Discovering the Black Forest from Feldberg

I travelled last month for the first time to the Black Forest region of Germany, I went for a ski trip but discovered that there was so much more to the black forest than just its ski slopes. The Black Forest is a very popular location to visit and sees many tourists visit each year. With its breathtaking mountains which surround the forest, and its many pine trees plus the bonus of breath taking lakes it is obvious why people want to visit. Not only does it offer skiing, but if the mood takes you could go on a ramble looking for red deer, or you could simply hike up one of the many mountains which surround the forest. If this isn’t your cup of tea and you prefer relaxation, then it can even offer you this, it is also well known for health, beauty and wellness programmes, people travel from afar to get away from the stress of every day life to relax and enjoy one of the many health applications on offer.

The use of Thermal baths is also on offer in the Black Forest, these are known to ease aches and pains and to help combat stress and nervous tension. I stayed at the Hotel Feldberg which offered all these treatments, I bought them as part of a package but they can be bought separately for a reasonable price. I knew all about the skiing and the relaxation, but whilst I was staying in the Black Forest I wanted to learn about the history of Cuckoo Clock, the first ever was made by Franz Anton Ketterer, in a small village which is situated near Triberg called Schöenweld, which is located in the Black Forest area of Germany. It was designed using bellows to produce two different sounds which sounded like a Cuckoo hence its name the ‘Cuckoo clock’.

Over the years that followed the clock industry went from strength to strength in the Black Forest region of Germany. The clockmakers of the Black Forest region spent the months through the winter making the Cuckoo clocks, with beautiful hand carvings on the front of them. The clocks were then sold by clock peddlers throughout Europe during the tourist season in the summer. The clocks were usually secured on a frame on a peddlers back, they were sought after by the wealthy from all over Europe. Even today the Cuckoo clocks are still being made to the same high standard as they were in the 1800’s. It is something that is usually bought on visiting the Black Forest.

After my trip to discover the history of the Cuckoo Clock, I moved on to visit Mecklenberg-Vorpommern where I went on to discover all about the beauty and the history which surrounds it. It boasts to have the longest coastline in Germany, it is a place where history and tradition live hand in hand with each other. Its unique scenery make Mecklenburg-Vorpommern one of the top rated holiday destinations within Northern Germany. On the North Side is the Baltic Sea, with all its wonderous history. On the mainland you can see the many lakes which Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has on offer along with its flat woodland which surrounds them.

I stayed at the Hotel Mecklenburg-Vorpommern whilst visiting this fantastic location, the room was to a high standard and my hotel balcony over looked one of the many lakes. I personally feel that a trip to the Black Forest is well worth a look for anyone who is visiting Germany and this region. Along with its history and beauty there is something for everyone here.