Bernau in the Black Forest: Nature, Art and Festivals

Bernau in the Black Forest offers a range of reasons to visit: a nature adventure trail for the whole family, recurring August events and art exhibitions. The nearby Rot-Kreuz cross-country skiing centre is another option.

Enjoy nature and plan around the seasons

The nature adventure trail in Bernau in the Black Forest features 15 play, storytelling and information stations for the whole family. The three types of stations combine playful activities with stories and information. For families who want to include a shared nature-themed activity in their stay, this mix offers a specific point of interest: the trail focuses not only on sharing knowledge, but also on play and stories.

The Rot-Kreuz cross-country skiing centre is located near the destination, in a side valley between Bernau in the Black Forest and Todtmoos. Its location gives the centre a distinct geographical setting. Skiing conditions vary by season; check them for your planned travel dates. This helps you factor cross-country skiing into your travel plans with the location and time of year in mind.

Festivals and Carnival

Bernau celebrates Hans-Thoma-Day every year on the second weekend in August; the exact programme may vary from year to year. On the third weekend in August, Bernau holds its annual Holzschneflertage and a nature park market; their exact dates and programmes may also vary. When choosing your travel dates, note the difference between the weekends: Hans-Thoma-Day takes place on the second, while the Holzschneflertage and nature park market take place on the third weekend in August. Check the exact event dates and programme for the year in question.

Throughout Carnival week, residents of Bernau meet from around 6 p.m. on the slopes above their districts. If this event is important to your plans, check the current local programme.

Art in Bernau

A museum in Bernau in the Black Forest has a permanent exhibition featuring around 50 works by painter Hans Thoma (1839–1924), who was born in Bernau. A smaller permanent exhibition at a museum in Bernau in the Black Forest is devoted to Black Forest landscape painter Karl Hauptmann (1880–1947) and displays 14 of his paintings. The two exhibitions have different focuses: Thoma’s is also connected to his birthplace, while Hauptmann’s centres on Black Forest landscape painting. The exhibition details differ too: Thoma’s includes around 50 works, while Hauptmann’s features 14 paintings.

Choose the right time to travel

When looking for hotels in Bernau in the Black Forest, you can use the reason for your trip as your first filter. If you’re visiting for a festival, consider whether the second or third weekend in August suits you better; for cross-country skiing, seasonal conditions matter. The nature adventure trail and art exhibitions offer different themes from the calendar-based events. Set your dates and reason for travelling, then check the event dates, current Carnival programme or cross-country skiing conditions against your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Altenrond, Sankt Blasien, Dachsberg, Bad Säckingen, Wutach, Bonndorf in the Black Forest, Wutöschingen, Grafenhausen.

Back to the regional travel overview: Waldshut.