As part of our epic road trip this summer, we spent some time travelling through Germany. It was something of a whistle-stop tour and unfortunately, we could only schedule one day in the Black Forest. Our stop required careful planning to really get the most out of our visit to this beautiful region. Here is how we spent 1 day in the Black Forest, Germany.
Gut Lauterbad Hotel
We decided to pick an area and then explore it. I had heard good things about the Freudenstadt area and opted for a hotel close to this town. We found Gut Lauterbad Hotel on bookings.com. In the images, it looked every bit of the traditional German hotel we were looking for.
We arrived in the evening and the road leading to the hotel was in total darkness. It created a very eerie atmosphere. The hotel has no lift and we were on the top floor which proved to be an exhausting climb with our suitcases. Nevertheless, the room was comfortable and cosy and the staff were friendly.
We enjoyed a continental breakfast in the morning and then headed to the town of Freudenstadt.
Freudenstadt
One of my all-time favourite mornings of the entire trip was our visit to the town of Freudenstadt. This is a picturesque town located in the heart of the Black Forest. It is quaint and quiet and the best of traditional German towns. There is ample parking within the town and the locals are friendly and welcoming.
We sampled Black Forest apple strudel and ice creams in one of the eateries.
The shops offer all kinds of Balck Forest souvenirs and gifts.
Freudenstadt is home to a beautiful cathedral complete with a working bell tower.
The Black Forest High Road
A 60 km high road runs from Freudenstadt to Baden Baden. This is one road you need to tick off your driving bucket list. The only thing comparable to this drive was our drive over the Swiss Alps some days earlier. The road was long and winding and took us up through the mountain regions. We enjoyed the most spectacular views.
When we reached the summit, we were blown away by this incredible adventure we had embarked upon.
The Forest
Our afternoon in the Black Forest was spent in the forest itself as we travelled along the Black Forest High Road. We decided to make stops at various locations as we made our way towards Baden Baden in the northwest of the Black Forest region.
We made a pit stop at Kniebis and ventured into the forest itself. At the site, there are toilet facilities and a restaurant. Ample parking is also really handy and free too! There were numerous trails into the Black Forest, we picked one and followed it for a little while.
In the winter months, visitors flock to Kniebis for a skiing holiday. It was hard to imagine a winter scene as we stood close to the closed ski lift looking out into the bright sunshine.
We also made a stop at the summit of the high road near Aussichtspunkt. Here we were able to enjoy views of the Black Forest and take some time to appreciate just where we were.
As an avid amateur photographer, I requested we make various stops along the road to take some snaps of the forest.
The best way to spend a day in the Black Forest is to avoid the larger towns and cities, such as Baden Baden and head for some of the smaller town and villages instead. Also, ensure you spend some time in the forest itself. It is an incredibly eerie forest and vast and vast, It would be easy to become lost in the wilderness, so be careful to stay on the trails!
We cannot wait to return to this beautiful part of the world and will treasure the memories we made exploring this wonderful region in Germany.
