Exciting time travel
A tangible tradition in the Northern Black Forest
Traditions are highly valued in the Black Forest. Let yourself be transported to the past, discover fascinating stories, and enjoy modern art and culture. Uncover the tales of yesteryear and join us on a journey through time!
Where does sheep shearing actually come from? Why did people build rafts? Discover fascinating facts about the culture of the Northern Black Forest. Meet quintessential Black Forest characters who will tell you amazing stories from the old days.
Immerse yourself in bygone eras, discover new traditions and become acquainted with what has made the Northern Black Forest the region it is today – a unique natural area with a variety of different cultural highlights.
Awaken your sense of discovery and embark on a journey through the history of the Black Forest!
Shepherd culture
Baaah... even shearing sheep in the Northern Black Forest? Yessss... Shepherding culture has been at home in the Northern Black Forest since 1723.
Where fir and spruce trees gradually thin out, and wide fields and lush meadows become visible between the trees, there the shepherding tradition thrives. For almost 300 years, sheep have shaped the landscape here. Juniper heaths and rosehip bushes are left untouched by the animals – green grass is the favorite food of these four-legged lawnmowers, whose way of life defines the character of the Heckengäu region.
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The sheep's obedience is impressive as the shepherds and their sheepdogs drive the flock across the meadows. Calmly, and perhaps with a treat or two along the way, the fluffy animals follow their shepherd. A short, calm command from the shepherd and his dogs gather all the sheep – not one gets lost.
To ensure that the shepherd culture is preserved, a wonderful festival is held every two years in the shepherds' run town. Wildberg instead. At Shepherds' Run, the highlight of the pastoral culture and UNESCO World Cultural HeritageCan you keep your fingers crossed for the runners as they run barefoot across the stubble field next to the NagoldYoung shepherds and shepherdesses compete here for the honor of becoming Shepherd Queen or King. During the festival days, you can learn quite a bit about the tradition, which Performance guards Observe or stroll through the farmers' market.
Experience the highlight of shepherd traditions during your visit to the Northern Black Forest and get a little closer to our heritage!
Rafting culture
The time is past when the rafting in the small half-timbered town Altensteig It was a thriving business. In earlier times, the raftsmen were considered courageous, adventurous, and hardworking men. On their self-built wooden rafts linked with willow branches They traveled for days all the way to Holland and were therefore considered worldly young men.
Wilhelm Hauff described them in the fairy tale "The Cold Heart": "The joy of the log drivers is to float down the rivers on their timber, their sorrow is to walk back up the bank."
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Today, the Raftsmen's Guild Not forgotten, but no longer worthwhile. Nevertheless, the legendary traditions and hard work of the raftsmen are honored. At the Monhardt waterworks, rebuilt according to the old model in Altensteig regularly find events for young and old Rafting tours Instead, here you'll learn all about the heyday of this trade and experience firsthand the arduous yet adventurous history of the people involved. With the help of these skilled men, you can even try your hand at it yourself. The art of re-turning try.
The highlight every two years is the Raftsmen's FestivalIf you hear a strong [sound] at 11 a.m. "Jockele sperr" If you hear that, then the rafters and timber workers are waiting for the start of the raft trip. That's when the "Monhardter Wasserstube" weir opens and the rafters rush down the river on their rafts. tidal wave credentials for Nagold Downwards – a spectacle for young and old!
Rafting culture comes alive here!
Celts
Although you wouldn't necessarily associate the Northern Black Forest with the Celts, you can still discover some traces of them. Three hilltop settlements from the Celtic period have been excavated – the Schlossberg in Neuchâtel in the Enz valley as well as in Nagoldvalley of the Rudersberg near Calw and the castle hill in Nagold.
Neuenbürg Castle sits high above the town on the Schlossberg hill. A [building/structure] was once built there. Celtic settlements with gardens on the slopes of the hill. The Rudersberg near Calw, lies in a loop of the NagoldHere, witnesses ramparts from the Celts. In Nagold You can discover most of the traces on the castle hill and in the city garden.
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Der "Krautbühl“ is a Celtic burial mound on the outskirts of the city Nagold, which is still a visible monument from the time of the Celts in Nagold from about 2500 years ago.
With a diameter of 50 meters and a height of 4,5 meters today, it is one of the largest and best-preserved burial mounds from the early Celtic period in the region. Its name derives from the 14 vegetable gardens that covered the hill until 1986. The "Krautbühl" lies directly at the foot of the Nagoldthe castle hill. Numerous finds from the castle hill and its dominant topographical location suggest that it was located on the NagoldIt is suspected that the Schlossberg was a "princely seat".
The event has been held every two years since 2003. Nagoldthe Celtic festival in Kleb city park and on the Hohen castle ruinsnagold instead.
Experience Celtic tradition and spend exciting hours searching for traces of the past!
Blueberry
In the deep valleys of the Northern Black Forest, people had no opportunities for large-scale agriculture, so they depended on the forest and its resources. How fortunate that they found the blue gold there – the... blueberriesFor a long time, it was the most important economic factor in the small Black Forest region and Blueberry village Enzklösterle.
It's not just us humans who find blueberries delicious. Forest dwellers also consider the blue berry a delicacy. Capercaillies and grouse, in particular, which live secluded in the depths of the Northern Black Forest, count the fruit among their favorite foods.
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Are you also a fan of this small, blue, juicy berry? Do you know how to find it, where it likes to grow, and what you can make with it? Are you looking for a nice gift? In Blueberry village Enzklösterle You will encounter the berry in many varieties!
Discover fascinating stories about blueberries and their economic importance. How much money could be earned from the blueberry harvest, how were they harvested in the first place, and what was the story behind the so-called "little blueberry wars"?
The blueberry village also hosts an annual Blueberry Week with a Blueberry Festival . During this time, you can expect fantastic events and delicious treats all about the blue gold!
Don't miss the chance to walk the blueberry trail , learn interesting facts about the berries, or enjoy a Black Forest blueberry cake – delicious!
