After TandemTreffen 2024 we stayed in the area but left Gengenbach for Freiburg to stay for three nights. We managed to ride the Pino into town the first day before the weather changed. Luckily there was tram stop near our hotel (The Viavelo Hotel) and we had been given transport tickets for the duration of our stay.
The hotel was pretty basic but the welcome was good, the parking free and there was a pizzeria next door, which we didn’t use but it looked good and was popular when it was open. Hotels in the old town are pricey, this was a good alternative.
Clips and pics from our stays in Freiburg, Triberg and Mehring beside the Mosel River.As we had plenty of time before our check in in Freiburg, I took a scenic route, heading for Schluchsee. On the way, near Furtwangen we came across a place I had looked at visiting before we left the UK. An old woodmill, now a restaurant, café and tourist souvenir outlet. Hexenlochmühle. We had a wander and enjoyed a coffee with Black Forest Gateau.The mill looks like it’s now a workshop for producing cuckoo clocks.At Schluchsee we parked up, found an appropriate app to pay for the parking then went for a short walk alongside the lake.Schluchsee – storm clouds gather!
Day one in Freiburg and the weather was ok so I dug the Pino out the car and we cycled into the centre. We had visited the town before, when the kids were still young. Holland was probably about 10 years old, so it would have been 25 years ago. There was a minuscule cable-car that ran up the side of the Schlossberg – the Schlossbergbahn. Each gondola could only seat two people. In 2008 it was replaced with this ‘inclined elevator’.
The views from the top, over Freiburg are impressive. There’s a restaurant there too, but it was closed while we were up there.One of the original two-seat gondolas. The ride in that was just a touch nerve wracking for someone who likes to keep their feet on terra firma.Freiburg Munster – the cathedral has an impressive tower and spire.Back in the centre, around the cathedral was a market, mostly selling fast food. The historic Merchant’s Hall, overlooking the marketplace was ornate.After the Marketplace we found a bar ‘Schlappen’ and had a couple of drinks. While there the heavens opened for a while and we retreated into the pub. Later we walked the bike a short way for an evening meal in the Black Cat.One of the figures on the building behind my beer. Pan.After our food we rode back to our hotel by way of the Flückigersee, riding around the lake. It was only a short distance from the hotel.
The following day was wet so we took the tram into town to explore on foot. We ended up back at Schlappen for food later. After our short stay in Freiburg we headed for Triberg, stopping off in Furtwangen to visit the cuckoo clock museum there.
Inside the cuckoo clock museum, Furtwangen.Triberg from the balcony outside our room at the Best Western Schwarzwald Residenz. That evening we ate in the hotel as the walk into town in the rain wasn’t appealing. It was a good move as the food choices were good and well prepared. Like most ‘touristy’ places, it was a little on the expensive side but we had no complaints and didn’t bother to try anywhere else for food.Some of the houses opposite our hotel. I sat in the dry on our balcony as the rain fell and did this as we waited for it to stop.Wet again for our first full day in Triberg. We took a look at the shops then decided to walk up to the waterfall. As part of our stay at the hotel, we again had tickets that gave us access to local transport and admission to the waterfall.This is as far as we got. Karon was struggling with the gradient and the rain was getting through her coat. Note the colour of the water.
Next day the sun was out, so we decided to go for a ride. I was keen to get up into the pastureland so I found an 11 mile route on RideWithGPS and we set off.
From our hotel, it was up, with more up and more. We climbed for about 8 miles out of those 11.We rode anti-clockwise, through Schonach.Once clear of Schonach the views improved, and we were still climbing.This is what the hard work was for. At over 3,000 feet the high pastures of the Black Forest.After our ride we stopped off in the town for coffee and cake then decided to revisit the waterfall. It was Saturday and a lot busier, but Karon was having a better day and managed the climb to the bridge.The water was a lot less murky after yesterday’s rain.
The following day we headed for Mehring, on the Mosel River, but there was one more stop we had to make….
Inside the world’s largest cuckoo clock… or at least one of them.We waited about 15 minutes for the half-hour strike but in all honesty, we could have been 15 minutes up the road. Maybe the hour is better – it needs to be!
