Everyone has heard of the Black Forest. Black Forest cake, Black Forest ham, Black Forest cherry schnaps….you can buy most of these products in your country but probably have never paid too many attention to where the product is from. Is there such a thing is the Black Forest? And where is the Black Forest located? Is it a Naturepark, a Nationalpark or an amusement park like Disneyland? Do you have to pay a fee to visit the park? Is it open in winter? Is it closed at night? Can you actually stay in the Black Forest?

With Black Forest Tours we show you the real thing – we provide you with an introduction to the area, give you input on how to get to the Black Forest, tell you where to stay in the Black Forest and what to see. If you are adventurous we offer self-guided tours of the Black Forest. If this is your first time to Europe, Germany or the Black Forest we provide you with a private guide who will venture into the Black forest with you and show you the highlights. Contact us for more information – we make it easy to visit the Black Forest.

When it comes to wine everyone has heard of Napa Valley. And of course France, Italy, Australia and Chile. But visiting Germany on a wine tour?

Interestingly enough we have more and more visitors from overseas acknowledging the excellence of German wines and wanting to discover them on a wine tour. There are 13 wine regions in Germany altogether. With more than 23,000 vineyards in Baden we are considered the 3rd largest wine region in Germany.

The climate here is very warm, vineyards being protected by the mountains and facing the Rhine. Due to the warm climate in this most southern wine region in Germany, Baden is the only wine region in Germany that is considered a Wine-zone B. This is the same category as the famous French wine-growing areas Alsace, Champagne, Loire Valley. That means what’s being produced here has to meet stricter quality standards than wine grown in any other part of Germany. With every sip you taste you will fall in love with German wines.

The Baden Wine road connects numerous old wineries and tiny villages at a length of 160 km. During our wine tours we visit some of the private wineries as well as some of the communal vineyards. It’s still time to book a tour for this year’s harvest season in September! Come visit during harvest season and get the chance to attend one of the many wine festivals held everywhere in the area. See you soon in the Black Forest!

On your list of things to do while visiting the Black Forest should be ‘getting a taste of the real Black Forest cake’. Have you tried a piece yet? Many visitors from other countries are surprised about the variety of Black Forest cake being offered in the Black Forest. Not only do they look differently from what’s considered a Black Forest cake in other countries. They also taste very different! One of the reason for that is that we use real cherry-liquor. Of course you can also order a piece of non-alcoholic Black Forest cake….but then…would that be a real Black Forest cake?

The restaurants and cafes in the Black Forest keep on coming up with new creations on how to package the Black Forest cake. Last years invention was the ‘Black Forest cake in a can’. This years invention is the Black Forest cake in a glass:

We have seen it a few years ago already in some of the higher-end restaurants. But this year it seems that many restaurants have picked up the idea of the cake in a glass.

We tasted it and can say…it’s DELICIOUS!!!! It might not be considered a ‘real’ Black Forest cake..but then….who needs the real thing when the copy tastes so good!

Touring with Black Forest Tours means we will take you to some of the best places in the area to taste a real Black Forest cake, a Black Forest cake in a can, in a glass or even a non-alcoholic one. You name it…the Black Forest can offer it:) See you this summer at one of the cafes!

Cuckoo-clock country. That’s how you feel once you enter the area in the Central Black Forest where cuckoo clocks have been manufactured for centuries. Cuckoo clock shops will be popping up everywhere, following you while you are making your way through the Central Black Forest. World’s largest cuckoo clock can be found here as well. And not only that. There is also world’s widest cuckoo clock, world’s tallest cuckoo clock and world’s oldest cuckoo clock. A quarter before each full hour people line up in front of the clock waiting for the cuckoo to come out for its hourly appearance.

Touring with Black Forest Tours means you will not only visit the places where the first cuckoo clocks got invented. If you are interested we also take you to one of the last remaining cuckoo clock factories in the Black Forest. A place only a few visitors to the Black Forest get to see. Here you can see how a Black Forest cuckoo clock is being built – from the carving of the wood to the coloring of the cuckoo living inside. Each manual step can be watched. The clocks here are official Black Forest cuckoo clocks. This means they come with a certificate and lifetime warranty. If you are lucky the owner of the cuckoo clock factory is present and can sign on the back of your unique Black Forest cuckoo clock.

