HistoryThe Black Forest of Germany- 5 Amazing Things to...

The Black Forest of Germany- 5 Amazing Things to Know

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The Black Forest of Germany, also known as the Schwarzwald is the highest non-alpine mountain, covered in dark forests in the state of Baden-Württemberg of Germany, the region is a pleasant, attractive plain in the southwest of Germany. The Feldberg, which rises to a height of 4,898 feet above sea level, is its highest peak.

The black forest, Germany
Image by Mantas Hesthaven from Pexels

The Black Forest of Germany is regarded as one of Germany’s most stunning and popular getaway spots. Landscape beauty as well as historical stories can be discovered here, and because of the region’s special climatic characteristics in the heart of Europe, visitors may take advantage of some of the country’s nicest weather all year long.

1. The Black Forest of Germany

The black forest is bordered by the Rhine Valley in the southwest and is not far from the borders with France and Switzerland. The Danube originates within the Black Forest and flows eastward about 2,850 km, eventually splitting and forming an estuary on the Black Sea coast of Romania.

1. Is the Black Forest of Germany truly Black?

The black forest is not black, it is due to the area’s densely populated conifer trees, which are supremely dark green and radiate the visual of a darky dense forest. The Romans gave the forest the name silva nigra, silva meaning ‘woodland’ and nigar meaning ‘black’ since no light can penetrate the thick spruce canopy.

Densely populated Black Forest, Germany
Image by Denis Linine from Pexels

In the Black Forest of Germany, conifer and pine trees reign supreme. Along with it the maple, ash, birch, walnut, oak, and beech trees are covered in terrain creating scenic hues in autumn. Common plant scenarios include berries, fruit trees, mushrooms, and heather.

2. Preserving zones of Black Forest

Three parks that are named after the Black Forest are The Southern Black Forest Nature Park, the Central/North Black Forest, and the Black Forest National Park.

Black Forest National Park: The first national park in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, was established on January 1, 2014. It is a section of the Central/North Black Forest Nature Park and consists of two distinct regions, about 3.5 kilometers apart, located around Ruhestein and Hoher Ochsenkopf. On May 3, 2014, the park became officially opened. “Natur Natur sein lassen” is its slogan which means let nature be nature. 

The Southern Black Forest: It was established on February 1st,1999. It is Germany’s largest natural park. The 333,000 acres that made up the initial area were increased to 394,000 acres as of 2020.  It is one of Baden- Württemberg’s seven natural parks. The Southern Black Forest, the Central Black Forest’s southern region, and surrounding lands are all enclosed by it.

Central/North Black Forest Nature Park: In 2000, this park was established, it is also called the Naturpark Schwarzwald Mitte/Nord. It is the second-largest in Germany and encompasses 375,000 hectares as of 2020. It starts in the southernmost region of the Central Black Forest and extends northward, bordering the Southern Black Forest Nature Park.

Central North Black Forest Nature Park
Image from Expedia

A nature park’s objectives differ from those of a national park in that they include practicing environmental education, preserving rural areas as cultural landscapes, better marketing of local produce, improving the area’s suitability for sustainable tourism, and working towards environmentally sustainable land use. 

The objectives of a national park are to save the nation’s natural heritage, promote sustainable education, support environmental science research, and limit economic exploitation of the region.

2. What makes the Black Forest extraordinary?

The area is well-known for its lakes, tourism, thermal springs, cuckoo clocks, watchmaking, skiing, historic monuments, and castles.

There are several lakes in the Black Forest, but the three most well-known lakes to experience are Schluchsee, Titisee, and Mummelsee. 

There are several lakes in the dark forest, but the three most well-known lakes to visit are Schluchsee, Titisee, and Mummelsee. In the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg, there is a lake called the Schluchsee. it is the biggest lake in the area formerly a glacier lake.

Lake Schluchsee in the Black Forest, Germany.
Image by Mikka Luster from Flickr

Information about the lake on Lake Schluchsee in the Black Forest (black-forest-travel.com) suggests that originally 3 km long, Lake Schluchsee was created by glacial in the Feldberg region during the last ice age. 

