Whether you're touring on foot or by bike, there are plenty of places to visit: historical towns, typical Black Forest farmhouses, the Gutach valley bridge (the highest bridge in the Black Forest), the Schwenninger Moos nature conservation area and source of the river Neckar, the baroque church and abbey of St. Peter (a real insider's tip for paragliders), the Triberg waterfalls and the biggest cuckoo clock in the world at Schonach. Other highlights include the source of the Danube at St. Martin's spring, the Hexenloch watermill and the Brend and Stöcklewald lookout towers. Nobody knows when the first Black Forest clocks were made, so their early history is shrouded in mystery. Ever since 1667 or thereabouts, when the first wooden foliot clock was made in Waldau, clockmaking has seen many fascinating developments. Flute clocks, trumpeter clocks, clocks decorated with pictures, framed clocks, watchman clocks, regulator clocks, twin-bell alarm clocks, Schotten clocks and timepieces of all shapes and sizes including modern quartz clocks and radio-signal clocks have all been - and are still being - produced here.
The German Clock Museum in Furtwangen has an extensive collection of timepieces and provides a fascinating insight into time-keeping around the world. This route conveys a real sense of just how strongly the Black Forest has been influenced by its clockmaking tradition. From a sundial to an atomic clock, from an exquisite pendulum timepiece to a kitchen clock - In fact, wherever you go along this route there are clockmakers to visit, opportunities to pick up a bargain and, last but not least, the chance to enjoy some legendary Black Forest hospitality. Anyone with time on their hands should join us in our journey through the world of clocks.
