Visit the German Black Forest

The German Black Forest is said to be full of witches, werewolves and devils. In reality, far from it. Located in the south west corner of the state, the German Black Forest or Schwarzwald, borders France, Switzerland and the Neckar River. Far from dark, it gains it's name due to the pine

trees which dominated the region in history. Today, the area is filled with sun drenched valleys and lakes, a nature lovers paradise. The area was first discovered nearly 2000 years ago when Caracalla, a Roman emperor, discovered the natural spring waters of what would become Baden-Baden. In the late 1700's, the Congress of Rastatt met here in an attempt to end the wars of the French Revolution. In the 19th century, nobility, actors, writers and composers came to visit the spa town. Mark Twain found the beauty to be the perfect setting to write his poems, putting the German Black Forest on the map for America. Today, you'll find movie stars right along side you in the thermal spa resorts.

You might think that forestry would be big business here. Wood used to be big business here along with silver and ore. Though timber is still valuable, environmental preservation and tourism is more important. Woodcutting is only allowed under very strict supervision and

all cut trees are replaced. Clock making is also a trade that has been a successful industry ever since the 17th century. When you visit, you'll not only notice the beauty of the forests, but also the gorgeous green valleys. As you drive through these valleys, it will be as if you stepped back in time. The back roads are filled with tiny little villages, with some buildings 300 years old. Just outside the town of Gutach, you'll find Schwarzwälder Freilichtmuseum Vogtsbauernhof, an outdoor musuem showing the way of life in time past. The museum includes houses and rural buildings showing bakeries, dairies, crafts, wood carving, farming, etc. You can take in live exhibitions of bread making, paper making, chain saw carving, and grain milling.

When you're ready for the great outdoors, you won't need to look far. You may not find the highest mountains here, but the Feldberg, the Belchen, the Kandel and the Schauinsland will provide challenging hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. Ready for some water action, check out

Titisee or Schluchsee lakes for a variety of water sports. All Saints and Triberg waterfalls, the most famous waterfalls in Germany, provide beautiful vistas and more hiking. There are many rivers in the region, the most famous being the Danube and the Neckar. All that nature making you hungry? The German Black Forest is famous for ham and cake. Black Forest ham can take up to three months to prepare. It is salted and seasoned then cured and smoked. Fir brush and sawdust used to smoke the ham give it it's rich flavor. Black Forest cake is made of layers of chocolate cake, cream and cherries. Traditionally, the cake also contains kirsch, a liquor derived from cherries. Are you ready for some fun? Germany's most famous amusement park, Europa

Park, is located outside the town of Rust in the German Black Forest. Here you can discover thirteen countries first hand. Each country section of the park offers a variety of exhibits and rides to amuse, entertain and thrill you. Europa Park also offers movies, opportunities for large groups and an area especially for young children. ...and share the link above with a friend to try collaborating in real-time.