Around 40 percent of Baden-Württemberg is covered by forest. The Black Forest, Swabian Forest and Odenwald shape the state with vast, contiguous forest areas. There are also rivers that run through the state and cultural sites whose history is known far beyond the region. When planning a trip, you can therefore choose different focuses: landscapes and outdoor activities, spas and health resorts, or places where you can explore medieval and prehistoric history.
Forest Landscapes and Natural Areas
At 1,493 metres, Feldberg in the southern Black Forest is the highest peak in Baden-Württemberg. The extent of its forested areas also gives the landscape particular significance: around two-fifths of the state is forest. The seven nature parks together cover around a third of the state. The network of National Natural Landscapes also includes the Black Forest National Park and two biosphere areas. These areas and designations offer different points of reference if you are interested in the nature of Baden-Württemberg.
Hiking and cycling are options for active holidaymakers. Nature is a focus in its own right alongside the state’s cultural attractions. You do not have to limit yourself to a single way of travelling: the landscapes and historic sites offer a range of themes around which to plan your trip.
Rivers as Geographical Landmarks
The major rivers also tell the story of the state’s reach. The Rhine is 1,233 kilometres long in total, of which 437 kilometres flow through Baden-Württemberg. The 367-kilometre-long Neckar runs through almost its entire course in the state. The Danube rises at Donaueschingen, where the Brigach and Breg rivers meet. The Rhine, Neckar and Danube thus offer very different points of reference for getting to know the geography of Baden-Württemberg.
Spas and Health Resorts
According to official figures, Baden-Württemberg has 56 spas and health resorts; this number may change. Spa tourism is particularly well established in the Black Forest. Health thus complements nature and culture as another travel theme. If you are interested in spas and health resorts, they offer a distinct perspective on the state’s tourist attractions, without requiring you to make this the sole focus of your trip.
World Heritage and Historical Discoveries
The World Heritage site “Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura” was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017. The caves are where the Venus of Hohle Fels, the Lion Man of Hohlenstein-Stadel and the world’s oldest flutes known to date were found. Finds are on display at the Landesmuseum Württemberg in Stuttgart, the Museum of Prehistory in Blaubeuren, the Ulm Museum and the Museum of the University of Tübingen. If a particular find is important to your plans, it is advisable to check the current exhibition at the relevant museum in advance.
Another chapter in history takes you back to the Middle Ages: the Cistercian Monastery of Maulbronn, founded in 1147, is considered the most complete and best-preserved medieval monastic complex north of the Alps. Reichenau Monastic Island, meanwhile, preserves an ensemble of three medieval churches with surviving elements of Carolingian, Ottonian and Salian architecture. Several areas of the island are also designated nature reserves: around 230 hectares out of a total area of 460 hectares. Cultural history and the designated nature reserves are two distinct aspects that shape Reichenau.
Castles offer their own distinctive appeal. Lichtenstein Castle is a romantic historic castle known as the “Fairy-Tale Castle of Württemberg”. Weikersheim Palace and Gardens form a Renaissance ensemble with an impressive Knights’ Hall and an almost completely preserved interior. Around 1,300 museums, about 660 of them in rural areas, add to Baden-Württemberg’s cultural diversity; the official figure may change. Taken together, these examples show how varied the discoveries can be: from Ice Age finds and medieval monasteries to Renaissance architecture and museum collections.
Discover more destinations: Hohenlohe, Lake Constance, Main-Tauber District, Neckar-Odenwald District, Alb-Donau District, Biberach, Böblingen, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Calw, Emmendingen, Enzkreis, Esslingen, Freudenstadt, Göppingen, Heidenheim, Heilbronn, Karlsruhe, Konstanz, Lörrach, Ludwigsburg, Ortenau District, Ostalb District, Rastatt, Ravensburg, Rems-Murr District, Reutlingen, Rhein-Neckar District, Rottweil, Schwäbisch Hall, Schwarzwald-Baar District, Sigmaringen, Tübingen, Tuttlingen, Waldshut, Zollernalb District, Stuttgart, Baden-Baden, Mannheim, Ulm
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