Black Forest

Locals and out-of-towners alike go cuckoo for Germany's southwest corner — famous for its mineral spas, clean air, hiking trails, cheery villages…and cuckoo clocks. The region's darkly thick forests were formidable to ancient Romans, and the poor farmland drove medieval locals to become foresters, glassblowers, and clockmakers. Today, the Black Forest is primarily a relaxing getaway for overworked Germans. The region's two major towns are Baden-Baden — Germany's grandest 19th-century spa resort — and Freiburg, the Black Forest's de facto capital and likable university town.