Hiking in the Black Forest of southern Germany

The landscape here is beautiful with large patches of forest punctuated by grassland with grazing dairy cows. Scenic villages abound along with loosely scattered farmhouses which historically harbored humans, livestock, and farm equipment. Some of these farmhouses have been converted into guesthouses. 

The forests are largely managed for timber, with mostly densely planted spruce. Species diversity in these forests is generally low. We did however see a number of plants that are closely related (in the same genus) as plants that occur in the Appalachian Mountains of North America. 

Along the trail

Walking through a spruce forest plantation

Spruce (Picea)

Fir (Abies) were much less common than spruce

Alder (Alnus)

Maple (Acer)

Jewelweed (Impatiens)

Blueberries (Vaccinium)

Campanula

An old mill house

Large stacks of wood was a common sight near houses 

Tiny chapel along the trail

Inside the chapel

Mural inside chapel

Second mural in chapel

Food and drink in Freiburg

Freiburg market

Wurst at the outdoor market

Lots of good deserts to tempt one

Our favorite bakery

Delicious breads

Gelato!

Lunch on the trail. even when just a
cheese sandwich,  tastes great

Stopping for lunch at a guest house

One of several breweries in Freiburg

My meatiest meal in years

A second trip to the Alsace region of France

We have just a few more days left in our four week home exchange in Freiburg, southern Germany, Today, we drove the short distance to the Rhine River which we crossed and entered the Alsace region of France. The Alsace is bordered by the Rhine River on the east and the Vosges Mountains to the west. On a previous day trip we visited the beautiful medieval city of Colmar. Today, we drove north from Colmar on the famous wine route through vineyards and gorgeous medieval villages with colorful half-timbered houses, interesting shops, restaurants, and flowers galore.

Half-timbered houses

Drawing of restored half-timbered house

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Colorful mural

Colmar, a medieval city in the Alsace region of France

Leaving Freiburg in southern Germany, we drove west across the Rhine River into the Alsace region of eastern France where we visited the small city of Colmar. It is a very popular tourist destination due to the beautifully restored medieval buildings, including impressive cathedrals, museums, and half-timbered homes, some with a distinct lean in the upper levels. On most any given street, the homes are painted in various pleasing colors, somewhat reminiscent of rainbow row in Charleston, South Carolina, but even more spectacular. The French definitely have an artistic flair...

Schwabentor: the Gateway to Freiburg

First built in the 13th Century, the Schwabentor is one of two remaining gateways in the medieval defensive wall of Freiburg. We walked through this impressive structure each day on our way to and from the city's historic center.

The exterior wall includes a working clock

The city's patron, Saint George, is depicted as a dragon hunter on the exterior wall

The interior

Painting of merchant with wagon on interior wall

Coping with the summer heat in Freiburg, Germany

It's been unusually hot this August in Freiburg, in southern Germany, including today with a high of 93 F.  The restaurants and stores we've visited, as well as the flat we're staying in, all lack air conditioning so we've felt the heat. People cope in various ways including an evening beer at a local beer garden and dangling one's feet in the local river.

Our favorite Freiburg Beer Garden

Cooling feet in the Dreisam River, Freiburg

Black Forest Cemetery

My partner and I are in Freiburg, in southern Germany, from mid-August to mid-
September, on a home exchange with a gentleman who is staying in our Asheville house during this time.
Freiburg is a vibrant University town located in a valley surrounded by the Black Forest.
Today we drove up to the Black Forest, a patchwork of forest, fields, and picturesque villages. Among the latter was Saint Margen, which has a historic convent and church. Behind the church, was a beautiful cemetery, with meticulously maintained living plants adorning each grave. Among the visitors were two small boys in cycling outfits watering a gravesite of an elderly woman.  Perhaps the grave of a grandmother? It was quite touching.

Church cemetery with living plants