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Return (Black Forest) cuckoo clock "Cuckoo, cuckoo" calls from the clock. The cuckoo clock is the symbol of the Black Forest par excellence. The wall clock in the shape of a little house, from which a cuckoo peeps out through a flap and proclaims the hour, is known all over the world and a popular souvenir for tourists to Germany from other countries. It is believed that a first form of the Black Forest cuckoo clock was created around 1738 in the workshop of Franz Anton Ketterer, a clock-maker from Schönwald. Possibly, however, the idea goes back to Ketterer's father. Michael Dilger from Neukirch and Matthäus Hummel are also said to have built cuckoo clocks in the Black Forest as early as 1742. Of Friedrich Dilger, at least, it is known that he deepened his knowledge of clockmaking in France in 1712. Whether the concept of a clock with a bird call originally came from the Black Forest can no longer be determined with certainty. It is said that the Elector Johann Georg I of Saxony already had a clock with a cuckoo call in his collection anno 1619. There is also an artistically decorated clock with a crowing rooster in the Strasbourg Cathedral. This might have been an inspiration for the cuckoo clock. At the time of the clock-makers Ketterer, Dilger and Hummel, the cuckoo clock did not look like it does today. It was initially a wooden clock with a cuckoo call in the form of two small organ pipes. The external design of the cuckoo clock, which is known all over the world and is common today, is the result of an initiative of Robert Gerwig. From 1850 to 1857, the ingenious designer of the Black Forest and Höllental Railways was the first director of the Duke of Baden's Clock-making School in Furtwangen, which had been founded in 1850 specifically for the needs of small clock-makers in order to provide a counterweight to the increasingly industrial mass production of clocks. In a kind of competition, Gerwig searched for designs for new, contemporary clock models and the result was the so-called "Bahnhäusleuhr" ("railroad cottage clock"), whose main characteristic is the sloping roof. Designed by Friedrich Eisenlohr, it is essentially modeled on a railroad guard's cottage, which was something very modern at the time. Over the years, various workshops added all sorts of ornaments and sometimes elaborate carvings to this basic concept, so that the cuckoo clock is always individually designed, despite its railroad cottage shape. There are even versions that, in addition to the cuckoo, have more figures that move or indicate the quarter hours by call. Most cuckoo clocks are quite small, only one is very huge. It is located in Triberg and is over fifteen meters high. Its movement weighs close to six tons, but the greatest thing is that you can enter its interior. Isn't that great? It's like a look-through puzzle, only big.

Return Baden-Baden Trinkhalle Princes and crowned heads have already rested here. The city of Baden-Baden is located on the northwestern edge of the Black Forest. Its history dates back to Roman times, which is connected with the hot thermal springs located not far from it. Near the city rises Mercury, not the planet, but a mountain with a height of 668 meters. A little further to the southeast is the highest point of the district, the Badener Höhe, with an altitude of 1,002 meters above sea level. However, the built-up areas of the city lie in the valley of the small river Oos. The Black Forest High Road, a very popular vacation route, starts from Baden-Baden. But why does Baden-Baden have such a double name? To explain it, you first have to know that the Romans called the place "Aquae", which means "spring" or "bath", because of the hot springs. This initially gave rise to the simple name Baden. In the course of history, today's Baden-Baden was the residence city of the Margraviate of Baden until 1689, and its state name "Baden" has its origin in the name of the city. Now, however, there are several towns called "Baden", one is in Switzerland, another near Vienna, and a "Badenweiler" used to be called merely "Baden". So "Baden-Baden" was used as a clarification, meaning "Baden in Baden". A special building of the city is the Trinkhalle, which is located in the Kurgarten. It is ninety meters long and contains sixteen Corinthian columns as supports. It was built according to the plans of the architect Heinrich Hübsch. Inside there are a total of fourteen large pictures painted by Jakob Götzenberger, each depicting a mythical legend from the surroundings of Baden-Baden. The city is best known for its thermal springs, which are up to 68 degrees hot. It is to them that Baden-Baden owes its status of a spa and health resort town, to which it owes many vacationers every year, including celebrities. Nowadays, the Kurhaus hosts a number of concerts and cultural events. In addition, a festival theater has been built in the old city train station, which is the second largest of its kind in Europe. Baden-Baden is an important location for the Südwestrundfunk radio station, which organizes the annual New Pop Festival here in September. Speaking of music, it is a central theme in Baden-Baden. Of international renown is the Baden-Baden Philharmonic Orchestra, whose history can be traced back to the fifteenth century. The orchestra not only performs in the city, but also gives concerts in many other countries. In addition, there is the SWR Sinfonieorchster Baden-Baden and Freiburg. Since 1997, Baden-Baden has also hosted the Herbert von Karajan Whitsun Festival, which since 2003 has included the Herbert von Karajan Music Prize. And Baden-Baden also has something to offer when it comes to forests: Its municipal forest is namely the largest of Germany and covers an area of over 8,500 hectares. In addition, there are several vineyards around Baden-Baden. Last but not least, there is a 73-hectare ban forest, the Battert, in the district.

