The Black Forest (German: Schwarzwald, pronounced [ˈʃvaʁt͡svalt]) is a large forested mountain range in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany. It is bounded by the Rhine valley to the west and south. Its highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres (4,898 ft). The region is roughly oblong in shape with a length of 160 km (99 mi) and breadth of up to 50 km (31 mi). (reference unknown)
July 24 Wednesday – The Clemens party started out on a three-day carriage trip through the Black Forest. They stayed at inns along the route.
From Sam’s notebook:
“Stopped at Forbach at noon—trout under a grape arbor, & 3 Germans eating in general room. The village assembled to see a tinker mend a tin boiler.
School where they sang—something like our singing geography—one monotonous tune of 1⁄2 doz. notes.”
Note: “The Clemens party followed the scenic carriage route, from Baden-Baden to Allerheiligen via Forbach, Schönmünzach and Ottenhöfen, described by Baedeker”...etc.
July 25 Thursday – The second day of the carriage trip over country that Sam and Joe would tramp in early August. Eclectic entries from Sam’s notebook:
Hotel with nobody visible—one (very nice) room-girl for 3 floors— & an awful bell to call folks to supper. I wish I could hear myself talk German.
Superb view from Teufelstein, Luisaruhe & Englekanzel. Clara when down & visited the waterfalls. Beautiful bright green grass everywhere.
Lovely valley & quaint thatched houses in Thal before Seeberg or some such name.
Drenching rain all down the Schlectes Weg which approaches Alln. Bright holly bushes. Sometimes the cows occupy the first floor, sometimes the family. Saw a cow’s rump projecting from what should have been the drawing room.
If they had Schwarzwald bread, the feeding the 5,000 was hardly a miracle.
Vol 1 Section 0036 – Mark Twain Day By Day
From Bædeker's Rhine - 1878: Route 47 page 294
The Black Forest (Duchy of Baden)
Pedestrian Tour of eleven days from Baden. 1st Ebersteinschloss, Forbach, Schönmänzach. 2nd Hornisgrinde, Mummelsee, Allerheiligen. 3rd Oppenau (drive to) Griesbach, Holzwälderhöhe, Rippoldsau, Schapbach. 4th Wolfach, Hornberg, Triberg. 5th Furtwangen, Simonswald, Waldkirch, Denzlingen, railway to Freiburg. 6th Freiburg and Environs. 7th (Drive to entrance of the) Höllenthal, Feldberg, Menzenschwand. 8th St Blasien, Höchenschwand, the Albstrasse to Albbruck. 9th Railway to Brennet, Wehr (cavern at Hasel), Todtmoos. 10th Präg, Schönau, Belchen. 11th Badenweiler and environs.
The following routes are so planned that after a walk of -- 3 days the railway may always be reached. The pedestrian will find the following maps, published by Herder at Freiburg, of great service. 1 Baden and the Kniebisbäder; 2 Environs of Freiburg; 3 S Valleys of the Black Forest. Mounted 1 fl 12 kr each.
Of all the wooded districts of Germany, none present so beautitul and varied landscapes as the Black Forest, especially the W portion belonging to Baden, the spurs of which decline precipitously towards the plain of the Rhine, whilst the E slopes are more gradual. The lower heights are covered with fragrant pine forest, while the populous valleys present a scene of luxuriant vegetation. The rocks are gneiss, granite, and sandstone. Numerous mineral springs have given rise to a number of little watering places, which offer tempting retreats. Even in remote districts the inns are good (trout everywhere).
The staple commodity is timber, which is floated down the principal streams to the Rhine, where larger rafts are constructed and navigated to Holland. Watch making is an increasing branch of industry. In this prosperous district beggars are unknown.