such as mills, sawmills, storehouses, a distillery and a chapel, fields, kitchen gardens and a herb garden. The museum presents the many different faces of life in the Black Forest: its architecture, traditions, customs and trades, and the way people lived and farmed throughout the ages. Daily Events: Daily craftsmen demonstrations: Museum visitors are invited to witness traditional crafts. Mill demonstration: Daily at 11.00 am, 12.30 am and 2.00 Pm. Museum workshop for families: Here, under expert guidance, the museum guests can make various different pieces and objects, from key hooks to lanterns and hardwood baskets.
Reviewed By retireeVancouver - Vancouver, Canada
This fantastic open-air museum shows the house styles, the cultural habits, and the way of living in the Black Forest from the start of the 1600s to the end of the 1700s. The collection of farm and craft buildings come from the southern, central, northern regions of the Black Forest. There are about 10 houses to visit and numerous smaller buildings used for special purposes like a communal bakehouse, a blacksmith shop, a distillery, and various sheds for a saw mill and grinding mills. There even was a retirement home for aging parents. The houses are separated, spaciously, on the property with log fences encircling gardens or grassy areas. Visitors follow the pea gravel paths to reach each building. Take the brochure at the ticket office that shows the layout of the buildings on the property. It becomes evident, then, that the houses from south and central BF are clustered together near the Visitor's Center while the northern section with its one building has room for expansion. If time is limited skip that isolated house. The brochure also has general information about the times that certain demonstrations are given - mill, trade and craft demos. There are plenty of information boards on the property - in 4 languages - but an audioguide (4E, English, German, French) is also available at the ticket office. This map of the property can be downloaded from their website prior to visiting. We used about 1 1/2 -2 hours, but visitors should allow about half a day in order to have time to watch the various craft demos and to walk to the one building at the far right edge of the property. We focused on visiting the buildings clustered together in the area of the Visitor's Center. The only thing that this property might improve on is listing the exact location of the demos, especially the crafts; otherwise they have done a fantastic job in preserving and informing visitors about a life style very foreign to me. Admission is 10E. The houses are wood constructions and have thatched roofs that are wider than the frame of the house. The houses vary in size from a small laborer's cottage (still lived in to 1993) to a huge 3-4 level building. The houses didn't have basements. The ground floor was used as a barn for animals, the second level was used for accommodations, and the third level - a loft - for storage. Things stored included farm equipment, carriages. It was also a good area to dry and store herbs and nuts. One house even had its own small grind stone to mill flour from grains. Another used this area as a shoe shop while another used it for basket weaving. Different levels in the house were accessed by stairs, sometimes ladders. If the house had been built into a hillside, an exterior ramp was used to access the loft. That house had been on the property, while the other houses had been brought to the property dismantled, and, then, rebuilt, Each home was furnished according to its time period. Kitchens had home-made wood tables and benches. Ceramic fireplaces warmed the living area, but had no chimneys. Smoke flowed through the house resulting in black walls. Sleigh beds were made up with rustic woven bedding and had a night pot underneath the bed. A baby's crib would be placed in the parent's room, but other children seemed to have separate bedrooms from the parents. Windows were very small openings so that even on a sunny day it was relatively dark inside the rooms. It amazes me that chores like cooking and sewing were done in the dim light. In one house the people must have been literate as there was a very old hymnal, prayer book, and bible on display. Don't miss the modern Black Forest house (1980) at the rear of the property. It is such a contrast in its furnishings to those of centuries ago even though there is a similarity in style. I loved the 2 rooms for teens with beds unmade, computer on the desk, and a sign on the door that said, "Don't disturb". This building had WC and patio tables for refreshments. Every home had an information board on which the layout of the house was drawn, and facts about its original location, date constructed, owners, and the use of the rooms. These signs were in 4 languages. Other information on the boards may be about cultural and inheritance practices. For example, a family would pass the farm onto the youngest child and the elderly parents would be re-located into a house of their own. Such a retirement house was on the property. It had about 3 rooms. The children and parents had a contract which laid out the terms of when and how much the children would give to the parents for their maintenance. If a daughter wasn't married by the age of 25, she was sent to a nunnery. The eldest son had to leave the farm to make his own way - farming with in-laws, the army, priesthood. i enjoyed seeing the gardens and reading the information boards about what was grown. The herb garden was necessary for survival as there were no doctors nearby to provide either diagnoses or medicines. The farmers were self-reliant and grew herbs they knew would relieve colds or improve blood circulation. It was interesting to see which herbs were grown to cure various ailments - all labelled, of course. The trades buildings were grouped together. I could relate easily to this type of work and equipment needed as there is a commonality about blacksmith's shops (had a really big bellows on display), saw mills (crank operated though), grinding mills for making oils (hemp was a popular plant for this use), and an outdoor bake house. I didn't notice many animals about the place, except for a rabbit hutch and chicken pen. There may have been sheep further out in fields at the edge of the property. Children seem to be drawn to animals and the group of school children visiting, I'm sure, had no difficulty finding them. Another highlight of our tour was a baker giving us a demo of putting together a Black Forest cake step by step. After, we went into the cafe to eat a slice of that cake along with coffee - about 8E. The restaurant in the Visitor's center is large enough to handle a crowd. Order from a menu; table service. The gift shop includes literature about the area. Unfortunately, for women on bus tours, there is a long wait for WC in the Visitor's Center as there are just a few stalls (my only complaint). The large parking area is about a 5 minute walk from the Visitor's Center. There are local food stalls selling hot foods, ice cream, BF cake and coffee along that walk (fish and chips 7E, BF cake 4.50E, Coffee 2.80E, sausage in a bun 4E). Note that the BF railway has a stop at this attraction. There is a pedestrian passageway under those tracks to get from the parking lot to the Visitor's center. Scenic River Cruises arranged our excursion to this attraction. It was very worthwhile.
