Just like its eponymous cake, Germany’s Black Forest is rich, dark and indulgent. Here, looming mountains stand shoulder-to-shoulder with dense forests, rumbling falls and seemingly bottomless lakes, while deeply cut gorges open up into fragrant meadows, moors and expansive wilderness. Tucked in and around are charming timber-framed towns and sleepy villages plucked straight from a Brothers Grimm tale, where historic crafts and customs quietly live on.

Click through the gallery to discover our ultimate guide to Germany’s most fabled natural wonder...