The Black Forest is tucked away in Germany’s southwest and has a timeless aura as you enter its deepest reaches. It stretches from Baden-spa Baden’s town to the Swiss border and from the Rhine to near Lake Constance.

Sustainable Practices

 The Black Forest is certificated as a sustainable destination, among others, for its responsible conduct and sustainable practices. One of those practices is the close collaboration with local and regional partners who are also committed to the goal of sustainability and the responsible use of the present resources. Already at the arrival of the guests and, of course, also during their stay, the tourism team of the Black Forest focuses on sustainability through the promotion of public transport to make sustainable mobility more attractive and expansion of e-energy to create as little environmental impact as possible. Furthermore, another essential practice is the support of regional suppliers and manufacturers’ cooperation on equal terms, including promoting sustainable hotels, apartments, etc. Another notable feature is a special commissioner for sustainability in the destination, who focuses on this topic only and thus ensures that sustainability is implemented successfully.

The Black Forest National Park

The northern Black Forest ridge stretches between Baden-Baden and Freudenstadt, forming the Black Forest National Park, which in the year 2014 became the first national park in the north region. It has an unmatched character, with magnificent views across the Rhine plain to France and over the Black Forest hills.

People, as well as animals and vegetation, call the national park home. Guests can enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, or simply sit back and watch. Remove yourself from the rush and bustle of everyday life by immersing yourself in the tranquillity of nature. Discover small surprises by following the footsteps of the wilderness. The annual schedule includes a variety of tours, guided tours, and seminars. Nature can be vividly experienced on guided tours. Kindergartens, school courses, and organizations can go on field trips into the woods with trained teachers upon request.

Another critical sustainable practice found in the Black forest is the bio-energy communities. These are St. Peter and Breitnau and Freiamt, Nordrach, Stühlingen-Lausheim, and Steinen-Hägelberg, which create their own power or heat in the Upper Black Forest. You may frequently register for trips at the on-site tourist information.

We want to emphasize Nordrach, a small town located in Germany’s Black Forest, in the south, with around 750 households where 2,000 people live. Nordach’s territory comprises numerous small villages, one of which is Hintertal.

It is worth mentioning the fact that the municipality of Nordrach was awarded one of the prizes as part of the contest “energy model municipality 2010” of Baden-Württemberg. Moreover, because it is a health resort, the municipality of Nordrach has wanted to build up actions for climate protection for a long time. As a result, the city is willing to invest in renewable energy sources.

Sustainable Activities

In the Black Forest as a tourist, you can practice many activities. These include hiking trails in the region, biking tours, and adventure trails. Most of them take place in nature and are 100% eco-friendly. Additionally, as nature surrounds every part of the region, the diverse landscapes can be discovered as sights. If you want to combine nature with sightseeing, you can find monasteries, old castles, and magnificent palaces to visit.

If you want to improve your health or just take some time off and relax, you can visit salt caves or go to a climatic spa. Regarding this aspect, it is worth mentioning that there is a multitude of sustainable wellness hotels and holiday lodges built with natural materials and are 100% sustainable.

Last but not least, as a sustainable tourist, you can discover the local cuisine in excellent restaurants where everything is sustainable and authentic with a great emphasis on regionality. Besides this, you can find that many organic winegrowers in the Black Forest produce wine of the highest quality. Also, as an insider tip, it is worth mentioning the cheese route with 20 small farm dairies located in the southern Black Forest, many of which produce organic cheese.