Highlights of the Black Forest

Regional and national events

Also in 2014, the Black Forest awaits with numerous adventure offers. The varied landscapes invite guests on relaxed excursions or sporty hiking tours.

This 11,100 squaremetres holidayregion in south-west Germany (Karlsruhe beeing part of it) offers special hotspots with great culture and traditions, culinary experiences and wine, as well as well-being, and all this amidst forests, meadows and vineyards. Nature enthusiasts, but also hikers, cyclists and winter sports enthusiasts will be in paradise in the region.

Numerous regional and national events provide variety the whole year round.

Highlights 2014

At the beginning of the year, you will hear dogs barking and bells jingling everywhere in the southern Black Forest: If the snow conditions are good, more than 800 sled dogs and experienced “mushers” from all over the world will compete for trophies at the “International Dog Sledding” in Todtmoos on 24^th and 26^th January and in Bernau on 8^th and 9^th February.

6o Years of the Baden Wine Route

In 2014, the Baden Wine Route celebrates its 60^th anniversary. The famous tourist route stretches over 160 kilometres from Baden-Baden to Weil am Rhein and in a loop around the Kaiserstuhl and Tuniberg. It is often called the "gourmet dining route" because of its many village inns and regional specialties ranging from asparagus to Speck (bacon). The route zigzags through the "finest gourmet corner" of Germany. There could not be a better way of getting to know the vineyards and wine towns in the foothills of the Upper Rhine Valley on the western edge of the Black Forest. The Baden Wine Route connects the best wine-growing areas and leads motorists or cyclists to wine trails, wine education routes or co-operative wine-growing associations. Half-timbered houses, wineries, fortresses, ruins, castles, monasteries and museums invite you to stop and visit. In many places there is parking for hikers; just leave the car and roam the vineyards on foot.

Cultural Highlights in the Black Forest

Tourists who wish to gain an intensive experience of the European Middle Ages now have one more reason for travelling to the Neckar: Between 13^th and 15^th June they can watch the “Maximilian Ritterspiele” (Knights’ Games) in Horb am Neckar – these games are one of the largest medieval spectacles in Europe. Visitors can look forward to experiencing vivid market life and knights’ tournaments just as they were held 500 years ago. Also medieval, and bearing the title of "The Magic Light of Fortress Husen", is the Castle Festival in Hausach im Kinzigtal which takes place from the 19^th July to the 1^st August. From 25^th July to 4^th August, the “Calwer Klostersommer” (Summer in the Monastery) offers music, theatre and cabaret in Hirsau, which is located in the northern part of the Black Forest.

Lovers of classical music can plan in numerous concert dates: From 17^th to 27^th July, the “Rossini in Wildbad” will be held again. From 12^th July to 2^nd September, the “Internationalen Domkonzerte” (Cathedral Concerts) will fill the Cathedral of St. Blasien. The “Sommermusik im Oberen Nagoldtal” (Summer Music) will offer a number of classical concerts in the Upper Nagold valley from 5^th to 15^th August. The “Schwarzwald Musikfestival” (Black Forest Music Festival) from 28^th May to 9^th June will also offer a wide range of concerts across the entire Black Forest area. At the "Donaueschingen Music Days", visitors can not only experience and enjoy contemporary music at concerts, but also space-sound installations, audio dramas and musical films; the event takes place from the 17^th to 19^th October.

A special musical and cultural event is the STIMMEN (Voices) Festival in Lörrach. Between 15^th July and 3^rd August, world-famous soloists as well as vocal and choral music ensembles will perform at venues in Germany, Switzerland and France on the occasion of this festival for vocal and choral music. And between 16^th July and 3^rd August, every year thousands of people of all generations will meet at the Zelt-Musik-Festival (Tent-Music-Festival) in Freiburg to attend a varied programme of events with artists from all over the world in the colourful tent city of the Black Forest metropolis.

In the Black Forest, horse enthusiasts will also be able to enjoy themselves: Probably from 30^th August to 7^th September, the international horse race “Große Woche” will take place at the horse racecourse in Iffezheim, Baden-Baden. Showjumpers, dressage riders and carriage racing could be admired from 18^th to 21^th September in the castle grounds of Donaueschingen at the “S.D. Fürst Joachim zu Fürstenberg Gedächtnisturnier” (Memorial Tournament).

Infos: www.blackforest-tourism.com, www.karlsruhe-tourismus.de