Return The lexicon explains everything worth knowing about the Black Forest region in terms of landscape, culture and tourism in numerous illustrated articles. The work is based on careful and critical research. The author (Dr. Andreas Fischer) was born in the Black Forest, studied linguistics in Konstanz, did his doctorate at the Humboldt University in Berlin and works as a proofreader and editor at a publishing house. sources literature HB Bildatlas Südschwarzwald, HB Verlags- und Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH, Hamburg Schäfer, Jens: Totally everything about the Black Forest. Folio, Vienna, ISBN 783852568201 Scharf, Hans-Wolfgang: The Black Forest Railway and the Villingen depot. Eisenbahn-Kurier Verlag, Freiburg. ISBN 3882557737 internet www.wikipedia.org

Return (Black Forest) kirschwasser Don't even smell it. Black Forest Kirsch has been known for a long time. It is mostly made from sweet cherry varieties such as the black cherry, which grow on the western edge of the Black Forest. It is a high-proof drink and is considered in the Black Forest as the crowning conclusion of every meal with ham and bread, at least that is the tradition. However, it is not recommended for you, because there is so much alcohol in it that the water burns. Black Forest Kirsch is a fruit brandy. It is produced by soaking the cherries in water without the pits. With the addition of special yeast, the so-called mash is created, which ferments for a period of up to three weeks and is then distilled in a still. Depending on the alcohol content of the finished brandy, water must be added to reduce the sharpness. Such fruit brandies can be obtained not only from cherries, but from many different types of fruit, such as apples, pears or plums. One must always register a distillery with the relevant authorities if one wants to produce fruit brandies. In the past, fruit was already grown on Black Forest farms, but not in fields or plantations, but in the form of individual trees. Often there was even an overproduction, so there was more fruit than the farmers could consume. In order not to have to throw it away, it was further utilized. It was either dried in the bakehouse, after bread had been prepared there and the oven was still warm, or it was distilled into alcoholic beverages. A fruit distillery was also part of the Black Forest farms, as was the farm garden. Farm gardens are also cultivated in the present day. On the farm garden route you (a particular hiking path) can see the most beautiful of them.

Return The farm from the inside A very clear structure The special thing about the Black Forest farms is the fact that almost the entire farm economy was housed in one large building. Hence, there were not only living and sleeping quarters in the house, but also the working areas and even the stables for the animals. The latter were present on the upper floors. Above, that is, in the attic, hay was stored and threshed. It could then be thrown into the stables through a hatch when needed. Consequently, the interior of a Black Forest farm is arranged in a very specific way. The concept of having everything under one roof ensured short walking distances and encouraged cooperation between the generations, several of whom always lived on the farm. This is called a "single-roof farm". Only the oldest generation, when they were no longer able to actively help, moved to an outbuilding, the so-called "Libding". This means "something stipulated for the lifetime", thus in short "life annuity". The internal structure of the Black Forest farms was also conditioned by the fact that in most cases the peasants practiced subsistence farming. They produced all their own food and utensils (brooms, rakes, dishes, etc.), a circumstance that meant that the people earned next to nothing. So it is not surprising that the peasants tried to gain money by making clocks on the side. These activities were carried out in the living room, mainly in winter. Bathrooms, as we know them today, did not exist in the farms. People washed in a trough in front of the house, which was supplied with fresh spring water. In addition, the interior of the historic Black Forest farms differs from modern houses in that the ceilings of the rooms are relatively low. So if you are tall, you have to be careful not to bump your head when you visit an old farm.

