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The Black Forest is beside the Bavarian forest the largest low mountain
range of Germany. It is particularly famous for its expanded forests, valleys
and nature-left rivers. Almost each village is air health resort.
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The Black Forest ranks among the oldest holidays areas. 13000
miles of paths available for hiking correspond almost to the half earth
scope. The "Titisee" is the most beautiful lake of the black forest and
frequently visited. Additionally here the traditional handcraft - particularly
the carving - are maintained until today. North of the black forest is Heidelberg,
the romantic city at the river Neckar. The highest mountain of the black
forest is the "Feldberg". It is frequently visited by holiday-makers and
guests, not because of its HEIGHT of 1493 meters, but for its great tree-free
position in the midst of low-green forests.
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What are your plans for the next holiday? Why not travel
along the Route of the Black Forest Clocks?
The route is almost 300 kilometers and takes you through one of the most
beautiful sceneries of the Black Forest. Like pearls on a string you find
such lovely places as Triberg, Furtwangen, St. Märgen, Eisenbach or
Titisee-Neustadt. And to the expert names like Waldau, Schönwald or
Villingen-Schwenningen also ring familiar.
The town of Furtwangen has now been the center of the Black Forest Clock
area for a long time. Today its clock museum has gained a world-wide reputation.
The by far largest collection of old German clocks has its origin in the
clock-makers´school that was established here in the 19th century.
The first headmaster was Robert Gerwig. This man set himself a lasting monument
with the Black Forest Railway initiated by him. In 1852 Gerwig urged people
to keep and collect the old hand-carved wooden clocks. By this he brought
together the first pieces of the Furtwangen collection which consists of
more than 4 000 objects today.
Not far away lies the beautiful holiday retreat Schönwald, where the
inventor of the first cuckoo clock Franz Kellerer lived. He was the first
one who succeeded in imitating the cry of the cuckoo with the help of two
different sounding whistles.
The name of Triberg is closely connected to the waterfall nearby. When you
arrive at the entrance to the falls in the morning you will find a whole
lot of squirrels waiting for a second breakfast. In this picturesque town
lives the only cuckoo clock-maker who actually produces the complete clock
consisting of clockwork, house and carving. The Black Forest Museum in Triberg
is also worth a visit. You should not miss the largest collection of grind-organs
in Europe as well as the impressive collection of antique Black Forest Clocks.
The museum is located above the entrance to the waterfalls.
Leaving this lovely little town you soon reach Schonach which lies a few
kilometers above in a high valley. Schonach is one of the centers of cuckoo
clock-making.
Following the route up past Hornberg you will reach Schramberg - the five
valley town - and home of Junghans. The reputation of this firm is based
on the radio controlled wrist-watch they produce. You should not miss the
unique collection of industrial clocks in the town museum. The well chosen
examples of former methods of production and working conditions give the
visitor some interesting information on the social and economical history
of this area.
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Königsfeld which is 800 meters above sea-level is especially favoured
by older residents and guests as it provides about 200 kilometers of almost
plain walking paths. And here, right in the center you will find the clock-making
business of Peter Auber. He has a passion for old clocks with hand-painted
enamel fronts which he rebuilds after old models. He even successfully
rebuilt the legendary "Sorg -clock" from Neustadt.
A few kilometers away from Königsfeld your route leads you to Villingen-Schwenningen,
the most important center of the Black Forest Clock in the past. Particularly
the district of Schwenningen was formerly regarded as the biggest clock-making
town of the world. You really should not miss the two museums with their
different collections of clocks. If you are interested in the history
of the alarm-clock you should certainly have a look at the early examples
of industrial clocks located in the former Bürk-Factory.
In no time you will reach Trossingen which really is not far away and
Trossingen is a paradise for handicraft enthusiasts who want to make their
own clock. The firm Selva provides a wide range of more than 10 000 items
where the hobby clock-maker is sure to find almost everything he needs,
be it cogwheel, pendulum or weight.
But back to the origin of the Black Forest Clock: This journey along the
Route of the Clock finally takes you to Eisenbach where Johann Baptist
Beha once built his famous table cuckoo clocks. In the hotel "Bad" you
can admire his world time clock from 1865 which is proudly cared for by
his descendants.
Finally we arrive in the area around Titsee-Neustadt which is said to
be the actual cradle of the Black Forest Clock. Here is the home of the
famous "Jockele" or "Sorg" clocks - the favourite pieces of every collector.
Even the nearby Lenzkirch has formerly been an important center of clock-making.
You can start your "Journey around the Clock" at many places, for example
in St. Märgen or St. Peter with their Baroque monasteries. Even Waldkirch,
though situated in the Breisgau, is a clock-making town with a long tradition.
For more information contact:
"Deutsche Uhrenstrasse"
c/o Verkehrsamt Villingen-Schwenningen
Bahnhof Schwenningen
D-78054 Villingen-Schwenningen
Germany
Telephone: +49 7720 821208
E-mail: tourist-info@villingen-schwenningen.de
Internet: www.germanclockroute.com
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