A Walk Through
the Black Forest
Cruising along the Rhine is a very sedentary pastime so we were happy to get off the boat and go for hike in the Black Forest in Ravenna, Germany.
At the beginning of the trail is a lovely touristy little village known as Hofgut Sternen. Here you can find traditional cuckoo clocks, beer steins and other gift items. You would think this little village had been built purely for the tourists but it has actually been around since the 18th century. The main road from Vienna to Paris travelled through this gorge and in 1770, Marie Antoinette stopped here on her way to meet her future husband King Louis XVI. A few years later, famous German writer, Goethe, stayed here.
There used to be many water mills along the river but they have been destroyed over the years and only a few are left.
Visiting the village was a great way to prepare for our hike.
As we left the village and headed to the trail, we were in awe of the amazing Ravenna Bridge, a 58 metre high railway viaduct. Absolutely stunning.
From the village to the trail, everything here is geared for tourists. I was hoping for a more natural hike in the Black Forest, however, the trail is man-made, gravelled at times and stairs built into the hillside. I feel it took away from the authenticity of the forest and I was a little disappointed. I still enjoyed the scenery, the rushing river the waterfalls and majestic trees. Very peaceful
Although I wished the trail had been more natural, it was an enjoyable morning and a change from European towns and cathedrals. We ended the morning at the top of the trail where we had the opportunity to enjoy some classic Black Forest Cake and coffee.