3. Schluchsee
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 535 reviews
An alpine lake located near Feldberg.
Reviewed By josa238 - Berlin, Germany
It is quite hard to write a review of travel experience during the Corona virus that has hit the tourism industry hard. I was confronted with the hardship of Stay at home, the lockdown and social distancing to take a decision to drive to Black Forest. Then I remembered the Great German painter the late Casper David Friedrich whose landscape painting included works like „The Abbey in the Oakwood“ and „Monk by the Sea“ which prompted me to pick my camera which I had to put under a raincoat due to the weather forecast. What a beautiful region for hiking, nature tours, boat rides, cycling and adventures. The tourist office in Schluchsee has all the information map to get around. Great view of the lake from the Tower Riesenbühl which is 1097 meters high, with 140 steps, 27 pedestal stairs situated behind the Four Seasons Hotel in Schluchsee. The region is easily accessible by train and if one has time, it is worthy to visit the beautiful city of Freiburg with its magnificent Münster Dom.
4. Munsterplatz
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,509 reviews
This town square, built next to and named after Freiburg's famous cathedral, is still a major center of the city's social activity.
Reviewed By Tanina
There is a nice market near the Cathedral. And Rote lange is absolutely tasty! And next week-end we had fish sandwiches. As well as bought some samples of German sausages and French cheeses. Besides we bought some of the farmer produce of an excellent quality for daily use which was very helpful as we were staying in an apartment nearby for 9 days with self service! Recommend very much!
5. Bachle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 794 reviews
A collection of small picturesque streams that line many of the streets of Freiburg.
Reviewed By andreao148 - Winnipeg, Canada
We loved relaxing and soaking our feet in the bachle after a long day! So refreshing! Excellent place to unwind with some gelato and just visit with friends.
6. Lichtentaler Allee
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,405 reviews
This beautiful park is home to the town's famous casino.
Reviewed By pauldY2197UW - Miamiville, United States
We had the good fortune to book an Airbnb for the entire month of September right by Lichtentaler Allee. We LOVED walking into the city along this beautiful path/ parkway. Along the way there was a gazebos, dahlia garden, incredible, stately rose garden, statues, a fountain, magnificent mansions, museums, old trees, a large meadow, a small canal/river full of ducks, clay tennis courts with an adjoining Italian cafe that we really liked. It was quiet and safe. We walked into town probably a dozen times. Sometimes in the early morning, sometimes late at night. There were always others around on foot or on bikes, even occasionally in carriages. We ALWAYS felt safe and serene. We could have driven and parked in Baden-Baden but we always chose to walk, even if we were tired from a day’s exploring. It was that enjoyable. It was THE PERFECT LOCATION for an extended stay and visit to Schwarzwald and Alsace. I would do it again in a minute!
7. Augustiner Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 261 reviews
Reviewed By melanch
Outstanding collection of medieval art, helpful and polite staff. Daniel Mauch panels are fabulous, anyone interested in limewood sculpture should visit
8. Freiburg Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,490 reviews
Reviewed By maryjos742 - Tallahassee, United States
The market surrounds the the cathedral in the center of the old section of town. The market gives the square a vitality with vendors selling local, seasonal produce, flowers, food, and other products. Concerts on the cathedral's organ occur every Saturday morning and feature both traditional and contemporary works. You can take tours of the cathedral by the docents and even visit the workshop where new stonework is carved using traditional tools.
9. Schwarzwald Hochstrasse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 245 reviews
Reviewed By Raoulr89 - Sittard, The Netherlands
Fun road to drive with a length of 65 kilometer. Can't miss it because the signs are very clear. We drove from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt but of course you can also drive it the other way around. Be aware there a lot of motorbikes on the road and sometimes trail hogs. There are several sightseeing spots, landmarks, lakes or waterfalls to stop or make a walk. Best stop points are the geroldsau waterfalls and the Mummelsee. We also tried to reach the Bühlerhöhe castle but couldn't find it. The road is perfectly maintained.
10. MerkurBergbahn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 659 reviews
Reviewed By LisaEmery - London, United Kingdom
The ride on the funicular railway is fabulous, the views from the top of Merkur are stunning, nice cafe at the top for a beer and snacks (or a meal). This is a Baden-Baden must do. Can't recommend highly enough. You can get the bus from town, or its about a half hour walk (very hilly on the way there, lovely walk back though!)
