Baden-Württemberg is renowned as the birthplace of various regional dishes that are both natural and sustainable. These dishes are often enjoyed alongside exciting outdoor activities such as hiking and biking. This month, there are several examples of such activities that people can participate in, either alone, as a couple, or as a family or group.
One such activity is the panoramic hops tour above the village of Tettnang. It provides an opportunity to learn about the hops growing process and unwind afterward with a delicious beer and meal. Alternatively, visitors could embark on the themed hiking trail in Enzklösterle, which spans about seven miles, passing many blueberry bushes along the way through forests and fields.
For those who enjoy biking, the “Badische Weinstrasse” (Baden Wine Route) offers a perfect option, covering over 300 miles through Baden’s most scenic wine-growing regions. The route is dotted with charming villages and castles and offers a great opportunity to stop and enjoy delicious meals and wines along the way.
Another great option is the Württemberg Wine Trail, which boasts picturesque river landscapes, unique steep-slope vineyards, and a mild climate, as well as wine-growing villages, world-famous art treasures in Stuttgart, excellent restaurants, cozy broom inns, and modern wine shops. In the Black Forest Highlands, visitors can explore the Zaepfle path in and around the Rothaus brewery, where they can learn about the brewery’s history, enjoy fine beer, and admire the unique Black Forest flora and fauna. The Rothaus restaurant serves tasty traditional meals, and its hotel is a perfect base from which to explore the surrounding area. Visitors are invited to enjoy the active pursuit of good wine, delicious food, and stunning countryside.
The Blueberry Village of Enzklösterle
The idyllic village of Enzklösterle, situated between Pforzheim and Freudenstadt in the northern Black Forest, is famous for its abundance of blueberries. The fir forests surrounding the village provide the perfect environment for blueberries to grow, which once helped to feed and sustain entire families. From July 21 to 30, the village celebrates its delicious blueberries, with Cafe Klösterle offering a chance to taste the real Black Forest blueberry cake. The village also boasts a unique cocktail called “Wilde Heidi” made with blueberry liqueur, sparkling wine, and wild blueberries, as well as a non-alcoholic version called the “Gentle Heidi.” Additionally, the village creates beautiful products and spreads using blueberries such as mustard, vinegar, jam, spreads, chocolate, teas, drinks, gift items, and even table linens. Enzklösterle also has a seven-mile themed hiking trail that winds through forests and valleys, past many blueberry bushes.
Enzkloesterle, Blueberry Village
The Baden Wine Cycle Path through the Black Forest
The wine-growing country of “Baden” is one of the largest wine-growing areas in Germany, situated in the western part of the Black Forest region. The “Badische Weinstrasse” (Baden Wine Route) runs for over 300 miles, meandering through the most beautiful wine-growing regions of Baden. It passes through quaint wine-making villages, charming half-timbered towns, and vineyards between the Black Forest and the Rhine, in Southwest Germany. The route is popularly known as “Baden’s gourmet route” due to its regional specialties, including asparagus and bacon, and village inns. The “Baden Wine Cycle Path” connects the Baden wine regions, covering around 300 miles.
Beginning in Grenzach on the German-Swiss border, the cycle path continues over the Isteiner Klotz through the wine region of Markgräflerland. Kaiserstuhl beckons the cyclists further north to explore the terraced vineyards. Alternatively, they can choose the variant past Freiburg’s old town and the Glottertal. Cyclists ride through the vineyards of the Breisgau and reach Ortenau. Passing Ortenberg Castle, the route continues towards Karlsruhe and turns off into the Kraichgau near Bruchsal. Heidelberg is a real gem before the cycle path ends in Laudenbach on the “Badische Bergstrasse”. The route, which can be accomplished with an E-bike, involves approximately 1,000 feet in altitude and runs mostly on paved paths.
Wuerttemberg Wine Cycle Path Offers Winding Roads, Unique Vineyards
The Württemberg Wine Trail, known for its dreamlike river landscapes, unique steep-slope vineyards, mild climate, idyllic wine-growing villages, world-famous art treasures, excellent restaurants, cozy broom inns, and modern wine shops, invites visitors to discover the wine culture. The Württemberg Wine Cycle Path, spanning 250 miles, is the best way to experience this trail. Innovative young Württemberg winemakers are reinterpreting traditional Württemberg grape varieties such as Trollinger, Lemberger, and Riesling, resulting in award-winning wines. The Württemberg cultural landscape is characterized by unique viticulture in terraces and steep slopes, which are cultivated by winegrowers in painstaking manual work. Visitors have the opportunity to make personal acquaintance with these creative minds of the Württemberg wine scene and to taste their wines along the cycle path. The route of Württemberg Wine Cycle Path features Heilbronn, the oldest wine town in Württemberg, and the capital city of Stuttgart. Picturesque wine villages, characterized by half-timbered houses and viticulture, also invite visitors to visit and linger. Numerous wine museums and wine trails provide information about the history and special features of Württemberg wine.
Tettnang Hops Trail SouthWest Germany
The Tettnang Hops trail, located near the Alps and Lake Constance, offers a unique journey from farmer to brewer. The trail spans four kilometers and starts at the Kronenbrauerei in Tettnang and ends at the Tettnang Hops Museum in Siggenweiler. As walkers and cyclists meander through hop gardens and orchards against the backdrop of pristine countryside, they can learn about the secrets of hops cultivation and the art of brewing from informative boards along the path. Tettnang, a small town that was once the seat of the counts of Montfort, is Germany’s southernmost hops-growing region, nestled between the northern shore of Lake Constance and the Allgäu region. The region’s unique landscape is conducive to growing hops with a focus on environmental sustainability. For over 175 years, hops have been cultivated and developed in the area, producing aroma hops those master brewers from around the world value for their touch of bitterness. The traditional hotels and restaurants, such as Gasthaus zur Krone and Hotel Rad, before and after the path are destinations in themselves.
The Rothaus brewery located in the Black Forest Highlands
The Zaepfle path in the Black Forest Highlands invites visitors to discover the history of the Rothaus brewery, enjoy fine beer, and explore the unique flora and fauna of the region while viewing the legendary source of delicious water. This scenic trail winds through the beautiful landscape of the Black Forest Highlands and includes nine stations and three pavilions that offer a wealth of information on raw materials, quality production, and sustainable practices. Rothaus, as a producer of pure natural products, places a high priority on preserving the environment and has implemented several measures toward sustainability. In 2008, the company switched from heating oil to renewable energy for the supply of thermal energy, making it the largest biomass heating system operating in a brewery in Germany. In addition, Rothaus sources 100% of its green electricity from regional hydropower plants on the Upper Rhine. The brewery has also optimized its use of state-of-the-art production facilities with high energy efficiency and optimized energy consumption. Visitors can enjoy delicious and traditional meals at the excellent restaurant, which is part of the hotel located next to the brewery.