Choosing the perfect place to dine is an important decision. Balmy summer evenings in palatial surroundings, a terrace table overlooking the vineyards or simply a pleasant view can enhance your enjoyment of the finer things in life. Sip a pinot gris in the Kaiserstuhl hills, order a freshly caught whitefish in a country inn by Lake Constance or dine at a gourmet restaurant in the valleys of the Black Forest. Throughout southwest Germany, you'll find a perfect fusion of great food, regional character, natural beauty and countryside charm.

You'll need every one of your senses for a holiday here. Fill your nose with the scent of flowers as you stroll around Mainau Island. Cycle along the shores of Lake Constance and gaze across the water to the Swiss Alps. Listen to the sound of birdsong on a walk through the Black Forest, and feel the dampness of the air in the caves of the Swabian Alb.

It was the Romans who first fell in love with Baden-Baden

Enjoying the great outdoors can be as beneficial for your well-being as good food, a mud bath or a massage. In the spa resorts, thermal baths and wellness hotels you can switch off, unwind and draw on the healing powers of nature. It was the Romans who first discovered the hot springs in Baden-Baden. Famous intellectuals followed in later centuries. From Friedrich Schiller to Hermann Hesse, many poets and philosophers have left their mark in this region. Going in search of their legacy takes you to big cities characterised by modern architecture and pretty little medieval villages. Castles, palaces and gardens tell of days long past, as do a host of museums – including those of Daimler and Porsche in Stuttgart. Baden-Württemberg is the birthplace of the motor car. And the home of many other icons whose fame has since spread around the world. The cuckoo clock, for example, Hugo Boss suits and Black Forest ham. From Heidelberg to Lake Constance, from Karlsruhe to Ulm, you can buy these things, learn about them in a museum, or enjoy them on your plate. Welcome to southwest Germany!

© Tourismus Marketing GmbH Baden-Württemberg (TMBW)