The Black Forest for the entire family
In recent years, the Black Forest, located in the southwestern part of Germany, has become a particularly favorite destination for families traveling abroad. There are many reasons for this: The nature in the area is beautiful with lots of forests, lakes, mountains and picturesque villages; and in addition there are many attractions in the area that are suitable for the whole family.
The most convenient way to travel in the Black Forest is with a rental car, as trains connect between the major cities with stops in several towns, however, do not allow access to the small villages or the beautiful natural sites. It is most convenient to pick up the rental car at the airport you land at, and leave from there directly toward Black Forest.
The highways (Autobahn in German) in Germany are well maintained and it is tempting to drive very fast on such, however, this may cost you dearly: True, on some of the highways driving at 130 km/h is allowed (and on some even faster), however if you exceed the maximum speed, you will find that the local policemen will not waive the fine even if you smile kindly and tell them that you came all the way from Israel to tour Germany ‘s beautiful landscapes... Obeying the speed limit is important when driving through the towns and villages in the Black Forest - follow the signs and make sure not to drive over 50 km/h in the cities and towns (and sometimes slower, according to the signs). There are cameras in many places, particularly at intersections with traffic lights in cities and towns, and a policeman will be waiting for you with an open notebook not far from there.
Traveling through the Black Forest with a rental car is easy and convenient, the signage is clear, and it is easy to access any of the sites and attractions, including the most remote areas. Here are some of the main sites worth visiting while traveling through the Black Forest:
Triberg is an enchanting town, which over the years has been the center of the cuckoo clock industry characterizing the region. Even today, as many domestic enterprises for manufacturing watches have been closed, it is still possible to find many shops that sell cuckoo clocks.
Don’t miss a visit to the Black Forest Museum (website: www.schwarzwaldmuseum.de) where one can admire the costumes, traditional crafts and cuckoo clocks of the Black Forest. Not far from the town are the Triberg Falls, the highest waterfalls in Germany, and adjacent to these are beautiful hiking trails in the woods.
A one-hour drive from Triberg will bring you to Freibourg, a beautiful city that is considered to be the Black Forest’s capital. There is an impressive Gothic cathedral In the old quarter of the city and narrow and beautiful streets lead out from the main square. Narrow water channels are built along the streets, which add extra charm to the city. A short drive outside of the city will bring you to a cable car taking you up to the summit of Mount Schauinsland, which features a great view of the whole area.
From Freibourg you can arrive in less than an hour to Titisee Lake, the most beautiful lake in the Black Forest. You may also walk around the lake, take a peddle boat or sailboat, or simply sit in one of the restaurants on the lake’s banks and enjoy the charming sight. Not not far from here is Mount Feldberg, the highest in the Black Forest, and you may go up to its summit by cable car.
Europapark (website: www.europapark.de/en) - Germany’s largest amusement park and one of the largest and most successful in Europe, is located at a half-hour’s drive from the lake. At the park you will find countless park facilities, attractions and roller coasters, including such that travel at great speed and spin through many loops. The park is divided into areas according to various European countries and also has facilities to cater to younger children, meticulous shows and plenty of restaurants and food outlets. If you decide to spend another day in the park, you may choose between several excellent hotels with different hotel ratings.
