The holiday region of the Black Forest Highlands Welcome to the Black Forest Highlands! Unique natural scenery, a wide variety of leisure opportunities and lively cultural offerings – it’s all here in the Black Forest Highlands, which are situated at altitudes of between 700 and 1,500 metres in the heart of the tri-border region of Germany, France and Switzerland. Casting all of the Black Forest clichés of the Cuckoo Clock, Black Forest Gateau and the Bollenhut Hat aside, the region surrounding Lake Titisee, the Feldberg Mountain and Lake Schluchsee is so varied that even our most frequent and long-standing guests continue to discover something new. The Black Forest Highlands, with their 16 towns of Breitnau, Eisenbach, Feldberg, Friedenweiler, Häusern, Hinterzarten, Lenzkirch, Löffingen, Schluchsee, St. Blasien, St. Märgen, St. Peter, Rothauser Land, Titisee-Neustadt, Todtmoos and Bergwelt Todtnau cover an area of approx- imately 800 km2. Each of these towns has its own flair and unmistakable charm. Whether it is the white winter’s landscape or the green summer’s paradise – the natural beauty of the Black Forest Highlands guarantees an unforgettable holiday experience at any time of year! Germany Your first point of call for discovering the Black Forest Highlands: Hochschwarzwald Tourismus GmbH Freiburger Str. 1 · 79856 Hinterzarten France Baden-Württemberg Tel: +49 (0)7652/1206-0 Black Forest Highlands [email protected] hochschwarzwald.de Switzerland 2 _ _ 3 Stunning Nature Dense forests, crystal-clear streams and great views The Black Forest Highlands are a genuine paradise for those who love the great outdoors: sunny peaks, glittering lakes and deep gorges make the region which nestles in the heart of the Black Forest an ideal location for getting away from the city and switching off in the heart of an idyllic natural setting. Wide plateaus with unique views, shady forests and a healthy mountain climate provide the best conditions for a relaxing holiday in unspoilt nature. This can be experienced on a particularly intense basis in the preserved forests of the Black Forest Highlands, where the flora and fauna have deliberately been left alone for many years, enabling a unique biotope to flourish far away from human interference. A trip to the summit of the Feldberg Mountain also promises to be a great experience in the natural scenery. On a clear day, the highest mountain in the Black Forest offers fantastic views all the way to the Swiss Alps. Those who decide to spend their holidays in the Black Forest Highlands also decide to spend them in harmony with nature and the environment: In February 2016, the Black Forest Highlands were awarded the title of a sustainable travel destination by the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Further information: hochschwarzwald.de/naturhighlights _ 7 Summer Feeling Experience the Black Forest Highlands on the move The Black Forest Highlands offer their guests the perfect combination of an action-packed adventure holiday, enjoyment of the natural scenery and relaxation. With an extensive network of cycling paths, hiking and mountain bike trails, there are no limits to getting active in the great outdoors. The opportunities to discover the Black Forest Highlands are almost as numerous as the trees in the region’s green forests: on an extended hike along idyllic paths, along one of the many trails by mountain bike or on a canyoning tour taking in crystal-clear streams and steep rocks. The Wutach Gorge, which is Germany’s largest canyon, is a paradise for active holidaymakers, while the idyllic outdoor swimming pools and lakes in the forests are great places to cool off. With a network of some 1,700 kilometres of hiking trails, including eight certified premium trails, the holiday region offers the ideal conditions for discovering the natural beauty of the Black Forest by foot. Ranging from 8 to 26 km in length, the “Black Forest Connoisseur Paths” provide the perfect symbiosis of nature and pleasure: extensive woodland, lush meadows and crystal-clear streams, as well as idyllic country inns which invite travellers to take a rest and enjoy some local specialities. Further information: hochschwarzwald.de/hochschwarzwald-erleben _ 9 Family-friendly Holidays Unique holiday offerings, whatever the weather Whether it is a downhill descent on the longest summer toboggan run in Germany, the Hasenhorn Coaster in Todtnau, an excursion to the tropical climes of the Bade- paradies Schwarzwald themed pool complex & Spa in Titisee or a treasure hunt when geocaching in the forest – the family-friendly offers in the Black Forest Highlands are as varied as the region itself. As an award-winning family-friendly holiday region, the Black Forest Highlands offer the perfect holiday experience to guests young and old in any weather. A geocaching tour invites families to embark on a treasure hunt together. With the nature explorer’s rucksack on their back, children can explore the wildlife and plant life of the forest in a playful