Baden-Baden vineyards from the Yburg

The Rhine Plain near Baden-Baden is a fertile stretch of land; the region around Rastatt and Bühl is well known for fruit growing – apples, pears, cherries, plums, quinces, etc. – and the spirits made from them, like Obstler and Kirschwasser, but also for its excellent wines. Gastronomically, it’s definitely worth a trip and is in no way inferior to Alsace, the Kaiserstuhl, or the Ortenau. The wine-growing areas stretch up the slopes of the foothills, where the mountains of the Northern Black Forest rise over 800 metres above the Rhine Plain. South of Baden-Baden begins the so-called Rebland, which includes many wine villages – Neuweier, Bühlertal, Sasbach, and so on.

The mountains at the edge of the plain offer a strategically favourable position with wide views across the countryside, which is why several of them are crowned with castles – often just ruins now, though they frequently have an observation tower and a restaurant, making them popular destinations for hiking or cycling (although they can also be reached by car). This shot was taken from the keep of the Yburg, which also has a nice restaurant. A bit of an insider tip is the small southwest balcony with just a few tables, which already offers a relaxed, warm, and sunny spot to sit in spring with a view over the Rhine Plain. Within sight is also the ruins of Hohenbaden Castle in Baden-Baden.