Baden-Württemberg is located in the southwest of the Federal Republic of Germany and borders France and Switzerland. Baden-Württemberg is one of the most popular travel destinations in Germany. Every year, an average of 49 million people stay overnight in the charming state. It scores with its diverse cultural landscapes and lively cities. Popular holiday destinations are above all the Black Forest, Lake Constance, the Odenwald, the Swabian Alb, the Electoral Palatinate and the Stuttgart region.
Enjoy the beauty of Baden-Württemberg in the Black Forest
One of the most important recreational areas in Baden-Württemberg is undoubtedly the Black Forest. It is one of the most visited German low mountain ranges. It is also known as the home of the cuckoo clock. The Black Forest has a length of 200 kilometers and a width of 60 kilometers. It borders on Lake Constance, the Swabian Alb and the Kraichgau, among others.
The northern Black Forest comprises the region between Karlsruhe, Pforzheim and Baden-Baden. Hikers in particular get their money’s worth in the area. There they will find hiking trails with a total length of 2000 kilometers. In addition, 600 kilometres of groomed ski trails are available for winter sports enthusiasts.
Popular in both the summer and winter months is the Black Forest High Road, which lies between Baden-Baden and Freudenstadt. It enchants with its wonderful view, which reaches as far as the plain of the Upper Rhine and the Vosges.
But the central and southern Black Forest are also worth a visit. The Central Black Forest with the areas of Villingen-Schwenningen, Rottweil, Lahr and Offenburg presents a variety of landscapes worth seeing. The southern Black Forest extends to the border triangle of Germany, France and Switzerland. There, the towns of Freiburg, Titisee-Neustadt, Lörrach and Breisach invite you to take a trip. With Feldberg, Blauen, Kandel, Belchen and Schauinsland, visitors will also find the highest elevations in the Black Forest. Hotzenwald and Hochschwarzwald are suitable for skiing.
Lake Constance
Another popular recreation center in Baden-Württemberg is Lake Constance. It is located between the Alps and the Jura and covers an area of 538 square kilometres. 236 streams and rivers supply water to Lake Constance. In addition, the inland waters are rich in fish.
The most popular excursion destinations around Lake Constance include the cities of Meersburg and Constance as well as the flower island of Mainau on the Upper Swabian Baroque Road. A wide variety of flower species can be admired on Mainau. There are also regular exhibitions and concerts.
Numerous places on Lake Constance have boat connections. In many communities, buildings from the Middle Ages can be visited. But the unique landscape of the region is also worth a look. It also offers countless opportunities for water sports, cycling and hiking.
The Swabian Alb
From the High Rhine to the state border between Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria lie the Swabian Alb and its foothills. Typical features of the Alb include the castles and palaces, which offer an interesting foray into history.
But some museums such as the Limes Museum in Aalen are also worth a detour. Thus, important finds from the Roman era can be admired in the museum. In addition, knights’ games are held in Aalen every year, which are well worth seeing.
Other recommended destinations in the Swabian Alb are the towns of Heidenheim with Hellenstein Castle, Braubeuren with its famous monastery complex, the old imperial city of Ulm with the world’s highest church tower and Schwäbisch Gmünd with its architectural monuments from the Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque periods.
In addition, the Swabian Alb is a paradise for hiking. There are 13,000 kilometres of hiking trails available. There are also opportunities for cycling, horse riding, kayaking, hang-gliding and golf. In winter, cross-country skiing can be practiced, among other things.
A visit to Baden-Württemberg’s capital Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the state capital of Baden-Württemberg. With about 2.8 million inhabitants, it is the sixth largest city in Germany. The Stuttgart Region is one of the largest conurbations in the Federal Republic of Germany and is always worth a visit.
The image of the city is characterized by numerous hills, valleys such as the Neckar Valley or the Stuttgart Valley Basin, the Palace Garden, the Rosenstein Park and many green spaces. One of the most famous landmarks of the city is the TV Tower. Finally, there are several castles and palaces to admire.
