Black Forest Highlights

1. Introduction

Black Forest (or Schwarzwald in German) is a well-known tourist destination located in southwest Germany. This mountainous terrain is said to have got its name from the dark green colour of the spruce trees in this region. Read this post to find out about two of the most beautiful places to visit in Black Forest: Baden-Baden and Triberg.

2. Destination 1 (Baden-Baden)

This fashionable European spa-town is the perfect place to enjoy some relaxing time away from our hectic daily schedule. When in Baden-Baden, don’t forget to pamper yourself at the famous spa centres such as Caracalla Baths or Friedrichsbad!

Scratch the map: 

Baden-Baden is located in the state of Baden-Württemberg in the Black Forest region. It is on the Oos River in the north-west part of Black Forest close to the French border.

Nearest airport: 

The nearest airport to Baden-Baden is Karlsruhe/Baden Baden (FKB) which is approximately 16 km from Baden-Baden city centre. 

2.a Altes Schloss (Hohenbaden Old Castle) 

This castle was built as early as the 12th century and was home to the Margraves of Baden. Although, mostly ruins of the castle are left today, it offers panoramic views of Baden-Baden and the surrounding countryside from the top. You can also grab a bite at the restaurant just outside the castle. 

2.b Mummelsee

This lake is a popular tourist spot at the foot of the Hornisgrinde mountain and 30 km away from Baden-Baden. If you are interested in water activities, take a pedal-boat ride in Mummelsee to enjoy the surroundings.

2.c Lichtentaler Allee 

It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parks that I have ever visited. Located in the city centre, this park has an abundance of trees and gorgeous bridges. It is a lovely place to go for a leisurely stroll along the river. 

2.d Personal Recommendations

• Café Konig: This café in the city centre has  a variety of delicious cakes and desserts, and it goes without saying that one should definitely try the classic Schwarzwald Torte here. 

• Accommodation: We stayed at Hotel Rebenhof about 7 km away from the main city of Baden-Baden (private parking available). Situated amidst vineyards and green meadows, this hotel provides scenic views of the vineyards from the rooms. I would highly recommend this hotel simply because of its awesome location. Moreover, watching the sun set over the vast horizon from our balcony every evening was an amazing experience- a view so rare to get from most of our homes nowadays in crowded cities packed with high buildings. You can also spend quality time in this region by exploring the walking trails or cycling in the nearby vineyards. If you are looking for a peaceful location to rejuvenate yourself, then your search ends here!

2.d Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall, as we all know, acted as a barrier between East and West Berlin during the period of Cold War. The purpose was to prevent people of East Berlin (then controlled by Soviet) from escaping to West Berlin (under Western Allies). The Wall was constructed in 1961 by German Democratic Republic (GDR) and finally after a series of revolutions it was finally demolished in 1989-1990. The longest section of the Wall that remains today is the East side Gallery in Mühlenstraße which is an open-air gallery close to the river Spree. Here, you can see the murals painted by artists from different countries as a symbol of peace and positivity. The most famous amongst these artworks are the ‘Fraternal Kiss’ (representing the kiss between Brezhnev and Honecker in 1979) painted in 1990 by Dmitri Vrubel and the picture of a Trabant (popular car of GDR times) breaking through the Berlin Wall painted by Birgit Kinder.

2.e CheckPoint Charlie

It was a well-known crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. The checkpoint booth was removed on 22 June 1990, about half a year after the wall opened in November 1989. There is an open air exhibition near Checkpoint Charlie where you can find lots of interesting information and facts about the Cold War.

2.f Other key attractions

The list of attractions in Berlin is never ending- some other places that you must visit are the Holocaust Memorial, Berliner Dom, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis Kirche and Museum Island. You can skip the Berlin TV tower if you already go to the top of Berliner Dom from where you can view the entire city.

3. Do not miss!!

• Buy some cool souvenirs to cherish your Berlin memories and ofcourse gift to you dear and loved ones! Souvenir shops are present all around the tourist attractions.

• Did you know that the traffic signals in eastern part of Berlin are still different from the west?!! Keep an eye on the signals and you will be able to tell the difference very clearly!!

• A tour of Berlin is incomplete without trying authentic German cuisine. Don’t forget to try the famous Currywurst, Berlin meatballs and the Berliner Weisse.

4. Auf Wiedersehen

And that"s a wrap on my first visit to Berlin- a really fulfilling one indeed! . Hope you enjoyed the post and are making your plans already. Keep travelling and exploring the world!!- Auf Wiedersehen!!