Getting to the Black Forest -- International airports serve the area from Stuttgart and the Swiss city of Basel, which is 70km (43 miles) from Freiburg im Breisgau, the "capital" of the Black Forest. Trains run north and south through the Rhine Valley, with fast, frequent service to such Black Forest towns as Freiburg and Baden-Baden. Motorists should take the A5 Autobahn, which runs the length of the Schwarzwald. From Lake Constance, continue along the B31 for 65km (40 miles) until you reach the Black Forest.
Exploring the Region by Car -- Roads through the forest are excellent, especially the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse (Black Forest High Rd. or Ridgeway, Rte. B500), which runs through the northern part the region, from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt. Another unforgettable route, the Schwarzwald Panoramastrasse (Black Forest Panorama Rd.), winds through the southern half of the region from Waldkirch near Freiburg to Hinterzarten just west of Titisee. On either road you'll have many opportunities to park your car and explore the countryside or to turn off on one of the side roads leading to hospitable villages, ancient castles, and rolling farmlands. Other themed routes include the Uhrenstrasse (Clock Road), not to be confused with the hiking paths used by clock makers, and the Deutsche Fachwerkstrasse (German Half-timber Rd.). For information, visit www.schwarzwaldhochstrasse.de, www.deutsche-uhrenstrasse.de, and www.deutsche-fachwerkstrasse.de.
