“Attendees can see and taste the natural herbs and berries growing in the forest—most of which have been used by locals to create natural remedies for infection, pain and sickness.”
Baiersbronn, a small town of about 15,400 residents in Southwest Germany, is known for two things: its proximity to the Black Forest and having the highest density of Michelin stars in all of Europe. Luckily for visiting groups, the city found a way to combine its two passions by offering a variety of gourmet food and hiking expeditions.
Available for groups of varying sizes (if you book far enough in advance), the city’s Culinary Hiking Heaven program teaches attendees the relationship between nature and nourishment. “Wild plant guides” will take attendees on hikes to see how the forest feeds the local citizens and visitors by taking a “wild plant discovery trail,” where natural ingredients grow in the wild. Attendees will then visit “wild plant hosts,” aka restaurants and inns that use natural ingredients from the forest in the food they serve. As part of the tour, groups can purchase picnic rucksacks, featuring local and regional specialties as well as a brochure that highlights plants along the trails.
Other themed, guided hikes are available for groups, depending on the season. The Nature and Enjoyment Hike, for instance, encourages attendees to see and taste the natural herbs and berries growing in the forest—most of which have been used by locals to create natural remedies for infection, pain and sickness. Schnapps lovers will enjoy the Schnappstour, which offers insight into how Black Forest liquors are made, ending with a visit to the very distillery where Dr. Zimmerman produces schnapps made out of local fruits. Similarly, the Hops and Malt beer tour covers the science of brewing and the ingredients that make up different beers.
