The town offers a wide range of hiking trails through the Black Forest, the most exhilarating of which is a trek to the Schloss Bürgeln, 7846 Schliengen (tel. 07626/237), 20km (12 miles) south of Badenweiler and accessible by car (follow the signs from Badenweiler's center). Schloss Bürgeln was built in 1764 by order of the abbot of St. Blasein and offers a commanding view of the surrounding countryside; on a clear day, you can see Basel, the Vosges of France, and the bend in the Rhine as it flows into Switzerland. Especially noteworthy are the verdant gardens around the castle. The castle can only be visited March to November, and only on guided tours (in German and English) daily at 11am and 2, 3, 4, and 5pm. Note: If a concert is scheduled, there is no 5pm tour. Adults pay 5€ ($8), and children 11 and under are 2.50€ ($4).
Bathing as the Romans Did -- The springs that pour water into the spa facilities here are very little changed since Roman days, a fact that the local resort, the Cassiopeia Therme, Kaiserstrasse 5 (tel. 07632/799200), won't let you forget. It offers mud packs, massage, sauna, and steam bath treatments. The well-preserved Roman baths, originally built in A.D. 75, still stand today within the Kurpark, or spa gardens. The Roman baths can only be visited as part of a guided tour, offered mostly in German but with some English commentary, every Monday at 10am. For information and advance reservations, contact the spa directly. The modern-day baths, which include a large indoor swimming pool filled with the thermally heated waters as well as a series of steam rooms and saunas, are open daily from 9am to 10pm. The cost, per person, for access to the thermally heated swimming pool is 11€ ($18) between 9am and 6pm, and 7€ ($11) between 6 and 10pm. Use of the saunas and steam rooms costs an additional 5€ ($8) per person. A family ticket, priced at 27€ ($43), is available anytime during the spa's opening hours and allows access to the pool, saunas, and steam rooms for two adults and three children under age 18.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
