niedjane

What is the best way to see Frankfurt, Heidelberg's Schloss, the Black Forest, and Lake Constance on our way to Munich? We plan to drive to the Schloss in the evening then spend the night either there or in Freiberg where we'll wake up to the Black Forest. Is there a good way to get an overall impression of the Black Forest? We want to drive from the Black Forest to Munich and stop to see the Bodensee on the way. Any ideas? We only have 3 days and there are 6 people.

quokka

Freiberg is a good base for exploring the Ore Mountains but not for the Black Forest as it is 8 hours away. Try Freiburg instead.

Echnaton

Freibug is a quaint town - with a beautiful cathedral - but it is not IN the Black Forest. From Freiburg into the Black Forest, it is a one-hour-drive through the Höllental.

The Black Forest is a region of mild mountains, with good hiking trails and lots of cozy restaurants in traditional farmhouses.

Here some destinations of the Black Forest:

The open-air museum Vogtsbauernhof:
http://vogtsen.land-in-sicht.com/ind...7/%28bild%29/0

Triberg with waterfalls, cuckoo-clocks and a small museum:
http://www.black-forest-travel.com/triberg/

Schluchsee with its lake and hiking trails:
http://www.black-forest-travel.com/l...chluchsee.html

St. Blasien with its magnificent monastery:
http://www.black-forest-travel.com/st-blasien/

Menzenschwand with a thermal spa and radon galleries:
http://www.menzenschwand.eu/

Another spa town in the foothills is Badenweiler:
http://www.black-forest-travel.com/badenweiler/

In the foothills, you find several quaint towns:
Gengenbach
http://www.black-forest-travel.com/gengenbach/
Staufen
http://www.black-forest-travel.com/staufen/

niedjane

Thanks - I meant Freiburg! Is there a good tour we can take to get an overall feeling for the Black Forest? We're really not sure what to see there or what it includes, so any help would be great. Is there a national park-ish stop there that we can see and get a guided tour? I know the Black Forest is a whole region, but is there such a thing as the "heart of the Black Forest?"

Echnaton

niedjane - the Black Forest is not park but it is a region with mountains, lakes, villages, farms etc.

Here is my suggestion:

If you stay overnight in Freiburg, then start in the morning with driving up in the direction of Waldkirch and proceed on the B294 to Haslach. There turn onto B33 to Hausach. After Hausach, you find the Vogtsbauernhof, which is an open-air museum that gives you an excellent impression of the Black Forest.

Continue on B33 southwards to Triberg which is something like the heart of Black Forest. There is the Black Forest Museum right at the entrance to the trail to the waterfalls (not too spectacular, but a nice hike).

If you have seen enough of Black Forest, you may drive to Villingen (nice Old Town) and from there you are quickly on four-lane highways to the Bodensee.

If you want to see more of Black Forest, from Triberg, drive onto B500 and proceed southwards. If you are interested in clocks, you may visit the Uhrenmuseum in Furtwangen.

B500 will lead you to Titisee which is a resort town at a small lake. From Titisee, take the small road on the western shore of the lake (Bruderhalde) up to Bärental. From there, you can continue to the Feldberg, the highest mountain in the Black Forest (chairlift to the top).

Drive back via Bärental to B500 and to Schluchsee. If you are interested in a spa and in an overnight stay, Menzenschwand will be a good place. Otherwise, drive along the lake and then towards St. Blasien and visit the monastery with its impressive dome. In the area, you find the Rothaus brewery with an excellent restaurant and tavern. If you want to splurge, stay overnight at hotel Adler in Häusern and have a Michelin-star awarded dinner there. www.adler-schwarzwald.de

In any case, the heart of Black Forest is in the many farmhouses which have been converted into taverns, restaurants or hotels. Some of them are incredibly cozy and serve regional fare, wines and beers.

klondike

You sound like you plan on seeing both Frankfurt and Heidelberg the same day?

The Heidelberg Schloss itself will take either a morning or an afternoon and you don't say when you will be arriving Frankfurt, but if it's only one day that you've got to devote to the two cities I would scrap trying to see anything in Frankfurt and head straight to Heidelberg (45 min drive from airport) You could park in the Schloss parking lot and take the funicular down to the Altstadt and visit it. Or more impressive ,imo, to park in one of the parking garages along the river, visit the historic bridge, walk up the narrow streets to the old town with the impressive view of the castle above, and take the funicular UP. Easy walk downhill to your car in the parking garage. Be sure to ask for the group rate at the funicular as there is one available. You would also need to let them know you're only going as far as the castle and not all the way up to Molkenkur/Königstuhl stops (great if you had more time).