Munich & the Black Forest 2026-27

Southern Germany could well be the alternative title of this tour, which pairs the Black Forest with the famous themed routes of the "Schwarzwald Hochstrasse" and the "Romantische Strasse". It also takes in the major attractions of Bavaria: Renaissance Augsburg, elegant Munich and the fairy-tale castles of King Ludwig.

The hidden gems: Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Dinkelsbühl along the Romantische Strasse.

Did you know? In the historic centres of the Black Forest towns everything is beautifully kept, even the shop signs, in wrought iron or painted in bright colours, sometimes overflowing with Baroque flourishes. Famous examples are the two gigantic rings and the clock hanging outside a goldsmith's shop in Freiburg. It was in this region, towards the end of the 1600s, that the first cuckoo clocks were made, entirely of wood and finely painted. Only in the mid-1800s were the wooden mechanisms replaced with metal and brass ones. The first clocks were carried on the shoulders of the master clockmakers to be sold, through these wooded valleys and hills.

Freiburg, a picturesque city on the edge of the Black Forest. Blessed with sunshine and a warm climate, Freiburg is a young university city with an upbeat southern charm. Exceptional and impossible to ignore: the Freiburger Münster (Freiburg Cathedral). This masterpiece of Gothic architecture was completed in 1513. If you love spectacular views and are not afraid of stairs, you should certainly climb the 381-foot tower. You can cool your tired feet in one of the many Bächle (little water channels), unique in Germany. They run through the old town, past charming open-air cafés and restaurants. Here you can sit among locals and students, savour the regional cuisine and experience the relaxed mentality of southern Germany. Freiburg is one of Germany's greenest cities and has a great many cycle paths and footpaths. By car, the Black Forest, Alsace and Switzerland are only an hour away. Freiburg is a very relaxing place. Nevertheless, alongside casual clothes, we should pack something elegant too, because the city's motto is: Love your nights! The theatre and opera house invite you to great performances, while the local bars and clubs simply celebrate life

Augsburg's historic water management system, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Set at the confluence of the rivers Lech and Wertach, Augsburg's position is considered strategic. The city owes all its economic and cultural development to the water of both rivers and to the abundant drinking-water resources of the Augsburger Stadtwald. For centuries, the hydropower of the Lech was used in innovative ways to drive mill wheels and pumping stations. Augsburg's crafts flourished and made the city prosper. The ingenious system of canals ensured good general hygiene and the availability of drinking water of ever-improving quality. Today, 530 bridges large and small cross the city's streams and canals, so it has more bridges than Venice. Human ingenuity, innovative engineering science and masterly fountain design underpin the exceptional water management system that has distinguished the city of Augsburg for more than eight centuries and can still be admired today. 22 stations allow you to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The historic water system is present throughout the city. In particular, the Lech canals in the old town still characterise the urban landscape. The treasures of this water management system include the oldest water towers in Europe, historic and artistic fountains, outstanding monuments of industrial culture and the canoe course in the former Olympic Park. The 22 stations throughout the city, with their technical, artistic and historical significance, represent a unique special case: they are all closely linked to the technological achievements of hydraulic engineering, to the sustainable use of hydropower and to the separation of drinking water from service water, which allows considerable savings in resources.