In the Stuttgart region, a large number of historic castles and fortifications can be visited. The area scores with its charming landscape and picturesque lakes. In the Remstal and Stromberg area, wine lovers and gourmets get their money’s worth. Numerous inns invite you to visit there.
The Odenwald
A popular low mountain range in Baden-Württemberg is the Odenwald, which stretches as far as Hesse and Bavaria. It is one of the most important local recreation areas in the Rhine-Main region. The towns of the Odenwald do not radiate any hustle and bustle and are considered ideal for a relaxing trip. The Odenwald is also known for its viticulture, which was already practiced by the ancient Romans. Winegrowers’ festivals take place annually in Bensheim, Groß-Umstadt and Heppenheim. Of course, there are also many wine bars there that invite you to stop for a bite to eat.
Typical of the Odenwald communities are their idyllic half-timbered houses and medieval alleys. A particularly good opportunity to admire the fantastic landscape is offered by boat trips on the Neckar. They lead past beautiful towns, palaces and castles.
The Electoral Palatinate
The Electoral Palatinate refers to the Baden region of the Rhine-Neckar area, which is located in Baden-Württemberg’s northwest. In part, the Electoral Palatinate also belongs to Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. Mannheim and Heidelberg are among the best-known cities in the region. Other places worth seeing are Hockenheim, Weinheim, Schwetzingen, Eppelheim and Reilingen.
The area of the Electoral Palatinate was already appreciated and settled by the ancient Romans, who planted the first vines there. The mild climate allows the cultivation of various vegetables and fruits.
The border with the Odenwald is formed by the Bergstraße, which is characterized by its many hills and villages. Numerous castles and castle ruins are among the sights of the area. One of the biggest visitor attractions is Heidelberg Castle, the former residence of the Counts Palatine.
No less worth seeing is Mannheim Castle, which served as the successor residence of the Counts Palatine. Schwetzingen Castle, on the other hand, was used by the electors as a summer residence. Another attraction in Mannheim is the Luisenpark as a botanical garden, zoo and leisure facility at the same time.
City trips in Baden-Württemberg
In addition to the state capital Stuttgart, there are several cities in Baden-Württemberg that invite you to visit. These include above all the spa and spa town of Baden-Baden in the western part of the state. Baden-Baden also gained fame as a city of art and an international festival city. Another attraction is the city’s famous casino.
Freiburg im Breisgau scores with its cathedral, the city’s most important landmark, as well as the Freiburger Bächle, the Schlossberg on the edge of the old town, the local mountain Schauinsland and the Mundenhof animal enclosure.
The university town of Tübingen enchants with its historic old town. A visit to Hohentübingen Castle is also recommended. From there, an impressive overview of Tübingen’s old town can be obtained.
The Baden-Württemberg cities of Karlsruhe, Heilbronn, Ravensburg, Hohenheim, Reutlingen and Esslingen am Neckar are also worth a visit.
Europa-Park in Rust
Of course, Baden-Württemberg also has some amusement parks to offer its visitors. The most famous of these is the Europa-Park in Rust. No amusement park in Germany is visited as often as Europa-Park, which can be found between Freiburg and Karlsruhe.
It is divided into 17 different subject areas. 13 of them are dedicated to European countries such as France, Spain, Greece and Russia .
There are also themed areas such as the world of children, the kingdom of the Minimoys, the adventure land or Grimm’s fairytale forest. Among the many attractions are the Silver Star, the second highest roller coaster in Europe, the Matterhorn Blitz, Euro Mir, the witches’ swing “Curse of Cassandra” or the water roller coaster Poseidon.
But there are even more amusement parks in Baden-Württemberg such as the Traumland amusement park on the Swabian Alb, the Tripsdrill adventure park near Cleebronn and the Ravensburger Spieleland on Lake Constance.
