The Black Forest (German: Schwarzwald) is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 meters. The region is almost rectangular with a length of 200 km and breadth of 60 km.


Schwarzwaldhochstrasse:
The name Schwarzwaldhochstrasse was first used in 1930 after the completion of the section of road between Hundseck and Untersmatt made access to the high Black Forest easier. In order to draw the emerging automobile tourists to the mountain hotels, the roads in the high valleys were together labeled as a scenic drive. The entire route from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt was completed in 1952.
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3010/karten.jpg



Part #1: Baden - Baden

It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe.


The Kurhaus is a spa resort, casino, and conference complex. The main structure was designed in 1824 by Friedrich Weinbrenner, who is responsible for the Corinthian columns and paired-griffins frieze of the grand entrance and the neo-classical interiors. Although a casino was incorporated from the inception of the Kurhaus, it only began to achieve international fame in the mid-1830s, when gambling was forbidden in France. This legal barrier encouraged gamblers to cross the border where they could try their luck at Baden-Baden's gaming tables. Fyodor Dostoyevsky's The Gambler was inspired by the Russian author's visit to the Kurhaus casino. At one point in her life, Marlene Dietrich declared that this was "the most beautiful casino in the world."
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9008/p1000639s.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/5937/p1000643da.jpg

Luxury boutiques in front of the Casino:
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3584/p1000640g.jpg


The Trinkhalle in the Kurhaus spa complex in Baden-Baden was built 1839–42 by Heinrich Hübsch in a complementary architectural style as the spa's main building. The 90-meter arcade is lined with frescoes and benches. The spa waters are said to have curative powers.
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6343/p1000648edit.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2391/p1000652edit.jpg

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/1807/p1000649edit.jpg

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/1262/p1000634edit.jpg

Shadow appreciated:
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/1716/p1000644e.jpg


The Oos:
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/324/p1000633s.jpg


Steigenberger Europäischer Hof (on the Oos):
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/8774/p1000647l.jpg

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6520/p1000646s.jpg



To be continued,

dan

Sasbachwalden was first mentioned in 1347 as a group of individual farms and houses. In 1817 Sasbachwalden became an independent community.


These flowers greet you when entering the village:
http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/8738/p1000707oo.jpg


Sasbachwalden is renown for its "Timber Framing houses" (German: "Fachwerk" - literally "framework", or half-timbering).

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/1338/p1000711w.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/1391/p1000715edit.jpg


The village sleeps in the midday sun:
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6613/p1000699q.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8893/p1000697w.jpg

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/5374/p1000695edit.jpg

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/2246/p1000694.jpg

Parking only for the guests:
http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/4810/p1000693edit.jpg

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5960/p1000700edit.jpg


And these flowers greet you when leaving:
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/42/p1000709z.jpg


Brandmatt (a neighboring village):
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/9505/p1000677k.jpg

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/3083/p1000675u.jpg

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/3329/p1000667.jpg

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/9429/p1000686q.jpg

Heidi could have lived here:
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/5971/p1000669.jpg


In the middle of nowhere (Brandmatt): the German thoroughness & environment protection:
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7091/p1000684s.jpg



To be continued,

Dan

Thanks for sharing these fine pics!

Nice. More!

More pics from Baden Baden


Das Festspielhaus (Festival Theatre) is Germany's largest opera house and concert hall with 2,500 seats.

Opened on April 18, 1998, the new building's architecture incorporates the former central train station of Baden-Baden (opened July 15, 1845) which today is the ticket sales hall and the Festspielhaus restaurant "Aida".
Each year, the board of trustees at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden cultural foundation awards the Herbert von Karajan Music Prize to an outstanding international musician. Festspielhaus Baden-Baden regularly cooperates with the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre St. Petersburg, the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence and many other leading opera houses and festivals.
http://a.imageshack.us/img441/2756/p1000817edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img20/3298/p1000811edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img227/5237/p1000783edit.jpg



And yes, this is the well known Michael Wigge (http://www.pichuproductions.de/39-0-Reise+ans+Ende+der+Welt.html). Among other things he traveled 35.000 km with no money at all. A very nice and friendly person.
http://a.imageshack.us/img842/1870/p1000796.jpg

More fotos with him here: Michael Wigge (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1181867).

To be continued.