way along eleven educational trails which range from 2 to 6 km in length. When the sun shines over the treetops of the Black Forest, lakes, outdoor swimming pools, adventure parks and climbing forests are the ideal destinations for a family excursion. The Fundorena Indoor Fun Park at the Feldberg Mountain with its unique 4,000 m² indoor play area or the professional childminders of the Kucky Team provide further entertainment. Further information: hochschwarzwald.de/familienurlaub _ 11 Winter Wonderland in Germany’s highest-situated mountain range north of the Alps The largest winter sports region in the state of Baden-Württemberg nestles around the Feldberg Mountain, which has a height of 1,493 metres. The Black Forest Highlands also provide a setting for regular high-profile winter sports events. Whether it is on the piste or cross-country, a snowshoe walk in an idyllic winter’s landscape or an exciting descent by sledge on one of the countless sledging slopes – the Black Forest Highlands are a genuine winter’s paradise. The holiday region offers skiers and snowboarders some 60 lifts and 100 kilometres of pistes. The 125 cross-country trails with a total length of more than 700 km are ideal for those who enjoy cross-country skiing. With a tradition stretching back more than 125 years, the Black Forest Highlands are known as the home of skiing. The 8th February 1891, when the French diplomat R. Pilet climbed the Feldberg wearing “Norwegian snow shoes” is now acknowledged to be the advent of skiing in Central Europe. The ski lift was also invented in the Black Forest Highlands with the first such facility having been constructed in Eisenbach in 1908. Further information: hochschwarzwald.de/winter _ 13 Authentic Culture and Tradition Age-old buildings, customs and traditions Small chapels, traditional Black Forest mills, churches and cloisters as well as many other historic buildings tell of the rich cultural heritage of the Black Forest Highlands. St. Blasien Cathedral with its height of 63 m and a dome with a diameter of 36 m is one of the region's many attractions of international renown and the largest building of its kind north of the Alps. The baroque church and the rococo library in St. Peter, as well as the abbey church and museum in St. Märgen are also well worth seeing. A walk to one of the many small chapels, which nestle quaintly in the countryside also provides a great cultural experience in a beautiful natural setting. Customs and traditions have always been important to the people in the towns and villages of the Black Forest Highlands. The best way to experience these is at the local festivities and events which come around each year. From the traditional village festivals to the romantic and picturesque Christmas markets, the Black Forest Highlands offer authentic culture to experience throughout the year. One big attraction, on the four weekends of advent, is the well known Christmas Market in the Ravenna Gorge. Further information: hochschwarzwald.de/kultur _ 15 Genuine Hospitality & Award-winning Cuisine Stylish places to stay, great quality food From cosy and traditional to fashionable and luxurious, from the camp site to the five-star hotel: Those who stay in the Black Forest Highlands have more than 2,000 accommodations to choose from. Traditional restaurants with regional products and award-winning gastronomy mean that the Black Forest Highlands offer an excellent dining experience. An authentic Black Forest experience is guaranteed during a stay at one of the award-winning “Kuckucksnester Design Apartments”. With their high quality design, the holiday apartments are furnished in an exquisite Black Forest Highlands style. They combine traditional materials from the region with contemporary design elements. Furthermore, the region features a large number of high-class four- and five-star hotels such as the “Parkhotel Adler” in Hinterzarten, which is a member of the exclusive “Small Luxury Hotels of the World”. A holiday in the Black Forest Highlands also guarantees authenticity when it comes to the cuisine: whether it is a cosy café or a first class restaurant, the gastronomy of the region offers visitors the chance to savour local specialities. In particular, the certified restaurants of the Nature Park are delighted to serve high-quality, regional products. A visit to the “Adler” Restaurant in Häusern, which was awarded a Michelin star for the 50th time in succession in 2016, promises its guests a particularly enjoyable culinary experience. Further information: hochschwarzwald.de Food-Fotografie © Roland Krieg Fotodesign, Waldkirch Fotodesign, Krieg © Roland Food-Fotografie _ 17 Typical Black Forest World-famous elements of the Black Forest Culture The Cuckoo Clock Black Forest Gateau Traditional Black The world-famous cuckoo It is one of the best-known Forest Costume clock has been manufactured culinary specialities in Going back several centu- in the region since the 18th Germany: the Black Forest ries, each town in the Black century.