Freiburg; Sunday, 28 August, 2016

I was up relatively early and after a chaotic breakfast in the restaurant as it was so busy – but virtually no staff on duty – I headed over to the train station to pick up the train out into the region.

The train headed out to the South East of the city and after climbing through the mountains and passing the Titisee (and yes, it is pronounced in a way to raise titters from the English speakers) weaved its away along the hills to the area around the Feldberg, the highest point in the Black Forrest.

I got off at Bärental station where I picked up the bus to the base station of the Feldbergbahn cable car which climbs the last couple of hundred feet up to the summit, and the viewing tower.

I took in the views from both the summit and the top of the tower before descending to take a look around the Black Forrest Ham museum located on the 1st floor of the tower.

Back down at the base station I picked the bus up back to Bärental station and continued on down the line to the town of Schluchsee, which is on the banks of the lake of the same name. Here I picked up a lake cruise boat that did a full tour around the lake, taking just over the hour. Back at Schluchsee I had a bit of a wander around before catching the train on one more stop to the end of the line at Seebrugg.

I had a little bit of a look around Seebrugg before picking the train back up and heading back to Freiburg. I was quite glad I’d gone onto Seebrugg as, whilst there wasn’t much to see there, it did mean I had the choice of seats coming back, whereas by the time the train left Schluchsee it was already full and standing.

I was sat on the opposite side of the train from the way out and so got to see more of the scenery, which was pretty impressive, with the railway and road threading their way through a thin mountain pass and gorge on their way down towards Freiburg.

Back in town I had dinner in a restaurant near the Münster before heading back to the hotel, intending to have a drink in the bar, only to find out that the hotel bar was closed (along with their restaurant) due to short staffing – so instead I grabbed a bottle of fizzy water out of the vending machine and sat on my balcony for a little while before turning in.