Germany Part II-The Black Forest, Vineyards and Ancient Villages

Germany Part I-The Fire Salamander

Germany Part III-Record Mushroom Bloom

The Black Forest

A friend recommended that I explore this hauntingly beautiful valley in the Black Forest (Danke Susi!). Late October was the perfect time for the freshly fallen, orange leaves to compliment the thick carpets of green moss. The mood was thickened by a chill in the air and the sweet smell of spruce. The atmosphere in this mysterious valley was fitting for a macabre story from ancient times, which reminded me of the imagery created in the Witcher series.

This image is a slightly different perspective of the one above. Which one do you prefer?

Dim ambient light from an overcast sky let me to shoot this scene at 8 seconds to smooth the water without having to use a neutral density filter.

Calw

Exploring the 1,000 year old remnants of Kloster Hirsau near the town of Calw enhanced the mystical feeling of the Black Forest.

I stumbled upon this red fairytale house while wandering aimlessly through Calw. Constructing such houses out of gingerbread has serious implications for upkeep.
Calw is filled with excellent examples of well-preserved Half-timber houses, called Holzfachwerk.

Remstal: Fall Colors in the Vineyards

Not far from Denkendorf is a 78 km long river valley filled with vineyards called the Remstal. It’s an idyllic setting of red-roofed villages, orchards and colorful rows of grapes. Visiting in fall is a spectacle because the different varieties of grapes change different colors that paint stripes of red, green, orange and yellow on the hills. Here you can stroll a few miles through vineyards, ascend into a village for some bread and coffee, then continue walking.

A distinguishing characteristic of many European cultures is the “Right to Roam” that allows you to walk across the landscape to your heart’s content regardless of land ownership. Most of Germany is interconnected by public paths that traverse the countryside. It’s a stark contrast to America where private property and agriculture monopolize vast expanses of land. And because even most cities in Germany are surrounded by nature, you can visit friends in the next town, pick up groceries, or just go for a walk through pretty scenery without needing a car to get there. Once you’ve experienced the freedom of being to walk anywhere, being an American reliant on a car makes you feel captive.

With the right shoes and enough time you could walk through 78 continuous miles of this landscape from the western edge of Stuttgart to Schwäbisch Gmünd.
The town of Stetten was tranquil during the week. I stopped at a cafe for a slice of hazelnut cake durring my travels through the vineyards. During designated vineyard walks you can stop by the little huts and sample wine.