Baden-Württemberg Between Forests, Water and Culture

Baden-Württemberg combines vast forest landscapes, distinctive rivers and UNESCO culture with places associated with health and relaxation. Around 40 percent of the state is forested. The Black Forest, Swabian Forest and Odenwald shape the region; in the southern Black Forest, Feldberg rises to 1,493 metres, making it the highest point in Baden-Württemberg. When looking for accommodation, you can start by deciding whether nature, water, culture or a combination of these should define your stay. The region ranges from extensive natural areas to historic buildings and cities.

Forests, nature parks and active days

The seven nature parks cover around one third of the state. The Black Forest National Park is one of Baden-Württemberg’s National Natural Landscapes, which also include two biosphere areas and seven nature parks. This gives you several nature-related themes to consider when planning your trip: the large forest areas, the state’s highest point and designated natural landscapes. Hiking and cycling are options for active holidaymakers in Baden-Württemberg. If exercise is important to your plans, these activities may help determine the focus of your holiday. You can also consider how much space culture and other interests should have in your trip.

The Rhine, Neckar and the source of the Danube

The rivers also reveal different geographical connections. The Rhine is 1,233 kilometres long in total, of which 437 kilometres flow through Baden-Württemberg. The Neckar, 367 kilometres long, runs through almost the entire length of the state. The Danube rises in Donaueschingen, where the Brigach and Breg rivers meet. This means there is a river that crosses the state for part of its course, one that flows almost entirely within the state, and a specific source location. If waterways interest you, these differences can serve as a thematic starting point for further trip planning.

UNESCO World Heritage, monasteries and museums

The “Caves and Ice Age Art of the Swabian Jura” World Heritage site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017. The caves yielded the Venus of Hohle Fels, the Lion Man of Hohlenstein-Stadel and the oldest flutes known to date anywhere in the world. Finds are on display at the Württemberg State Museum in Stuttgart, the Prehistory Museum in Blaubeuren, the Ulm Museum and the Museum of the University of Tübingen. If a particular object is the main reason for your visit, it is worth checking the current exhibition in advance.

The Cistercian monastery of Maulbronn, founded in 1147, offers a different historical perspective. It is considered the most complete and best-preserved medieval monastery complex north of the Alps. On Reichenau Island, an ensemble of three medieval churches preserves elements of Carolingian, Ottonian and Salian architecture. Several areas of the island—around 230 hectares out of a total area of 460 hectares—are designated nature reserves under Baden-Württemberg’s nature conservation law.

Castles also make their own mark: Lichtenstein Castle is a romantic historic castle, known as “Württemberg’s fairytale castle.” Weikersheim Palace and Gardens form a Renaissance palace ensemble with an impressive Knights’ Hall and an almost completely preserved interior. Baden-Württemberg has around 1,300 museums, about 660 of them in rural areas. Other possible cultural and scenic highlights include castles, medieval towns and metropolitan cities. When planning together, it can help to decide first whether archaeological finds, monastic history, castle architecture or a broader mix is of greatest interest.

Health and choosing where to stay

Baden-Württemberg has 56 health spas and resort towns; spa tourism is particularly well established in the Black Forest. So, alongside nature, water and culture, health is another travel interest to consider. If you want to combine nature and relaxation, the Black Forest is a specific option within the region. This lets you tailor your search to your travel plans without having to settle on a single type of holiday in advance.

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, Rhine-Neckar District, Rottweil, Schwäbisch Hall, Black Forest-Baar District, Sigmaringen, Tübingen, Tuttlingen, Waldshut, Zollernalb District, Stuttgart, Baden-Baden, Mannheim and Ulm.