Enjoy!

dan

In front of the old Steam Bath:
http://a.imageshack.us/img196/6032/p1000985edit.jpg


Most of the town is built on hillsides; the streets are fairly steep, with staircases.
http://a.imageshack.us/img806/7237/p1000977edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img690/2480/p1000995edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img835/8786/p1000993edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img839/9017/p1000990edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img695/7493/p1000987edit.jpg


Enjoy!

dan

The old Steam Bath building
http://a.imageshack.us/img413/7229/p1000969edit.jpg

Old meets new. The building was erected by the Jesuits in 1622, as a school. In 1689 was burnt down by the French (remember - the Louis XIV, the Sun King). Now is the City Hall...
http://a.imageshack.us/img801/9352/p1000967edit.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img831/3041/p1000959edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img153/9628/p1000957c.jpg

There are many such lovely spots, with old buildings (the one on the left was built recently - only 1902, but the rest...)
http://a.imageshack.us/img641/6600/p1000999edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img153/3714/p1000952edit.jpg


Enjoy!

dan

The Sophienstrasse
http://a.imageshack.us/img201/7546/p1000949edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img843/9569/p1000946.jpg


A "Bierstube" - beer everyone?
http://a.imageshack.us/img822/1078/p1000945edit.jpg

Street entertainer
http://a.imageshack.us/img196/4757/p1000936edit.jpg

Jesuits place, with the Bismarck statue. Otto von Bismarck "the iron chancellor" was named 1895 honorary citizen of Baden-Baden
http://a.imageshack.us/img840/474/p1000933edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img293/3433/p1000930edit.jpg


Enjoy!

dan

The old Hofapotheke, built 1690
http://a.imageshack.us/img442/8082/p1000925edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img695/4928/p1000921edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img529/3830/p1000917edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img440/3715/p1000915edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img842/6060/p1000926edit.jpg


Enjoy!

dan

More pics - the old city
http://a.imageshack.us/img823/334/p1000910edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img153/8334/p1000909edit.jpg


View of the "Europäischer Hof" - hotel
http://a.imageshack.us/img337/8766/p1000903k.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img202/5962/p1000897t.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img266/9193/p1000836v.jpg


Side view of the Casino
http://a.imageshack.us/img836/3769/p1000898u.jpg

Enjoy!

dan

The Schwarzwaldhochstraße begins in Baden-Baden and rises quickly to the main ridge of the northern Black Forest, reaching the top at the Bühlerhöhe. At the top is a luxury hotel, also named the Bühlerhöhe. Many famous people were welcome guests here: Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Adenauer, etc.

The hotel was sold for 100 mil Euro and will be closed for an unspecified duration this August...

Built 1912, as a late work of Historismus. "Historicism" refers to artistic styles that draw their inspiration from copying historic styles or artisans. After neo-classicism, which could itself be considered a historicist movement, the 19th century saw a new historicist phase marked by a return to a more ancient classicism, in particular in architecture and in the genre of history painting.

The architect was inspired by the Stupinigi Castle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzina_di_caccia_of_Stupinigi), Torino.

Here is the entrance, through the foliage:
http://a.imageshack.us/img834/5351/p1000654s.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img576/1323/p1000655e.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img33/5442/p1000656edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img51/1453/p1000657.jpg


Enjoy!

dan

The Rotunde, designed by Wilhelm Kreis - used as hotel lobby:
http://a.imageshack.us/img717/3288/p1000661x.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img412/5278/p1000660d.jpg

The view over the Black Forest:
http://a.imageshack.us/img3/7168/p1000659edit.jpg

Here is a pic from internet:
http://a.imageshack.us/img694/5994/bhlerhhe1.jpg

Enjoy!

dan

The Mummelsee is a 17 m deep lake at the western mountainside of the Hornisgrinde in the northern Black Forest of Germany. It is very popular with tourists travelling along the Schwarzwaldhochstraße.

According to legends, the lake is inhabited by a Nix and the King of the Mummelsee.

http://a.imageshack.us/img714/5192/p1000725edit.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img51/3074/p1000727c.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img341/9306/p1000728v.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img191/2496/p1000733x.jpg


Enjoy!

dan

Just in case if you think that the "Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks" are missing:
http://a.imageshack.us/img237/8054/p1000734edit.jpg

The sign on the wall tells you that these clocks are made in ... Schonach (Germany) - and not in China...
http://a.imageshack.us/img837/592/p1000741edit.jpg

Some local folk, popular with the japanese / chinese tourists:
http://a.imageshack.us/img683/4773/p1000737x.jpg
http://a.imageshack.us/img517/4332/p1000738edit.jpg

From the internet:
http://www.mummelsee.de/frontend/images/erlebnis/001.jpg


Enjoy!

dan

Beautiful pictures, thank you! More, please!