Germany’s Black Forest and France’s Fairytale Town

The cool thing about having Basel as a home base? Super easy to hop across the border into Germany and France. We decided to have a little Germany adventure and visit the Black Forest region. We rented a car, picked up some delicious pastries for the road, and off we went!

One of my favorite parts of traveling is stopping at random off the beaten path places. Our first stop in Germany happened because we saw in the distance what looked like a quaint and cute little town. As we took the ausfahrt (exit) and slowly drove the winding roads until we found a traditional German Beer Garden. Riegeler Biergarten was everything I hoped it would be. Cool, crisp beer, delightful views, and a delicious soft pretzel.

We drove higher and higher into the Black Forest and wow, let me tell you, simply stunning. The views were spectacular, the air fresh, and gosh do I love those German timber framed houses!

Remember how I mentioned that I loved being in such close proximity to multiple borders? Well, after a day in Germany, it was time for dinner in France! I had been dying to visit Colmar (more timber, anyone?) and was so excited to be able to cross this quaint city off my list. Once I saw pictures of this place, I knew I had to go to there. Looking like a straight up fairytale, (Beauty and the Beast was rumored to have been inspired by it) Colmar is known for its colorful, timbered houses, loaded with rich culture and history, and German/French culinary cuisines.

We got there just in time for golden hour and scoured the cobblestoned city for a terrasse to grab a bite to eat. Café Jupiler did not disappoint! It was there that I had my first of many croque monsieur’s and let me tell you, it was exquisite. I have been chasing that high ever since. *chefs kiss*