The German Forest That Is The Basis of Fairy Tales
With a name like Black Forest, you might want to stay away from this forest area in Germany. Do not let the name lead you astray. This is an incredibly beautiful area of not only Germany, but the world.
The Black Forest area is like a step back in time. From little logging towns to think, heavy food, the region is all about authenticity and a different way of life. Of course, such a beautiful place is on the tourist track as well.
The Black Forest has a long history of logging as you might expect with a forest. Logging is no longer allowed on a big scale, so a new niche has come up. The Black Forest is now known for carved wood cuckoo clocks.
It is said that alongside the happy people of the Black Forest live werewolves, sorcerers, witches, and even the devil himself. Many people that live within this area place a lot of importance upon such folklore, and some even believe that dwarves were sent to the area in order to keep the evil away from the towns.
Listen to the stories and myths long enough and you will build up an appetite. German food is solid and the Black Forest is no different. From meat to big cakes to sinus clearing schnapps, you will definitely not go hungry.
To really experience the Black Forest, you need to experience the little towns. The air is so clean it is amazing, so Freiberg is our first stop. It is a beautiful little town and you can rent a bike to cruise around and take it all in.
Pforzheim was originally founded by the Romans as an important mercantile center. There, you will find lots of great handmade jewelry and (of course) plenty of cuckoo clocks. Additionally, this town includes the Technisches Museum, which details the very beginning of life within this area.
One of my personal favorites in the Black Forest is Triberg. It is a small town with a lot to do. After the heavy German cuisine, you are going to want to walk a bit. Triberg is full of paths through the forest for any level of hiker.
No matter where you go in the Black Forest, you can be sure that you will find a comfortable inn to lay your head once your busy day is done. Every little village is amazing as is the forest as a whole.