Lindy Valdez
The Black Forest is one of the most beautiful regions in our southwest and is incredibly multifaceted. What makes it so special? We’ll tell you about it here on a little discovery tour through the Black Forest.
In the southwest of Baden-Württemberg lies Germany’s highest and largest contiguous low mountain range: the Black Forest. He is known for Bollenhuts and cuckoo clocks. But also for its breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, which are specially protected. Because almost the entire area of the Black Forest is covered by four large protected areas – a national park, two nature parks, and a biosphere reserve. These are a kind of “model landscape” for the protection of species and biotopes as well as for more sustainable recreational use. Because the Black Forest is home to many endangered animal and plant species, such as the capercaillie or the Weißer Höswurz from the orchid family.
Discover the Black Forest
Whether it’s a day trip or a longer holiday – there is a lot to experience in the Black Forest. Over 24,000 kilometers of marked hiking trails lead through mystical forests, sunny vineyards, narrow gorges, or over mountain peaks. Cyclists also get their money’s worth here. Those who prefer to take it easy can stroll through towns such as Baden-Baden, Freiburg, or Titisee-Neustadt. The Southern Black Forest Nature Park also offers a high level of experience. With around 394,000 hectares, it is one of the largest nature parks in Germany. As was the case hundreds of years ago, the landscape here is still tended to in part by livestock. You can find more about this under Animal life: the Southern Black Forest Nature Park!
Overnight in the wilderness
You can really immerse yourself in nature with an overnight stay in a trekking camp in the Black Forest. The camps are all located away from the villages, can only be reached on foot, and have pitches for up to three tents, a fireplace, and a small toilet house. What does a night in the wilderness feel like? Outdoor blogger Kathrin put it to the test: adventures at home: through the Black Forest with a tent
This is what the Black Forest tastes like
The Black Forest is also world-famous for very special culinary delights such as Black Forest cake, kirsch, Brägele (fried potatoes), Bibbeleskäs (dressed quark), Black Forest ham or sausage salad, which you should definitely taste…
Black Forest ham
In addition to other sausage specialties, Black Forest ham is also produced at our Schwarzwaldhof production facility in Blumberg with masterful expertise and under the strictest controls. You can find out more here: Schwarzwaldhof – quality from the Black Forest
Black Forest sparkling water
Hidden under the ground, there is also a very special treasure in the Black Forest: mineral water. With two production sites in Bad Peterstal-Griesbach and Wildberg, our subsidiary Schwarzwald-Sprudel is one of the leading mineral water fountains in southwest Germany. With different types of mineral water and soft drinks, also under the Vitrex brand, Schwarzwald-Sprudel offers just the right thing for everyone.
The forest in transition
Do you know where the Black Forest got its name from? It was the Romans who baptized it “silva nigra” – “black forest”. When they came over the Alps about 2,000 years ago to expand their empire, the area of today’s the Black Forest was a huge contiguous forest area with many conifers. But which tree species grow here today and how do climatic changes affect the forest? We have that Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kohnle, Head of the Forest Growth Department at the Forestry Research and Testing Institute in Baden-Württemberg. The interview with the expert can be found here: The Black Forest in transition: This is what the forest of the future will look like.
