Looking for a nature citybreak? Just 3 hours from Paris by TGV, in south-west Germany, Freiburg is surrounded by the Black Forest. A paradise for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts, from hiking to mountain biking. And there's no need to hire a car - everything can be done by train or bike! Are you coming?
Book a train ticket
Book a train ticket
Prepare your nature getaway in Freiburg, Germany:
Relaxing stroll on Lake Titisee
Less than 40 minutes by train from Freiburg, take a stroll around one of the Black Forest's most popular natural treasures: Lake Titisee. This ice-age lake is surrounded by magnificent forests. Here, everything is nature, calm and pleasure.
You can tour the lake on foot or by bike, or rent a canoe or paddleboat, the most popular activities to do in the area. A stone's throw away, in the village of Titisee, you can try the region's most famous cake, the Black Forest cake!
Access: the lake can be reached from Freiburg main station by regional train (approx. 40 minutes' journey time; 1 train almost every 30 minutes). From Titisee station, it's a 10-minute walk to the lake. No need for a car!
Trip to Schauinsland, Freiburg's mountain range
Germany's longest cable car
At 1,284 metres, Schauinsland is one of the highest and most impressive mountains in the Black Forest. From the top, you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views over the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, the Rhine valley and the Vosges mountains. On a clear day, you can even catch a glimpse of the Jura and the Alps.
The 3.6 km Schauinslandbahn cable car takes you to the top in 20 minutes. It's comfortable, hassle-free and environmentally friendly, emitting 60 times less Co2 than a car... and it's powered 100% by green energy!
Once you've reached the top, you'll be able to set off on easy trails for a hike or bike ride. Be sure to take a gourmet break in the summit restaurant, for a breathtaking view from the sun deck or veranda.
How to get there: from Freiburg main station, take streetcar line 2 to Friburg Dorfstrasse (17 min) + bus line 21 to Schauinslandbahn Talstation (approx. 15 min).
Hiking around Freiburg
The Black Forest (Schwarzwald in German) is Germany's highest mountain range. With its countless fir trees stretching as far as the eye can see and its unspoilt landscape, its name reminds us of an enchanted forest, not unlike one of the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales.
Start with the Schauinsland mountain range (1,284 m), just outside the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, which is very easy to reach. It offers both family walks and more challenging hikes. The Elz (Elztal) valley is also popular for its many hiking trails and viewpoints.
Family visit to the Black Forest Ecomuseum
Take the whole family on an exciting tour through a picturesque landscape at the Black Forest Eco-museum. This open-air site features a dozen or so reconstructed farms, to give you a better understanding of life in the region in the past. Children will love the many activities, including craft demonstrations and farm animals (horses, cows...).
Tip: for families, there are wooden object-making workshops from mid-May to mid-September, as well as during the Easter and All Saints' vacations.
How to get there: the museum has its own train station (Gutach Freilichtmuseum), accessible from Freiburg in around 1 hour 20 minutes.