Recreation and Enjoyment

Both in summer and winter, the nature park offers all visitors seeking relaxation and enjoyment a large number of possibilities of spending their holidays and spare time. This is true for all different target groups, for families, senior citizens, groups of young people and individual tourists of different ages. The activities on offer range from quiet relaxation out in nature to outdoor activities for amateur and professional sportspersons.

In particular, you'll find:

     - an excellent network of hiking trails,
     - an exemplary, unequalled network of sign posted Nordic
        walking and mountain biking tracks,
     - cross-country ski tracks for Nordic skiers and biathletes,
     - snow shoeing tracks,
     - easy and demanding downhill ski slopes,
     - interesting golf courses,
     - facilities and sites for paragliding,
     - modern indoor and outdoor swimming pools, rivers and
        lakes for swimming,
     - water sports,
     - rock climbing areas.

Thus it is not surprising that many people come to the Black Forest for day trips and holidays. We are counting more than 2 million visitors arriving every year and around 8.5 million overnight stays, and the figures are rising. This makes the nature park one of the most important holiday and recreational regions of Germany.

Here, every visitor can find what he or she is looking for - both peace and quiet in nature and the hustle and bustle of villages, squares and markets. Excellent hotels, guest houses and B&Bs invite you to stay for a longer holiday. The quality of the regional cuisine is legendary: due to its large number of star-rated cooks, the town of Baiersbronn has been given the by-name of "Valley of Stars".

Another pillar of tourism in the nature park is the long tradition of spa and wellness holidays. Since Roman times, visitors to the region have been finding tranquility, rest and health in clean air and hot springs. Around three quarters of all communities of the nature park are recognised health resorts. Last but not least there are world-famous spa towns worth mentioning, such as Baden-Baden, once Europe's summer capital, and Bad Wildbad.

Apart from many sports activities and culinary experiences, the nature park also offers a large number of cultural attractions: numerous churches, castles, ruins and monasteries. But the relics of economic development also have their charms, from mines, tanneries and mills to the world's oldest casino at Baden-Baden. Ancient dams built for wood rafting and many museums give you an insight into the traditional economy of the Black Forest and the interaction of nature and mankind.

Sports events, cultural programmes and events like farmers' markets, wine tasting or historical festivals set major highlights at all times of the year.