The Heart of the Black Forest

Day1:

Arrival at Stuttgart airport. Transfer by minibus or taxi to our base hotel in Freudenstadt (meaning ‘joyful town’).

Day 2:

Freudenstadt. After breakfast, we personally equip you with your bicycle - ensuring a perfect fit for everyone. You are then free to explore Freudenstadt and its surrounding countryside. Originally built in the 17th Century, Freudenstadt was a fine example of a renaissance town before being almost completely destroyed in the last war. The town was rapidly rebuilt and has become a showpiece of careful restoration, achieving a harmonious blend of old and new. The pretty marketsquare is mainly pedestrianised with numerous pavement cafes. Freudenstadt lies amid dense pine forests on a high plateau at the centre of the northern Black Forest. Quiet lanes and tracks radiate through the delightful wooded hills, presenting a perfect introduction to cycling in the Black Forest.

Day 3:

Freudenstadt to Wolfach. After an initial climb, the remainder of the day is a gentle downhill run through the beautiful Wolfach valley. A quiet lane meanders between sunbathed meadows and cool shady forests, accompanied by the soft gurgling of the River Wolfach. A dozen or so idyllic hamlets are spread along the route, each with its own Gasthof offering unique hospitality. 22 miles (35km).

Day 4:

Wolfach. An attractive village, Wolfach lies at the confluence of the rivers Wolfach and Kinzig. The village is home to an excellent glass-blowing museum, where the history of this traditional craft is documented. Attached to the museum is a working Gläshütte, where skilled craftsmen demonstrate their trade. Another well-known museum is located at the nearbyvillage, Gutach. The Vogtsbauernhof features a collection of typical farmhouses from across the Black Forest which have been reassembled complete with their furnishings, implements and vehicles. A further excursion to Schiltach is also recommended. Six miles east of Wolfach along the Kinzig valley, Schiltach is an unspoilt village with tall timbered houses lining its narrow streets. During the summer, geraniums and petunias burst from every window box, painting the village in vivid colours.

Day 5:

Wolfach to Triberg. A truly beautiful ride on quiet country lanes and tracks through the heart of the Black Forest. Lunch will certainly be earned, as the first half of the day is spent gradually climbing the Kirnbach Valley. By mid-day, the gradient eases and the route hugs the contours, winding its way through forests and meadows populated by grazing cattle. This untamed grandeur will undoubtedly etch itself in your memory. 20 miles (32km).

Day 6:

Triberg. Triberg is at the centre of clock-making country. Here the Black Forest’s most famous symbol, the cuckoo clock,is produced. An excursion by bicycle passes the nearby villages, Schonach (home to the world’s largest working cuckoo clock) and Schönwald where an ancient, gnarled farmhouse stands unobtrusively by the roadside. Within walking distance of thetown centre is the highest waterfall in Germany – a path leads upthe falls, cascading a total of 160m in seven stages.

Day 7:

Triberg to Sankt Märgen. Another day to enjoy the enchanting scenery away from the main tourist routes. An initial climb from Triberg leads to a landscape of rolling hills, wooded peaks and lush pastured valleys. Charming farmhouses and inviting inns decorate the slopes. The halfway point is reached at Furtwangen, where an excellent clock museum celebrates the skills of generations of local craftsmen. 18 miles (29km).

Day 8:

Sankt Märgen. A picturesque holiday resort popular with walkers in summer and skiers in winter, Sankt Märgen boasts anidyllic location. To the west, the Black Forest Massif falls away precipitously to the Rhine Valley, while to the north, south and east are wooded peaks rippling into the distant horizon. The village profile is dominated by the imposing monastery church whose twin towers are visible for miles around. Interesting attractions nearby include St Peter, another village built around an ancient monastery and the Hexenlochmühle (meaning “Mill inthe Witches’ Hole”), an old wooden saw mill.

Day 9:

Sankt Märgen to Schluchsee. A day of gentle undulations as the route traverses the high plateau of the upper Black Forest.The spectacular scenery is displayed at its best from the wonderful lanes and cycling tracks. A short detour at lunchtime leads to one of the region’s best-known resorts, Titisee – a pretty lake and village bearing the same name. The final leg meanders south to Schluchsee, passing the stunning Lake Windgfäll. 19 miles (30km).

Day 10:

Schluchsee. The largest lake in the Black Forest is popular with tourists but retains an unspoilt natural aura. With plenty of fine beaches and water warmed by the summer sun, this is a pleasant place for a dip. A cycling excursion to nearby Sankt Blasien is rewarding both for the splendid scenery en routeand the magnificent monastery.

Day 11:

Today we say “Auf Wiedersehen”. We will transfer you direct from Schluchsee to Stuttgart airport by train or minibus andlook forward to welcoming you back again next year.