Baden-Baden

It was the Romans who were first drawn to the springs in the foothills of the Black Forest, but it wasn’t until later that Baden-Baden really began to come into its own as we know it today. During the 19th century, Baden-Baden developed a reputation as an elegant social playground with its spas, casino and racecourse, drawing the likes of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and even Queen Victoria. The compact and comfortable resort city is located in a dense valley in the Black Forest close to the French border.

As Germany’s pre-eminent spa town, the natural springs and thermal baths of Baden-Baden have allured visitors since the Roman times. The heritage of “Europe’s Summer Capital” continues with fashionable landmarks such as the elegant Kurhaus Casino, however, Baden-Baden offers the modern traveler so much more in the form of grand colonnade buildings, delicious local delicacies and endless views of the Black Forest.

The most convenient way to arrive is to fly to Frankfurt and take the direct train to Baden-Baden. The train leaves from the Frankfurt airport directly every two hours and the travel time is 90 minutes. When you actually arrive, you’ll see that the center is pedestrianized, making walking the most convenient method of travel.No other area in Germany has as many Michelin-rated restaurants as Baden-Württemberg with a number of regional specialties worth dabbling into. Elsewhere, there are a number of culinary tours to be had including Badische Spargelstrasse (The Baden asparagus route) and the Badische und Württembergische Weinstrasse (wine route).