Visiting the Nearby Black Forest

Black Forest-style chalet

The Black Forest is known for ham, specialty cake and cherries, among other things. We took a day trip there this week with Bob's parents and were in search of cuckoo clocks. The Deutsch Uhren Strasse (German Clock Route) runs through small villages in the southern Black Forest and is about 1 and 1/2 hours from Basel via car. We covered only part of the route, visiting villages such as Furtwagen and Triberg. I loved seeing the traditional Black Forest farmhouses, or chalets, against the backdrop of the dense forest.

Cuckoo Clock, Triberg-am-Schwarzwald

In Furtwagen, we visited a clock museum where we found out about some of the clockmakers in the region. Many quality clocks are still handmade in the region (especially if you avoid some of the tourist shops). I was interested to find out that the Swiss introduced the chalet form of the cuckoo clock. The traditional Black Forest cuckoo clock style that was first created was more rustic, often with a deer head or leaves surrounding the clock face. I prefer the chalet styles, and there are three types: Black Forest, Bavarian and Swiss chalet. The clocks can also can come with music, many of which play the song "Edelweiss".

Inside the cuckoo clock

We visited one of the "World's Largest" cuckoo clocks in Triberg. We actually were able to go inside the clock and watch the bird exit and hear the bellows make the cuckoo noise. The kids loved this! It was a fun day in the Black Forest, and there is a lot that we would like to come back to do. There is especially a lot of hiking that would be great for a summer day trip.

I've enjoyed hosting visitors at our house over the past months, and I'm beginning to think that it would be a good idea to put some tour packages together in advance for guests. Depending on your interests and length of stay, I can put together a program for you. Here are examples of package suggestions: 

Food & Wine Focus:

• A tour of Emmental show dairy to see how "Swiss" cheese is made 
• A day trip on the Alsace wine route, with stops at wineries
• Sampling of other local specialties such as beer, fondue, chocolate and bread

Family Fun in Europe:

• Sledging or sliding in the Alps (depending on the season) 
• A visit to the Basel zoo
• A hike in the woods with a stop for grilling sausages over a fire
• A day trip to the Transportation museum (Verkehrshaus) in Lucerne

Art and History:

• A visit to Augusta Raurica to see local Roman ruins
• A day at the Kunstmuseum (art museum) in Basel to see a huge collection of artwork from the 15th century through the 19th and 20th centuries.
• A visit to a castle and museum, such as Kyburg near Zurich. Learn about daily life in a castle and enjoy the view.

What do you think? Of course, some of this is in jest, but I'm more than happy to help with your travel plans. There can often be an overwhelming number of choices for things to do; however, you're sure to have a great visit no matter what you do!