The Black Forest (Schwarzwald) gets its name from the dark canopy of evergreens, though it’s also dotted with open slopes and farmland. And while some parts heave with visitors, a 20-minute walk from even the most crowded spot will put you in quiet countryside dotted with enormous traditional farmhouses and patrolled by amiable dairy cows. It’s not nature wild and remote, but bucolic and picturesque.
The Black Forest is east of the Rhine between Karlsruhe and Basel. It’s shaped like a bean, about 160km long and 50km wide. If you have a car, you’ll find your visit especially rewarding as you can wander the rolling hills and deep valleys at will.