Return (Black Forest) ham Very tasty, if you are not a vegetarian The Black Forest Ham is widely known. It can usually be recognized by its dark brown rind and unmistakable taste. However, its production is a science in itself, taking several weeks. Since the term "Black Forest Ham" is a protected geographical indication of the EU, it may only be produced in the Black Forest. So what it says is actually what's inside. The typical construction of farmhouses in the Black Forest contributed to the refinement of ham production. Since there was a smokehouse above the tiled stove, it was obvious to store food there, especially meat, since it could be preserved longer in the smoke. This gave rise to the tradition of smoking ham. Generally, the hind legs of pigs are used for Black Forest Ham, with the bones removed. The first step in the production is the so-called curing. Here, the meat is rubbed with a spice mixture whose ingredients include juniper, garlic, coriander and pepper, among other herbs. Curing helps to improve the shelf life of the ham, as the salt is distributed evenly throughout the meat. The meat juice, the brine, that escapes during this step is separated from the meat after about five weeks, after which the ham must first be re-baked and then smoked at a temperature of 18 to 20 degrees. Only branches of coniferous trees from the Black Forest are used for the smoke. In the last step, the ham is again kept in the dry at about 5 degrees for several weeks to mature. If you want to learn more about the ham during a visit to the Black Forest, you can do so in the Black Forest Ham Museum, which has been established since 2013 on the Feldberg in a former radio tower.

Return Black Forest town Villingen, founded by the Zähringers Villingen is a part of the district town of the Schwarzwald-Baar district Villingen-Schwenningen. Villingen is located at the source of the Danube river Brigach, at the eastern exit of the Black Forest, which gradually descends from here to the plateau Baar. Villingen was first mentioned in documents as early as 817. Later, around 1119, the Zähringers under Berthold II began a new development of the right bank of the river Brigach. Until then, only the left bank had been settled. Now, however, the Zähringers created a fortified city with two oval walls, completed in 1250, and a moat in between, as well as a center with the characteristic street cross. Of particular architectural value are the early Gothic cathedral and the town hall, built around 1534, which contains a museum of the town's history. Of the two fortifications, the inner wall is still preserved. This includes three still intact city gates and several towers. The Liebfrauenmünster church was built from 1130 to 1293. In 1271 the works had to be interrupted because of a town fire. Villingen is known not only for its well-preserved town center, but furthermore for the Franciscan Museum, also a historic building near the Riedtor gate, where a Celtic burial site bears witness to the earliest settlement in the Black Forest around the sixth century BC. Villingen has a legendary hero, called Romaeus (originally Romeias), after whom one of the towers in the old town is named. Unfortunately, however, it bears the name because Romaeus is said to have been once imprisoned in it. And this, although he performed several heroic deeds for Villingen, the most important of which was the theft of a city gate from Rottweil, which Romaeus could carry with one hand due to his considerable height. This scene is immortalized on the outer wall of the Romaeus Tower. Stupidly for the people of Villingen, he managed to escape from the tower. They threw an animal into his dungeon every day so that he would have something to eat. He took the bones from it and stuck them into the cracks of the masonry in order to climb out of the dungeon by them. Since he besieged Kusenberg Castle during his escape from Villingen and received a ransom, the people of Villingen took him in after all. That the people of Villingen were not exactly squeamish with their neighbors is also shown by the relationship with the monastery of St. Georgen, which was completely destroyed by the people of Villingen. It should be said that Rottweil is much older than Villingen, namely almost a thousand years. It was founded by the Romans already in the year 74 after Christ. In 1972, Villingen and Schwenningen were merged into one municipality, which has since then also been the district capital. The watershed between the Rhine and the Danube runs between the two sub-communities, with the Neckar rising near Schwenningen.

