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South West Germany: Clean, green summer holidays

27th March 2014 Print
Cycle path

Looking for a close destination for the summer hols? With sunshine and the Great Outdoors? With family-friendly B&Bs and affordable small hotels? Welcoming cafés and taverns? Look no further than South West Germany, Germany's sunniest region! In cities, the parks and gardens invite a stroll; out in the country, there are endless unspoiled forests and lakes clean enough for swimming. (Many lakes only allow boats with electric motors). From Lake Constance in the south to the rolling Swabian Hills in the north, not forgetting the gentle, undiscovered Odenwald, you can go hiking and biking, try stand up paddle boarding or canoeing.
 
New for 2014 is the Black Forest National Park, best explored by hiking all or part of the 55-mile/90-km long Baiersbronn Lake Trail (Baiersbronner Seensteig). Start in the village of Baiersbronn, famous for its Michelin-starred restaurants. On your way north over the Black Forest moors, you pass one lake after another. Lunch at hiking huts serving traditional dishes, using fresh local produce. On Seensteig Multi-stage Trail packages, your hotel, luggage transfers and a free public transport card are included.                  
 
Recreational hiking was born in South West Germany. Running north-south through the Black Forest from Pforzheim to Basel, the 175-mile/280-km Westweg (West Way) was created in 1900. Attractive packages include accommodation with luggage transfers. Or pedal the 120-mile/190-km Danube cycle path. Start in Donaueschingen, the river's source; stop along the way to see the impressive Schloss Sigmaringen castle; end in Ulm, whose ancient heart boasts a minster with the world's tallest steeple.
 
Prefer gardens? A popular destination for garden lovers is the island of Mainau on Lake Constance, with its near-Mediterranean climate. After April's tulips and narcissi comes the spectacular rose display: 10,000 bushes and 1,000 varieties. In late summer and autumn, 12,000 dahlias in 250 varieties provide the colour. New for 2014 is a high-tech 360° camera installed in a towering cedar tree, linked to a giant screen at ground level and the island's website.
 
Famous cities are also clean and green. In Heidelberg, hikers and cyclists can traverse the 1,800-ft/567-m high Königstuhl and the 1,000-ft/330-m high Heiligenberg mountain, with the famous Philosophers' Walk. This path has gardens and benches, plus panoramic views of the Old Town across the river. Several well-marked bicycle trails cross in Heidelberg: the Burgenstrasse (Castle Trail) and the Bergstrasse (Mountain Trail), as well as the Neckar Valley Cycle Trail. No wonder Heidelberg won an award as a Bicycle Friendly Community in 2012.

For more information, visit:

baiersbronn.de/pauschalen/164/en/
 
tourism-bw.com/Nature
 
mainau.de/home.html
 
heidelberg-marketing.com/experience/active-nature.html
 
tourism-bw.com/

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Cycle path