is black forest worth itself in october?
 

Hello...we are an Indian couple,aged45;my query is that wether it is worth going to black forest on October,we ARE more interested in scenic beauty.....will it be snowing or we can hope to see a lot of greenery and flowers.
Also is vegetarian food available in the small towns in black forest?

Snow in October is very, very, very, very unlikely.

October means lots of Autumn colors and brown and some green.

<i>Also is vegetarian food available in the small towns in black forest? </i>

Yes but selection may be limited.

The Black Forest is not the best area for autumn colours because it has many fir and spruce trees that do not change colour. The mountain ranges on the left Rhine bank are much more beautiful: the Palatinate Forest, and Vosges over in France. There about everything turns golden. Besides, it is the season of the new wine and wine festivals, and the most beautiful time to visit the wine regions along the foot of both mountain ranges.

So, what you're saying is that it will be green.

It will be fir trees - so dark green - almost black (hence the Black Forest) - not the light green of spring/early summer leaves which will have already fallen from the trees. Not a lot of flowers - too late in the year.

And yes, really too early for snow.

I know a 4 season temperate climate can be confusing for those not usd toit - but each season has it's unique beauty. But for fresh green trees, flowers and green grass north of the Alps you need April through early/mid Sept - when the trees deciduous trees start to lose leaves.

Other areas nearby with many fewer fir trees will have better colors in late Sept and Oct (but none will have the bright yellows, blazing oranges and fiery reds you get in much of the US, since europe does not have the same types of trees, esp the sugar maples which are the brightest reds of the changing trees.

Sorry - we still loved the Black Forest in Oct - wonderful waterfalls and hiking up hills with lovely views, charming villages, wonderful shopping and visiting Schafhausen Falls in switz.

We got married in the Black Forest on a 4th October (in the last century) and we had wonderful weather - blue skies, sunshine, 23°C, just perfect - while it was cloudy down in the Rhine Valley.

This was not a single case. In October, there is usually good weather on the heights of the Black Forest. It is called "inversion", meaning that on the higher elevations it is warmer than in the lower elevations (usually it is the other way round). I have now a second home in the Black Forest, and very often in October we enjoy splendid weather overlooking a layer a clouds bringing rain and fog in the Rhine Valley.

No snow in October.

In order to enjoy this "inversion" weather, you should go higher than 800 metres. So the region around the Feldberg - Schluchsee, Menzenschwand, Altglashütten, Bernau, Todtnau - will have nice weather while the lower elevations including popular destinations like Gengenbach, Gutach, Schiltach, Triberg will have rain.

You will not see flowers any more in October, but lots of evergreens (fir and spruce), green meadows and trees with autumn colours.

Weather will be ideal for hiking. The Black Forest is densely criss-crossed with well-marked and graded hiking trails, so you can make your own itineraries with shorter or longer hikes. Here just a few examples:

- It is very beautiful to hike on top of the Feldberg, the highest mountain in the Black Forest. There is a cable car leading to the summit which is rather flat and easy to hike. But if you wish, you can also have a more Alpine experience.

- The Feldsee is a small, but very scenic mountain lake, surrounded by glacier moraines and rock walls. There is also a traditional farmhouse serving local food.

- Menzenschwand is one of the most beautiful villages in a lovely valley. There is a trail leading along goat ranges, to a waterfall and along a mountain stream to glacier moraines and a glacial lake.

- In Rothaus, you find another small lake with a trail which is lined by sculptures carved from dead wood. You find a historic pilgrim chapel in the forests and one of Germany's leading breweries with a traditional, wood-paneled restaurant (that serves vegetarian dishes, I have tried several of them). Also there is a beautiful museum in a traditional wooden house, the Hüsli.

- Todtnau has a very impressived waterfall. The area around Todtnau, Bernau offers many scenic drives.

- Sankt Blasien has a monastery with one of the largest domes in the world (it comes right after St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London).

The boats will still be cruising the lakes (until 1 November) and you may cross the Schluchsee with a pedalo, canoe or kayak (availalable for rent).

And if you catch a spell of rain, you will find enough museums to visit. Or you soak in the thermal spa in Menzenschwand.

The Black Forest is famous for its cuisine. You find restaurants in all price ranges, from a rustic meal for 6 or 7 Euros up to Michelin-star awarded cuisine. Virtually every restaurant has vegetarian options beyond salad. October will be mushroom season, so expect dishes like Spätzle (a specialty from the Black Forest) with mushroom sauce or Spätzle baked with cheese (Käsespätzle).

I will be happy to answer more questions.

Thanks all of u guys.
Is there any couple,who would like to join us in October6-13 .
Also,being an indian,who has never seen an Autumn,I believe trees will be of brown,red color,no flowers!!

Deciduous trees, i.e. that lose their leaves in winter will turn yellow and brown - or let's call it golden - with the occasional splash of red in between. Red colours are rare, compared to for example the North American "Indian Summer". Conifers that keep their leaves all year round, like firs, spruces and pines, will not turn colour but stay dark green. You will still find some flowers in gardens, but hardly any wildflowers.

In the Black Forest the percentage of conifers is much higher than in Vosges and Palatinate Forest where 95% of all trees are deciduous and almost the entire forests turn golden. Hence I am sticking with my recommendation not to focus on the Black Forest alone but hop over to Alsace and/or Palatine as well.