It’s mid-July and we are busy touring the Black Forest on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately the weather hasn’t been very predictable so far. One day we have temperatures in the high 30s (Celsius), the next day we have the most incredible thunderstorms and a temperature drop to 15 C. It’s been an odd summer weather-wise so far. Visitor-wise we have been very luck though! We met some incredible people from Australia, the US, the US, Japan, HongKong and various other parts of the world. We have also welcomed an enormous amount of visitors from India this year who have been to the Black Forest area the very first time. Buying a cuckoo clock in the deep woods of the Black Forest, visiting one of the last real cuckoo clock factories in the Black Forest, hiking up the Black Forest waterfalls and eating a real piece of Black Forest cake have been some of the priorities for Indian visitors. We are working with several tour operators from India who offer package tours to Germany. A stop-over in the Black Forest of at least 2 days is usually a part of the tour. We usually choose Baden-Baden or Freiburg as the base from where to start our Black Forest tours.

If you are a tour operator or travel agent from India we welcome your inquiries with us. We can assist with packaged tours to Germany and the Black Forest, helping with hotel bookings, bus tours, English-speaking tours of Germany and the Black Forest and customized group tours. Please inquire on our website if you have a Black Forest travel request.

Have you ever wondered how to behave correctly when entering a restaurant in Germany?
Basic German restaurants don’t have a hostess. Therefore – upon entering the place greet the waitress/owner/bar tender (if you see anyone), then proceed to an appropriate table by yourself (‘appropriate’ meaning – don’t choose a table for 6 if you are by yourself). If there is anything wrong with your choice the waiter will tell you (for sure – German waiters don’t mind telling you what they think of your choice).
In a casual place people might come up to you and ask if they can share your table (so can you). And the right answer would be YES (unless there is a good reason to say no).
If you happen to have a restaurant then check in with the waitress first so they can place you at a table.
What’s your experience on getting seated in a German restaurant? Any tips or recommendations on how to behave if you don’t speak German?

Worried on how to get seated in a German restaurant?

You’ve been visiting the Black Forest in Germany, have been to the Alsace region in France and of course you crossed borders into Switzerland. And you did it all in one day, right? In our region it’s possible to do – so why not!

The border region of Switzerland, France and Germany is considered to be one of the most beautiful region in Europe. Called the Dreilaendereck in German (literally 3-country-corner) people who live here are used to be crossing borders on a daily basis. Many live on one side of the border and work on the other side. Currently more than 90,000 people are crossing borders every day to get to work. On the weekend people cross borders to get cheaper gas in France or go swimming in the thermal pools of Germany. There is always a reason to drive over the Rhine to the other country. And it makes you feel special if you can quickly drive over to Switzerland at lunch time to buy a delicious cheese for the dinner party.

When it comes to tourism this region has always been a  bit odd to promote though – the Germans have been promoting the Black Forest, the French have promoted the Alsace region and the Swiss told you that there is nothing else to see than Basel in Switzerland.

So it comes as no surprise to see the latest effort put into place a few months ago. The 3 countries have started to work together to promote the region as a whole – under the name of Upper Rhine Valley. Which makes a lot of sense – since visitors usually do visit the entire region during their stay- meaning all 3 counties – not just one country.

Culturally the region Upper Rhine Valley is very similar. People on either side of the French, Swiss or German border share the same heritage, the same history, the same dialect, the same foods, the same architecture, the same traditions and many more things. The political borders dividing the region into 3 countries were only drawn a few hundred years ago. On top of that we have the Alsace region which until recently was torn between being a part of Germany or a part of France – it’s french now in case you are still wondering:)

We do think that one name for our region-  Upper Rhine Valley -  makes a lot of sense.  With many combined efforts underway tourists will find it easier to cross over borders.  Guide Michelin just published a special edition of their guide book pointing to all 60 restaurants in the Upper Rhine Valley on either side of the border who have earned themselves one star (or more).  You can now also book a culinary trip on the Rhine river during which you will be cruising and dining across borders into 3 different countries. There are many other attempts on the way to promote this region as a whole  and we are looking forward to seeing how it will all turn out in the future.

So what’s your take on all of this – do you like the idea of promoting this area as a whole? Will it confuse you or will it make it easier to travel?

While you are deciding  Black Forest Tours can take you on Upper Rhine Valley tours and make sure you get to see 3 countries in one day(although – we recommend to stay longer).  Contact us for more information. Hopefully we’ll see you soon in the Upper Rhine Valley:)

Our trip through the Northern Black Forest continues and the question today is…..what and where the heck is Mummelsee? And no – it’s not a spelling error, this is the lake’s real name.

