Spring is in the air

Winter is on the wane! As temperatures rise and the days lengthen, blossom and flowers are a sure sign that spring is just around the corner. We all love the sight of millions of delicate petals, along with the first warm rays of sunshine. Spring is a very special season – a time of renewal for the whole of the natural world. With its huge variety of trees and shrubs, flowers and mild climate, SouthWest Germany is especially pretty at this time of year.

Take Mainau Island on Lake Constance. With a near-Mediterranean micro-climate, the island is known for flowers. In spring, it is, quite simply, spectacular. Add in views of the Alps across the water, paths for strolling and cafés for meals or coffee and cake, and this is a perfect spot to enjoy nature and recharge the batteries.

But, SouthWest Germany, the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg, offers even more special places to visit. Each is like a unique bouquet of spring flowers. Here are some of our favourites. Please note: Since Mother Nature follows her own schedule, the arrival of the blossom varies from year to year. 

The arrival of cherry blossom heralds the beginning of spring and in many parts of SouthWest Germany, special festivals mark the occasion.

Just outside Heidelberg, the gardens of Schwetzingen Palace are always impressive, especially when the Japanese ornamental cherries create a cloud of ​​pink. No wonder this “orchard” in the Rhein-Neckar district attracts thousands of visitors every year. To know when the blossom is at its peak, check out the “flower barometer” on the Schwetzingen Palace website.

Cherry blossom is also a highlight of the Eggenertal valley, 30 minutes southwest of Freiburg. Thousands of trees create a stunning sight. And enjoying it is easy: just follow the special circular trail, an easy 12-km / 8-mile route that is also suitable for off-road prams and mountain bikes. It really is a visual feast!

An hour south of Stuttgart is the UNESCO Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve, whose richly diverse landscape is dotted with ancient castles. Spring brings blossom to the thousands of cherry trees and other orchard fruit in the Ermstal valley. You have to see it to believe it! Along the valley, information panels provide details about the long tradition of growing cherries in the valley. 

SouthWest Germany is like one big orchard, with every fruit you can think of from cherries, plums and apples to apricots and pears. So, April is a glorious time to enjoy Mother Nature in all her glory. Many cherry trees begin to bloom in mid-March. Plums, including damsons, soon follow. And throughout April, other fruits join the show. It all provides a wonderful backdrop for a hiking or cycling holiday. Just follow the well-marked trails and paths.

The western edge of the Black Forest is part of the Baden wine region. But as well as grapes, it is also one of Germany’s largest fruit-growing areas. An hour north of Freiburg, the Renchtal valley is best known for stone fruits, such as the Bühler plum, the “Blue Queen” of the Black Forest. It’s also the home of the cherries used to make Mon Chéri cherry liqueur chocolates! The Oberkircher Brennersteig, Distillers’ Path, is a popular hiking trail that winds along forest paths, through meadows and past orchards and vineyards. Along the way are craft distilleries, where you can stop and taste traditional fruit brandies.

Special to Swabia are the Streuobstwiese, the wild “orchard meadows” of the Albtrauf, the escarpment southeast of Stuttgart. In spring, fruit trees in bloom stand amidst a sea of wildflowers – a phenomenon often called the “Swabian Hanami”, like Japan’s famous cherry blossom festival. As well as admiring the floral tapestry, tasting local fruit brandies is a must.

The southern Black Forest region is Germany’s warmest. Here, apple trees are the last to come into flower. For two or three weeks in late April and early May, they create a vast white cloak that wraps around hills, such as the Tuniberg and the Kaiserstuhl. It is a magnificent finale to the pageant of spring blossom!

For poets and painters, the rose has always been the most inspirational flower. Today, the “Queen of Flowers” still represents beauty and grace, with a perfume that is unmistakable. Maybe that's why so many of us love to stroll in rose gardens: they promise us a feast for the senses.

In the Kraichgau region, the late rose breeder Karl Hetzel developed some 60 different varieties, from miniature to shrub and climbing. His sunny Oberderdingen garden attracts rose aficionados, who admire some 800 rose bushes and enjoy their heady scent. An hour northwest of Stuttgart.

In Baden-Baden, a visit to the Rosenneuheitengarten, the “new rose garden”, is a must. Every year an international jury of rose experts selects the best new roses and awards the winner the title of the "Goldene Rose" of Baden-Baden.  This is Germany´s highest honour for roses. Not only is this garden one of Europe’s most important, but it also boasts the “Garden of excellence” award from the World Federation of Rose Societies.

Sunny and traffic-free Nöggenschwiel is devoted to roses. The highest “rose village” in Germany, it is an extravaganza, with more than 20,000 rose bushes. Next to the church, a special fragrance garden displays some 450 scented rose bushes (an incredible 140 varieties). Some roses have a history that can be traced back to the 15th century. Nöggenschwiel is truly unique: don’t miss it! 90 minutes southeast of Freiburg.

In the Tauber Valley, Weikersheim Palace has long been a destination for visitors. But a special spot is the romantic rose garden, created in 1863 by Matthäus Lebl, the court gardener. As you stroll along winding paths and lawns planted with flowering shrubs and glorious roses, you can see how his original plans are being lovingly recreated. Two hours northeast of Stuttgart.