The lake, is a reservoir now, due to the dam being built the lake is now 7.5 km in length and maximum width of 1.5 km. The water is relatively cool even in summer because of its high elevation.

The Mummelsee is located on the western slope of the Hornisgrinde in Germany’s Northern Black Forest. Along the Black Forest High Road, The King of the Mummelsee and a Nix are said to reside in the lake, according to mythology. 

Lake Mumm Elsee in The Black Forest, Germany
Image by Roger Winkler from Flickr

The Mummelsee is the biggest of the seven cirque lakes in the Black Forest of Germany.  It is also the deepest and highest one. It is one of the few cirque lakes from the ice ages still present in the Black Forest.

During the most recent ice age, the Titisee was created. From the Feldberg to the current lake, a glacier covered the area about 10,000 years ago. The valley of Lake Titisee is made up of the depressions left by the glacier and the ending moraine. Swimming, sailing, windsurfing, pedaling, and waterfront strolls are all great activities in Lake Titisee.

Lake Titisee in the Black Forest, Germany
Image by Jürgen Feyerabend from Flickr

Although the lake lacks nutrients there are schooling fish like whitefish, roach, and perch and huge predatory fish pike-perch, and sea trout, in Titisee, as well as carp, chub, and tench in shallower places.

1. The famous Cuckoo clocks of Black Forest

A cuckoo clock is a particular kind of clock that strikes the hours with a tone resembling a regular cuckoo voice and features an autonomous cuckoo bird that moves in time to the note. These clocks are often pendulum-driven. Others merely have the bird’s body tilting forward while others move their wings and open and close their beaks. Ever since the middle of the 18th century, the cuckoo call’s manufacturing methods have remained essentially unchanged.

The first cuckoo clock’s creator and origin remain unknown. The Black Forest region in southwest Germany (in the current state of Baden-Württemberg), where the cuckoo clock was largely inspired and from which it was exported to the rest of the world, is thought to have played a significant role in its development and adaption.

From the middle of the 1850s on, the cuckoo clock gained worldwide fame. The cuckoo clock is currently a popular tourist souvenir in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It has evolved into a symbol of German culture.

Cuckoo clocks in Black Forest Germany
Image by Kelly Ong Ly-Ane from Flickr

The Cuckooland Museum in the UK, which has more than 700 clocks, the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum, and the Dorf- und Uhrenmuseum Gütenbach in Germany are museums that showcase collections. Minneapolis is home to one of the largest private collections in the country that is accessible to the general public. More than 300 cuckoo clocks may be found here.

2. History of Watchmaking in the Black Forest of Germany

Surprisingly, it is unknown and mysterious when watchmaking first began in the Black Forest. But as early as the second half of the seventeenth century, the first wooden watch could have been created.

It wasn’t until 1730 that watchmaking began to develop as considerably larger and distinct commerce as a result of the Spanish Wars of Succession. As early as 1852, the watch school in Furtwangen started to gather antique clocks

According to Made in the Black Forest – Revolution (revolutionwatch.com) The Black Forest’s history of clock production is comparable to that of Switzerland’s watchmaking era. To increase their revenue throughout the winter, farmers started this occupation. The first wooden clocks in the area were created in the second half of the 17th century. 

Shield clocks, which were created in 1840 and upgraded to painted porcelain dials, were given this moniker. Black Forest clocks immediately attained global fame and were among the most inexpensive on the market. 

3. Historical Monuments & Castles in the Black Forest of Germany

1. Landeck Castle

Landeck Castle, The oldest recorded reference to Landeck Castle is from 1237 and indicates that it was most likely built around the start of the 13th century. Very likely, it served to safeguard the adjacent Klingenmünster monastery.

The castle, which is in the Black Forest of Germany, and currently available to the public, and has undergone substantial restoration since the 1960s, offers breathtaking views over the town from its apex.

