Triberg Germany City Facts
This small city in the Black Forest has a waterfall, wood carving history,
cuckoo clocks, and a neat museum. I have spent quite a bit of time in this
little place with great results. Time seems to slow down when I am there. I look
forward to more time there in a room near the rushing stream and church bells.
Biking & Walking in heaven“ along the German clock route
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The German “clock
route” unfolds its charms along an approx. 320km-long round trip
Villingen-Schwenningen via Rottweil, Waldkirch, Titisee, and back to
Villingen-Schwenningen in the heart of the Black Forest, an old cultural
region where cuckoo clocks come from.
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The wide variety of the
countryside harmonises well with the densely wooded hills of the region.
In the old towns full of half-timbered houses, pub signs tempt visitors to
all sorts of local specialties – clear spring waters, different sorts of
schnapps, fine wines and real Black Forest Gateau. Festivals and events as
well as numerous museums present local history and culture, the symbols of
which –the “cherryhat” and the cuckoo clock – are well-known the
world over.
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The German clock route
offers ramblers or
cyclists plenty of possibilities a route of visiting historical old
towns, typical Black Forest farms, the Gutach valley bridge, the protected
area Schwenninger Moos with the source of the Neckar River, the baroque
St. Peter church and Monastery, the waterfalls in Triberg, clock
factories, the largest cuckoo clock in the world in Schonach as well as
the chance to visit factories or pick up bargains, and of course last but
not least to enjoy the Black Forest hospitality.
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Triberg
-- Waterfalls and Cuckoo Clocks Galore
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When people tell you they are going to go "visit the Black
Forest", chances are pretty good they mean they are headed to Triberg.
In a region that is laden with tourist attractions, there is none that compares
to this small city in the center of the Black Forest. After all, it has
just about everything -- the tallest waterfall in Germany, the largest
collection of Black Forest-related souvenirs and wood products for sale, and the
world's biggest cuckoo clock nearby. Nearly every restaurant and café
offers 'authentic' Black Forest Cake,  and
tour groups go there by the busload. Few if any other locations in the
forest garner so much attention.
But for all the tourist kitsch, Triberg is worth the visit.
It is simply a beautiful place, and its unique attractions are must-sees.
On top of that, getting to Triberg is a pleasant experience as well, as the
drive from the Autobahn goes through numerous scenic valleys. I've been
through this area three times now, and absolutely love going there. This
travelogue is based on my most recent visit, when I finally hit a perfectly
sunny day.
Mind you, Triberg is a place that is best enjoyed if you are in
excellent physical condition. It is extremely hilly. The main
tourist road runs up a four or five degree straight incline toward the
waterfall, and the parking lots up top are always the first to fill up. My
suggestion is to start at Parking Lot #3, which is at the midway point and
somehow often gets overlooked by visitors (I  always
seem to find a space there, or maybe I'm just lucky). It is only about 100
meters below the waterfall, and sits at the lower end of the souvenir stands.
Souvenir stands and guesthouses dominate the first two photos,
but don't give an appreciation for the extent of the several-hundred-meter-long
shopping district. The stores there specialize primarily in woodworks and
clothing, but you'll find Black Forest themed stuff of just about any sort.
The item that the Black Forest is best known for are its clocks, and there are
several stores that claim to sell over a thousand varieties of clock.
At the top of the incline, next to where the first two photos
were taken, is the lower entrance to the Wasserfall (waterfall) -- where the
Gutach River  plunges
over a series of cascades two kilometers long and about five hundred meters
high. The Wasserfall contains a series of beautiful nature trails, with
the main trail zigzagging across the face of the falls with a series of bridges
like you see in the third photo.
The most spectacular parts of the Wasserfall are thankfully the
lower levels. The third photo shows the lowest fall and the first crossing
bridge, and is probably the best postcard shot. The climb just to that
level is very steep and can be treacherous when wet, which is why I urge caution
when deciding whether or not to climb it. I would say, though, that the
climb is worth it, not only because of the view of the falls itself, but as in
the fourth photo, the view down is great as well!
Also, once you get past the first two levels and reach the
quieter, gentler cascades of the  Gutach,
there's the mental challenge of simply continuing the journey and reaching the
top. Because the path is just curvy enough, you can't see the top until
you are almost there. As I pushed myself forward, I remembered that
"Little Engine That Could" story -- "I think I can, I think I
can, I think I can...". Now before you attempt the full climb
yourself, be advised that the only thing you'll find up there is a parking lot
and a café, there's not much in the way of scenery. On the other hand,
after the climb back down, you will be very much in the mood for one of those
'authentic' pieces of Black Forest Cake!
Before leaving Triberg, you must remind yourself that there is
one more significant attraction awaiting you about five miles up the road -- the
World's Biggest Cuckoo Clock. You have to be careful when driving along
B33, because you will miss it! In fact,
I haven't hit it right yet -- each time I've gone I've missed it and had to turn
around to go back. This is because it isn't clearly marked, and you won't
notice it until it is too late. But the fifth photo shows what it looks
like, and this was taken from the main road. Yes, it is indeed a fully
functioning cuckoo clock, and the big green block below the face is a working
pendulum. The storefronts to either side give you a perspective of the
size of this clock!
Now, my trips to Triberg have typically been as tour guide on a
full Black Forest swing (which like this travelogue, also include Baden-Baden
and the Black Forest High
Street. I would suggest that if Triberg is your primary (or sole)
destination, you might also stop at some of the other smaller nearby towns --
Furtwagen to the south and Hornberg to the north. Both are very pretty
towns that have plenty of character and hospitality.
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