The mild climate in the Rhine plain, between the Vosges mountains and Alsace in France on the left side of the Rhine and the Black Forest on the opposite side, means that delicious fruit and excellent vines thrive particularly well and inspire outstanding culinary achievements in both food and drink. You could almost think this section of the Rhine had been specially designed for gourmet tours. Both the "Baden Wine Road" and the "Rhine Veloroute" for cyclists, which leads you on both sides of the river from Basle to Mainz and Wiesbaden, are obvious choices to follow.

You should also take time to move away from the banks of the river itself: the Rhine is more than just a river flowing between its two banks, it has made a very strong impression on its hinterland as well; the Black Forest and picturesque villages away from the riverside will demonstrate this to you.

In the youthful city of Weil am Rhein with its internationally renowned Vitra Design Museum large scale versions of some of the designer chairs exhibited there adorn the cityscape. Worth seeing is the museum's architecture park, where leading international architects have created extraordinary buildings. One of the attractions in Breisach, which sits in splendour directly above the Rhine on a basalt cliff, is St. Stephen's Minster. From here it is not far to the university city of Freiburg (see picture), a mosaic of colourful scenes, such as Freiburg Minster which stands between the courses of old streams and many young people, with the southern Black Forest as its idyllic backdrop.

The western sun-filled plateau of this region, which enjoys such an indulgent climate, runs down towards the Rhine in the area of the Kaiserstuhl and lets grape varieties flourish which make very fine wines. In the border town of Kehl am Rhein and also in Altrhein the informality typical of the Baden region and the lifestyle of Alsace come very close together. The wine-growing terrain in the river valley is, of course, inseparable from the Black Forest which lies beyond. This natural paradise is best explored on one of the hiking routes: up as high as the Feldberg peak or to the romantic lakes such as Titisee, Schluchsee and Mummelsee. A glamorous finale is the spa resort of Baden-Baden, a chic destination in the foothills of the northern Black Forest, where the Caracalla thermal baths - among the most beautiful in Europe -, exciting horse races and the unique casino fulfil any desire for entertainment or relaxation.