Titisee, Schwartzwald
8 October, 2011
View across the lake
For English speaking minds that act like a 12 year old, Titisee is a great place. It ranks up with Lake Titicaca as a place to go just for the name. It isn’t so much fun of a word in German, but still a nice place to visit near Freiburg. I have a monthly tram pass that extends outside of the city for a long ways. Titisee is an easy 30minute train ride up into the Black Forest. It is quite touristy, but still a nice place to spend an afternoon.
Getting There
The easiest way to get to Titisee is by train. The trains leave every half an hour from the Freiburg main station and the trip takes about 40 minutes. The destination will be either Neustadt or Schluchsee. Both of these are beyond Titisee so will both stop there. The town is in the local transport region, so tickets are easy. Either buy from the Deutsche Bahn machines or if you are already using trams in town, get a day ticket for Preisstufe 3 (price level). As of writing it is 10.60 Euro for a single or 19.00 Euro for a ticket valid for up to 5 people traveling together. This lets you use all the trams and the local trains out to Titisee.They can be bought on the trams(with change only, the machines on trams don’t take bills) or from tram drivers.
As you are watching the trees go by, remember that this is the forest that is featured in many a Grimm’s Fairytale. Hansel and Gretel lost in the woods kind of thing.
Over the Hills and Through the Woods
The trip up is a great one. Pick a nice sunny day if you can. The train follows the Höllental(Hell Valley) up into the forest. One of the stops before it goes up into the steep part of the valley is called Himmelreich (Heaven). Take a look out of the right side of the train when going up. At one point the cliffs close in quite close, if you are quick between the tunnels up top there is a deer statue on top. That point is called Hirschsprung (Deer-Jump).
The trains that run up there are double decker type. Try to get a spot near a window on the top deck if you can. Though this is a very popular place, especially on a nice Sunday.
What Is There
Well, it is a lake up in the mountains that form the Black Forest. Since it is so close to Freiburg it is a quite popular day trip. In the summer even if it is a bit muggy and hot down in town, Titisee is high enough that it is cooler with a breeze.
Paddleboats are quite popular to rent and spend time on the lake.
The town is popular with tourists from all over. France is close so we get a lot from there. Last time I was up there with Ali we saw a big group of Japanese as well. So it is apparently world known somehow. There is a fairly large retired community and a number of hotels for getting away from it all. I have never eaten more than ice cream here. Although that is certainly a lot of fun to just come up for a nice ice cream on a hot afternoon and go home.
Ducks frollicing among the boats. Wait, do ducks frollic?
Touristy enough to have Motzart Balls
Titisee is an extremely touristy town. The pedestrian area between the train station and the lake is lined with tourist shops. Everything from local cured ham and schnapps to every imaginable form of kitschy souvenir. Coocoo clocks are also quite big here. If you want one, I don’t think this is such a bad place to buy one. My parents were able to have it shipped back to the US without problem. It is touristy, but the guy we talked to said that all of the artisans are local for the clocks. Wood carving and these sorts of clocks are traditionally part of Black Forest culture.
Titisee: The Lake Itself
The central aspect of the town is the lake itself. The pedestrian area lined with restaurants looks out over a rocky beach. There are several stands to rent paddle boats. One dock leads to a regular tour on a bigger boat with commentary in all different languages. The tour takes about 25 minutes according to the sign. One day I went up with a friend of mine homesick for water and we went on the tour twice in a row. Despite which I just enjoyed the sun and ignored the commentary. I’m sure it was very informative about the lake and its history, but it was such a nice day.
Boat tour on the lake.
This is primarily a summer place. The train ride is certainly pretty in the winter, but most people will go further up to Feldberg and the ski slopes rather than sit around the frozen lake. If you have gotten this far and still don’t understand my lead-in about it being a great thing for the 12-yearold mind, the place name is pronounced like Tit-tee-say.
For more pictures, go to the Grounded Traveler Facebook page. Bonus pictures of Titisee and Neustadt. Remember one of the destinations for the trains went on to Neustadt, it is another town further up.
Related posts:
Category: In Germany
Tags: black forest, freiburg
Posted by Andrew
Pingback: Feldberg – Top of the Black Forest » Grounded Traveler - Expat Adventures in Germany
Oh, I forgot all about the Titisee! We used to go there when I was young because my godmother had moved there. So nice to see some pics on your blog of that area!! By the way, even in German Titisee sounds kind of funny. Not quite as funny as to English speakers, but it sounds crazy cutesy and at the same time of course the first part is similar to the same thing it means in English.
Sabrina recently posted..Pumpkins Everywhere: Pumpkin Village in the Dallas Arboretum
Good to know it sounds off in German too. It is so touristy, but a neat place to go and get out of the city.
Titisee is funny enough, but did you know that there’s the Pillersee in Austria? Ok, this takes an advanced level of German
Heinrich IX recently posted..Heinrich der Neunte war wieder mal aktiv
That is totally cool. I had to look up the word, but seriously “Pissing Lake”? Great, but I will not swimmer or eat fish from it, thanks.
Actually you might even call it the pee-pee lake…
It’s picturesque though, maybe that’s their way of keeping the tourists away
Heinrich IX recently posted..Heinrich der Neunte war wieder mal aktiv
I like that better. May be another sign I will have to seek out to see.
OK. In wish list.
As a rule we rent a car and trip around all region.
Victor recently posted..Our Dinner in Michelin Restaurant Eskis in Lyon, France
Cool. There are a lot of things in this area when you have a car. I don’t so I just do what I can from the train.
Beautiful area. I can definitely see the appeal of a place like this, especially for someone like me. I love mountains and lakes so this is an ideal location. Too bad it is so well known and touristy as I typically don’t like those areas. However, this is the type of place I would like to check out – during the week, in the early Fall, when there aren’t as many people there.
Jeremy Branham recently posted..Weekend Fall getaways in northern California
It is well known among the Germans and local French. I was quite surprised to the see the group of Japanese. It is a touristy place, but still worth seeing. There is another lake called Schluchsee further up that is bigger so the tourists are more spread out and less noticeable.
I think we’re going to have to come back to the Black Forest and explore more places like this – hopefully in better weather! I love paddleboating…looks like there are so many places to see in the region. So wonderful meeting you last night – all the best! If you and Ali are ever travelling to wherever we land, please look us up =)
Andrea recently posted..Oktoberfest 2011: The World’s Greatest Beer Festival
Yes, come back. I am noticing that it is now sunny, just for your trip out of town. Summer is a good time to come visit. There are more things up in the forest and around here that are cool to see.
Of course, we will look you up. I still want to get your tips on NZ.