Return Clock-maker's workshop The cuckoo clock was only the beginning. The beginnings of the clock-making trade in the Black Forest date back to the seventeenth century. It is said that a first clock was made around 1667, on the "Glashof" ("glass farm") in Waldau, which today belongs to Titisee-Neustadt. A Kreutz family lived there at the time, and although they did not invent the clock, they were the first in the Black Forest to build one on their farm. At that time, agriculture hardly brought any profit for the farmers, but served solely for their own survival. Since the evenings were long in the winter, they lent themselves to fiddling around. And because there was always plenty of wood, the clocks were also made from it. At first, these were quite simple, able to show only the hours. They consisted of three carved wheels, a dial with a single hand, and a horizontal bar. From this derives the name "Waagbalkenuhr" ("balance beam clock"). It was driven by a stone attached to a chain. The clock of the Kreutz family from Waldau was of this type. Around 1738, the first example of the clock that is associated with the Black Forest all over the world is said to have been created: the cuckoo clock. It is assumed that it goes back to Franz Anton Ketterer from Schönwald. Almost at the same time, around 1740, a first pendulum clock was built by Christian Wehrle from Simonswald. From about 1770, clocks were made with a wooden shield on which various motifs were painted with lacquer. They are called "lacquer shield clocks". In the following period, they were first the symbol of the Black Forest clock, before they were replaced in the middle of the nineteenth century by the cuckoo clock in the shape of a railroad guard's house. However, there were other types of clocks that originated in the Black Forest, such as the so-called "Männleuhr" ("man clock"), which can best be described as music boxes. They had small figures on them that moved on the hour. A clock-maker from Hinterzarten, Jakob Herbstrieth, built the "Jockeleuhr" named after him, which had the characteristic of being quite small. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the craft developed into an important industry, mainly because Black Forest clocks were cheaper than those made of metal constructed by clock-makers in the cities, due to the fact that wood was the building material. In addition, the manufacturing process in the Black Forest became more and more sophisticated. Thus, until the middle of the nineteenth century, clocks were made in numerous small home workshops, mainly in the area between St. Georgen and Titisee-Neustadt. It is estimated that they numbered about a thousand in 1840. However, the clock-makers of those days did not work alone. A rather sophisticated division of labor already existed in the Black Forest towards the end of the eighteenth century. The clock-maker received prefabricated parts from other craftsmen, often blacksmiths, to build the clocks from. For example, he was provided with bells, frames and shields. Finally, they even received brass wheels for the movement. The finished clocks were sold at markets, to which they first arrived with the help of the glass bearers. As some of them specialized in marketing clocks, the profession of clock carrier was born. Subsequently, watch factories were established, especially from the middle of the nineteenth century. This happened first in Lenzkirch and Furtwangen, and later also in Triberg and St. Georgen, as well as in Titisee-Neustadt. At the end of the nineteenth century, Schramberg and Schwenningen followed. Of particular interest to visitors is the German Clock Museum in Furtwangen. It not only presents Black Forest clock-making, but also offers a cross-section that goes far beyond it, with about 1,000 exhibits and a total inventory of 8,000 pieces. Incidentally, it was founded by Robert Gerwig, the designer of the Black Forest Railway, who was also the first director of a clock-making school from 1850 to 1857, which was also located in Furtwangen. Through his influence, the so-called "Bahnhäusleform" ("shape of a railroad guard's cottage") of the cuckoo clock achieved its worldwide distribution. The concept of combining a railroad guard's cottage with a clock face goes back to Friedrich Eisenlohr. A clock-maker's workshop can also be visited in Triberg's local history museum, and a clock-maker's cottage dating from 1726 is located in Vöhrenbach. Another one is open to visitors in Titisee-Neustadt. The German Clock Route, a popular vacation route, connects the former centers of the clock-making trade along its course.

Return Forest Why is the forest actually black? You have surely asked yourself why the Black Forest is called black. It is no longer possible to determine exactly, but it is assumed that the naming is related to the impenetrability of the forest, which was often mentioned at that time and which made it "black", i.e. "not visible". Nowadays, spruce trees are the main species found here, although they were not always so common. In fact, this tree species has dominated the Black Forest only since the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Until then, the forest was much more mixed and the majority of spruces were only found on the higher peaks from about 1,000 meters. Otherwise, almost all tree species native to Germany occurred. Three economic activities in particular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries led to almost blanket clearing of forests, namely rafting, glassblowing, and charcoal burning. While rafting transported logs across rivers to other towns and countries where they were needed as building materials, glassblowers and charcoal burners needed a lot of firewood for their furnaces and kilns. Apart from that, wood was also used by farmers as a source of energy for heating, as well as a basic material for house construction and utensils. The result of all this was that the Black Forest was almost bare by the end of the nineteenth century. It was obvious that this could not remain so, because the absence of trees has fatal consequences for the soil. The humus that forms the subsoil of any forest can no longer hold without the living root system of the trees and is eroded away. This allows water to run off the mountain slopes more quickly, leading to more flooding in the plains along the rivers. So something had to be done to reforest the Black Forest. The first reforestation law of the former Baden government to save the Black Forest was enacted in 1833. At the beginning of the twentieth century, there were increased efforts to reforest. Since the main aim was to plant trees that grew very quickly, spruce was chosen, which increasingly led to the development of monocultures. Since then, spruces form almost half of the tree population. They are followed by beech and fir, each with about one sixth. Today, three quarters of the Black Forest is forested and efforts are being made to reforest more mixed forests in order to cope with climate change. Spruces in particular do not tolerate prolonged periods of drought well because of their comparatively shallow roots, but increasing warming means that rain is failing more and more often, especially in the summer months. A mixed forest can better compensate for such dry periods. In addition, strong storms have been occurring much more frequently in recent years, which have a more drastic effect on a monoculture.