According to a legend, the Mummelsee is inhabited by a Nix and the underwater king of the Mummelsee. The king lives beneath the water and dragged down women to his underwater kingdom many years ago.

Mummelsee view

Mummelsee is located in the Northern Black Forest – a straight 40 minute on the Black Forest High Road between Freudenstadt and Baden-Baden. The Hornisgrinde mountain (the highest mountain in the Northern Black Forest) overlooks lakes Mummelsee and provides an unbelievably scenic background.

The lake is a very popular destination for tourists and people who want to get out of town on the weekend. Right now the lake is still frozen but the brand new Mummelsee hotel is a good place to stop and warm up. Take in the scenery from a comfy chair and enjoy the view while sipping a good glass of wine (or tea for that matter- considering how cold it is today). There is also a pretty good gift shop next to the hotel where you can find everything related to the Black Forest – from a cuckoo clock to one of the famous pom pom hats. Ever other day they are also baking bread right outside the hotel – and if you are lucky you can taste it and take one along.

The newly opened Mummelsee hotel is also a great destination if you want to get away from it all for a night. Rooms are super nice (and new!) and can accommodate a whole family. In the evening the tourists leave and you can enjoy the lake in front row – right from your balcony. Swimming is allowed and renting a boat is another thing you can do.

Frozen Mummelsee in winter

Mummelsee is one of seven cirque lakes (Karsee) in the Black Forest, a leftover from the last ice ages. What’s special about Mummelsee is that it’s not only the deepest (17 metres) lake of the seven, but also the biggest one (800 metres diametre). No other lake in the Black Forest is located at this height (1035 metres).

For more pictures of the Mummelsee click here or on the picture to the left.

If you are interested in visiting Mummelsee during your Germany vacation let us know and we’ll make sure to include a stop on our tour when sightseeing the Northern Black Forest with you!

Who hasn’t heard of Baden-Baden…second-most beautiful city in the state, the place where Obama shook hands with all the other G8 members 2 years ago…horse-racing, spas, casino, beautiful people, high-society, warm climate, lots of history,…what do you associate with this town? Often mentioned in the same sentence with cities like New York and St Tropez and considered the ‘smallest metropolis’ in the world. Visitors like Napoleon, Brahms, Dostojewski, Tolstoi, Queen Victoria and modern-day celebrities like Sean Connery, Bill Clinton and others have helped get Baden-Baden the reputation of the most elegant and sophisticated playground in Germany

We think a visit to the Black Forest isn’t complete without having at least spent half a day in this town of 54, 000. The problem is that most people are heading straight to the Southern Black Forest – whereas Baden-Baden lies in the Northern Black Forest between Heidelberg and Freiburg.

The International Horse races, the thermal spas Friedrichsbad and Caracalla, the beautiful casino, the Kurhaus and some of the most beautiful 5 star hotels in the world – we are sure you can find at least one reason to justify your next stay in Baden-Baden.

To see some images of our latest visit to this beautiful town click on the picture below or click here.

Baden Baden

If you are interested in touring Baden-Baden with us, please mention it during one of our sightseeing tours in the Northern Black Forest.

The so-called area of Markgraeflerland is located at the southern end of the Black Forest. It’s the region between the Rhine and the mountains of the Black Forest, stretching from Freiburg to the Swiss border at Basle. The margraves of Baden who ruled here centuries ago gave this region its name.

Markgraeflerland is often referred to as ‘Tuscany of Germany‘ – due to its mild, sunny climate, gourmet food and fine wines. The Baden Wine Road goes for miles and passes by dozens of wineries inviting you to some wine tastings. Wine festivals are being celebrated all over this area starting in late summer and lasting for weeks. The  Gutedel grapes are typical for this particular wine region in Germany and produce a light white wine, also known as Fendant (in Switzerland) or Chasselas (in France).

Muenstertal is a beautiful valley in the Markgraeflerland with the monastery St Trudpert – its origins dating back to the 7th century and a must-see during your stay in the Black Forest. Today Muenstertal is a health resort stretching down a beautiful long valley of about 6 kilometers. Enjoy some of the pictures we took recently at a hike around Muenstertal:

Muenstertal

Our winery tours take you to the area of Markgraeflerland and Kaiserstuhl. If time allows, a quick stop in Muenstertal with it’s beautiful monastery can be organized.