The Black Forest maids, Black Forest Cottages, Black Forest gateau, Bollen hats, cuckoo clocks - the Black Forest embodies everything that the rest of the world expects of a German picture book holiday. The TV series "Black Forest Clinic" has brought images of the perfect, cosy holiday world to over 40 countries in 17 languages.

Hardly any other holiday region is as diverse as the Black Forest. 13,500 km² in the south west of Germany is home to a rapidly changing landscape, with forests in the north, the less dense middle Black Forest and the mountainous 1493m heights of the south leading down to the Rhine. Germany's highest "low mountain range" comprises only around half of the total surface. The lush, sprawling heights of the Baar in the East, the wine country to the west, in the Rhine valley and to the South: Whether it's the Baden "Weinstrasse", Kraichgau, Ortenau, Breisgau, Tuniberg, Kaiserstuhl or Markgräfler Land, - each store has top-quality wines from its regions.

Around 28 million overnight stays per year in 138,000 beds in hotels and guest houses and a further 60,000 private rooms underline the importance of tourism for Baden-Württemberg and the wine regions of the south west.

The Black Forest enjoys the highest density of restaurants with top chefs, Gault Millau or Michelin stars. But even in the small village restaurants the entire selection of the hearty regional cuisine can be enjoyed in many of its delicious variations.

Thermal baths like Baden-Baden, Badenweiler, Bad Wildbad have a long tradition. Such a wealth of thermal springs can be found nowhere else in such close proximity.

The location at the meeting point of Germany , Switzerland and France offers guests the most attractive and diverse cultures and landscapes within the shortest of distances

The Feldberg is, at 1493 metres, the highest mountain in the range. The Black Forest is the birthplace of skiing in mid-Europe. The first ski club was founded here, the first wooden skis were carpentered and the first ski lift built. The Feldberg region is home to one of the largest ski resorts outside the Alps.

The Black Forest Association was founded a good 130 years ago and since then has signposted walking routes of over 23,000 kilometres in the Black Forest.

Cyclists and bike enthusiasts of all kinds will also find ideal conditions in the south west stretches of Baden-Württemberg. More than 3,000 kilometres of cycle paths have been signposted for mountain bikers alone.

Regular visitors to the Black Forest appreciate rich and varied landscapes, a diverse selection of health and wellness resorts, delicious regional foods, cultural and architectural treasures especially in local cities, lively regional traditions, a wealth of country sports such as hiking, Nordic walking, mountain biking and cycle tours, horse riding and golf as well as the special suitability of the area as family holiday resort with special facilities for smaller guests in all accommodation possibilities,

Further information about holiday offers in Germany's south west can be obtained from: Schwarzwald Tourismus GmbH. Ludwigstr. 23, 79104 Freiburg, tel: +49 (0) 1805/66 12 24, fax: /66 12 25 (12 cents/minute inside Germany)