In the times when the Romans lived, the Black Forest was only developed at its western side. Just one path for carts went through the forest, connecting the Kinzigtal with Villingen and Rottweil. In the 14th century already, three trade routes crossed the mountains, but they were hard to travel and actually only used by commercial travellers.

The tourist development was accompanied by the industrial development and the improvement of connections in terms of access. Indeed even in 1760, there was a stage coach carrying travellers through the Höllental via Titisee to the deepest Black Forest. Yet this had been the only - more or less comfortable - way of transport for travellers for over 100 years. Not until 1869 another stage coach route was created from Titisee to the Schluchsee, since 1872 also to St.Blasien.

Since 1838 the grand duchy of Baden’s main focus had been put on the development of the railway. In 1843, the route Heidelberg-Karlsruhe was opened, 1845 it reached Freiburg. From 1846 on the Black Forest should have been developed in terms of railway routes but not until 1873 the Schwarzwaldbahn going from Offenburg via Hornberg and St.Georgen to Singen was put into operation. The Höllentalbahn was inaugurated in 1887.

Thus “tourism” in the Black Forest started approximately in the middle of the 19th century. Up to then amusement trips were reserved for the nobility, high-ranking magistrates and the grand bourgeoisie. Stays for several weeks in health resorts and spas as Baden-Baden, Badenweiler, Bad Wildbad or Bad Herrenalb were a fixed time in the routine of the year.

With romanticism, the summer resort came into vogue. In the 2nd half of the 19th century the upcoming urban bourgeoisie and the successful entrepreneurs of the industrialisation came near the nobility’s health resorts.

Romanticism had already publicised the concentration on nature and the return to simple life at the beginning of the 19th century. Townspeople who could afford it looked for recreation in fresh air and mountainous landscapes: the summer resort was fashionable then. Very often they moved with their whole families to simple accommodations in the mountains for several weeks.

“Holidays” in today’s meaning of amusement for everyone have been existing in Germany only since the 20th century, for blue-collar workers and employees have the right to go on paid vacation only since 1912.

On to the history of tourism in the Black Forest