Landeck Castle in Black forest of Germany
Image by Jb Dodane from Flickr

2. Schloss Rastatt

Schloss Rastatt was constructed in the first half of the 18th century. In the Upper-Rhine part of Germany, Rastatt Palace is located and it is the country’s first Baroque residence. Influenced by the Vienna and Versailles palaces this spectacular Baroque palace have royal rooms and private tenancies that feature canvases, Baroque furniture, and murals by Italian designers.

Schloss Rastatt in Black Forest of Germany
Image by Tawhai Moss from Flickr

3. Hohenzollern Castle

Hohenzollern Castle The German Royal Family, who still owns the castle, formerly resided at Burg Hohenzollern. On top of the same mountain, this majestic hilltop castle has a spectacular panorama of the surrounding area. While the current castle was originally built here in the 11th century, it is a fine example of Gothic Architectural design and a bit more contemporary. 

Castle Hohenzollern in the Black Forest of Germany
Image by Anne van Enter from Flickr

4. Yburg Castle

Yburg Castle is located at the 539-meter peak of the Yberg mountain and offers breathtaking panoramic views of Baden Baden. The area is renowned for its beautiful landscape views over the Upper Rhine Valley and the town below. The climb is very worthwhile!

Yburg castle ruin in Black Forest of Germany
Image by Alexander Burkhardt from Flickr

4. The Black Forest of Germany is the best for Road Trips

One of the most picturesque rising stretches of road in the Black Forest region is the Schwarzwald Hochstrass. The first stretch is swift, flowing, and smooth, with breathtaking views on each side. 

Schwarzwald Hoch strass road in the Black Forest of Germany
Image by Tobias Han from Flickr

The majority of the road is broad and sweeping, while there are a few sections that pass through very deep forestation.  There are some panoramic views around Hornisgrinde’s highest point, as well as many lay-bys where you may park and bask in the scenery and of course snap it!

Sunset at Hornisgrinde in region of the Black Forest of Germany
Image by Michal Jeska from Flickr

It is indeed a magnificent trip down to Baden Baden on the final stretch of the Hochstrasse, which at times makes you feel like you’re watching a movie shot because of the winds through dense forest with several sharp twisty bends and portrait of scenic vistas. Because it’s one of the easiest roads to overtake. Early in the morning, when the views on either side from high-rise terrains are truly breathtaking.

5. The Black Forest is on a verge of extinction!

The Black Forest of Germany in autumn
Image by Klaus Müller from Flickr

Most German experts and forest managers who have researched the issue agree that air pollution and acid rain brought on by industry and vehicles are the main causes of the damage. Additionally, the Black Forest of Germany began to experience the effects of global warming too.

In the Black Forest of Germany, where the flora is vanishing, the effects of climate change cannot be ignored. According to research, two species have become extinct, and the number of 37 other species has decreased by 33% percent in the preceding 40 years.

Bogs and spring mires serve as climate change probes. They are extremely sensitive to even tiny variations in temperature and precipitation, according to Professor Bruelheide.

Professor Bruelheide began to research ecological changes and declines among bogs and spring mires throughout the southern Black Forest in association with biologist and wetlands specialist Thomas Sperle.

According to Professor Bruelheide’s analysis, mention in  Climate change has officially arrived in the Black Forest, the research unequivocally demonstrates that species are disappearing and reducing in regions where it is warmer and drier for longer periods in the summertime. 

According to him, this is the first proof that climate change has already reached these latitudes. This shift is seen in the Black Forest because the climate is becoming substantially drier and hotter. Similar events are probably going to occur in other low mountain ranges.

The researchers took into consideration all other factors that may have had a detrimental influence on the specialized species, but they were unable to identify any other variables that best described their data than climate change.

According to the study’s authors, Species mortality was larger at low elevations, indicating rising temperature increase and decreasing precipitation as the major causes of extinction, while habitat area, distance to the nearest site, and land use had no significant influence.

According to biologists, ten additional specialized species would vanish by 2045 if climate change persists continuously. 

 

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