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Return Triberg waterfall Not the highest, but higher than Niagara Falls, although a thousand times less water. In Triberg you can visit the famous waterfalls. They are located near the center of the village and are very easy to reach via several footpaths at different heights. So you can experience a natural spectacle of the special class at close range. The Triberg waterfalls consist of several steps. The river Gutach, coming from Schönwald, passes at 872 meters above sea level first the so-called Upper Falls with a height of sixteen meters. Below follows a steep section in which the water loses another 51 meters in height. This is followed by the Main Falls, which are considered to be the actual well-known section. Here the water of the Gutach falls in seven steps from 805 to 713 meters above sea level. Thus, from the upper edge of the Upper Falls to the lower edge of the Main Falls, there is a total height difference of 159 meters. If you compare the height of the falls with other world-famous waterfalls, it becomes clear how worth seeing the Triberg Waterfall is after all. Niagara Falls on the border between Canada and the USA, for example, has a drop of only 57 meters, while Victoria Falls between Zimbabwe and Zambia has a drop of 110 meters. However, both Niagara and Victoria Falls carry significantly larger amounts of water. The Triberg waterfalls are also used to generate electricity. As this was already done at the end of the nineteenth century, Triberg had electric street lamps from the year 1884, the first town in Germany to do so. The town of Triberg is located at an altitude between 600 and 1,038 meters above sea level. It was first mentioned in a document in 1239. A characteristic feature of the town is the deep cut of the Gutach valley with its steep slopes, which means that the core town alone stretches over 250 meters in altitude. The town became famous primarily because of the waterfalls, but also because of its location on the Black Forest Railway and the formerly very active clock industry. Last but not least, the world's largest cuckoo clock is located here, with a total height of over fifteen meters, and its pendulum alone is eight meters long. You can even walk inside it. You may wonder what the name Triberg means. The first component comes from the number "three". "Triberg" therefore means "three mountain" and refers to the three mountains Kroneck, Kapellenberg and Sterenberg, between which the town lies. Also well worth seeing, although somewhat shorter with a total drop of 97 meters, is the Todtnau Waterfall in the Upper Black Forest. In addition, the Wutach Gorge also has a lot of wildly romantic waterfalls to offer.

Return (Black Forest) cake Probably the sweetest treat of the region You know it for sure, the delicious temptation made of cream, chocolate shavings and cherries with a dash of kirsch? Since the thirties of the twentieth century, the Black Forest Cake is well known, a real export hit and is also produced and served far outside the Black Forest, practically everywhere in the world. They are even said to exist in faraway countries like Tibet, perhaps not always prepared quite true to the original, but the name alone makes the taste. You'll notice that too when you try one. How the recipe originated is still unclear. Conjecture suggests that either the Black Forest woman's costume with the red Bollenhut and the black dress including white blouse could have led to the naming of the cake. However, it could also have been due to the ingredient Black Forest kirsch. In any case, in the 19th century there was a dessert in the Black Forest that was made from kirsch, boiled cherries and cream. Possibly the tart originated from it. The first written record of a cherry tart recipe can be found in 1934 in a book by Johannes Martin Erich Weber from Dresden. The base of the cake is a shortcrust pastry. Several layers are applied on top, to which chocolate sprinkles, cream, kirsch and cherries are added. Of course, the recipe can be varied somewhat. Individual intermediate layers are formed with a chocolate sponge. If you want to measure yourself as an amateur chef against like-minded people and professional pastry chefs, you can do so at the Black Forest Cherry Cake Festival in Todtnau. Since 2006, the festival has been held every two years. In addition to the kirsch cake, there are seasonal cake specialties in the Black Forest. The strawberry cake in the spring and the plum cake in the summer are particularly worthy of mention.