The Easy Southern Black Forest Loop

This city, shaped by French and Austrian influences, is considered the warmest in Germany. The characteristic "Bächle" (small streams) in the old town create a pleasant microclimate in the summer. The centerpiece of the city is the Romanesque-Gothic cathedral. From Freiburg’s local mountain, the Schauinsland, a wonderful panoramic view of the Black Forest hills unfolds. Reserved rental bikes are available at the hotel.

This stage takes you right into the heart of the typical Black Forest landscape. You’ll cycle about 10 km to Kirchzarten, and from there, the train will take you to Titisee. As you ride through the Höllental valley, you’ll easily cover most of the day’s elevation gain. Passing by the typical farmhouses with their low-slung hipped roofs—the classic Black Forest houses—you’ll cycle along the Southern Black Forest Bike Trail to Bonndorf.

It’s worth spending an extra day in Bonndorf to explore the nearby Wutach Gorge, one of the last remaining wild river landscapes. Or you can continue cycling directly toward the Rhine, which lies 500 meters below. You’ll enjoy a leisurely downhill ride through the hills of the Black Forest. Your destination for this stage, Waldshut-Tiengen, is located right on the Swiss border.

Cycle through Laufenburg to Bad Säckingen, home to Europe’s longest covered wooden bridge. Two unique museums also await your visit here: the Garbage Museum and the Trumpeter Museum, which tells the romantic story of the trumpeter of Bad Säckingen. On the north bank of the Rhine, you’ll continue cycling to Rheinfelden. From here, you can easily shorten this leg of the journey by train (not included) to have more time for Basel. If you continue your journey to Basel by bike, you’ll pass the August Roman Museum, which provides information about the Roman colony of Augusta Raurica. Around 200 AD, some 10,000 people lived here, and ruins of the buildings can still be seen today. When you wind down the evening in Basel, the “City of Three Countries,” you’ll have completed the longest stage on the Southern Black Forest Bike Trail!

You’ll leave the bustling city of Basel in the border triangle and cycle to the Isteiner Klotz. Once battered by the waters of the Rhine, it has lain peacefully away from the river ever since the Tullaschen Rhine correction. Soon you’ll reach the first spa towns. Here, on the edge of the Black Forest, healing waters spring from the mountains, supporting the operation of thermal baths—some of which have been in use since Roman times.

The Markgräferland region is truly charming. The abundance of sunshine and the remarkably pure water allow for the cultivation of special grape varieties here. A sense of Baden serenity prevails in the villages and towns on the edge of the Black Forest. You’ll reach Freiburg, Germany’s southernmost major city. In 1869, Jacob Burkhardt described the tower of Freiburg Cathedral as the most beautiful tower in the world.

After breakfast, your cycling tour in the Black Forest comes to an end. We'd be happy to extend your stay in Freiburg.