Forsthaus Auerhahn Baiersbronn

The most beautiful traditional-style hotel in the Black Forest National Park. Family – that’s where everything starts. Family means love, respect, affection and trust. And it can also mean tension and arguments.

Family leads to courage, new ventures and the future. Yes, the Forsthaus Auerhahn is a family business. For more than 50 years, now including members of the fourth generation. Our guests sense this – and enjoy being a part of our family for a while.

Geraniums on the balconies. Antlers on the wall that tell stories of successful forest management. Logs stacked up next to the house and the forest all around us. Beautiful bathrooms and useful tips on the hand soap. Old traditions and new ones too, where it makes sense.

Anyone who has lived in one of the most beautiful places on earth for such a long time and who has the forest in their DNA, will make efforts to consciously work with and for nature. After all, nature forms the basis for our lives. And living in a sustainable way ensures that it will stay that way.

A member of the third generation of the family.
We are a strong family – the Zepfs stick together. Yet we as a family can’t run this wonderfully traditional family hotel all on our own. We also need a strong team to work with us as if they were part of the family too.

We work together – in an atmosphere of complete trust and respect – and put all our energy, heart and soul into providing our guests with some of the most enjoyable days of the year. Holidays in the Forsthaus Auerhahn mean family holidays – created for you by the Zepf family and the entire Auerhahn team.

One for all – all for one. Being able to rely on one another. Good friends who enjoy working hard together. Smiles that come from the heart. A feeling of security and tradition, great grandchildren and having a purpose in life.

Getting energy from the task that you are performing. Being present in the moment and knowing what needs to be done. That’s the way we are, the Forsthaus Auerhahn team and the Zepf family.

The Forsthaus Auerhahn and its history
In the 18th and 19th century, the logging industry was thriving in our region. There were a lot of lumberjacks here, working for the logging company “Calwer Holzkompagnie”, and they needed somewhere to stay as they had come from other regions.

In the year 1821, the forestry worker Alt-Mathäus Züfle, a forest warden, built the Forsthaus Auerhahn, with stables in the basement and a bar and restaurant on the ground floor.

It was in the interests of both the forest managers and the waggoners that both workers and their horses had somewhere to stay that was close to their workplace after a hard day’s work.

This meant that the Forsthaus and the facilities it provided were a real necessity right from the very beginning. Not long afterwards, hikers started to discover the charming landscape in the region as a place to spend their summer holidays.

As far back as the year 1900, the Baedeker travel guide listed the Auerhahn as a travel destination and a good location for hiking holidays.

The Auerhahn had already been sold to the Office of Politics and Economic Affairs some years previously, but had then been run by several generations of forest wardens and later by foresters.

In 1963, another forester takes on the task of managing both the forest and the Forsthaus. Dieter Zepf and his wife Katrin in particular are not only very competent foresters but also turn out to be exceptionally good hosts.

And so it is that they extend the Forsthaus, expand their operations and look after their guests outstandingly well. When the Forsthaus is put up for sale in 1982, they purchase it and, from then on, run it as a hotel.

Where the valley comes to an end and your holiday starts
Our guests are always amazed to hear that this is not just an advertising slogan, even though it sounds like one: Just behind our parking area, the road does indeed come to an end.

From this point onwards, your only option is to walk or take your bike. Listen to the babbling of the Hinterlangenbach brook, smell the scent of the forest. You’re going to love this holiday!

Our rooms: Hare and fox, deer and lynx …
Our rooms and apartments have been named after the animals of the forest – much nicer than a standard system of numbers and with a stronger connection to nature! It has become unusual to be able to experience the peace and quiet that you can find here in other hotels in the Black Forest.

Let time simply pass by. Rediscover your inner harmony. The starry sky above will protect you as you dream. You can finally sleep well again, and wake up feeling refreshed.

Bon appetit à la Black Forest
Experience the Black Forest with everything it has to offer: nature, beauty and delicious culinary delights. In our restaurant, you will have the chance to discover all the culinary specialities of our homeland: finest game specialities, fresh trout dishes and regional specialities such as our tasty Swabian recipes.

Our kitchen team are committed to using fresh, seasonal produce and to creating local specialities, light, healthy dishes and imaginative surprises.

Black Forest cosiness
Cosy, rustic, warm – experience a bit of genuine Black Forest atmosphere in the little rooms of our restaurant!

The wood-panelled walls and the tiled stove create the perfect setting for enjoying a hearty snack and a glass of wine or a fresh draught beer – or any of the other culinary delicacies that we prepare for you every day. We hope you enjoy them!

Terrace
Some of our guests say that this is the most beautiful place at the Forsthaus Auerhahn: our Panorama Terrace with its amazing view along the valley to the deer enclosure.

Whether you are here as one of our guests or have stopped off for a break during a day’s hiking or a cycling trip – we hope you enjoy all the dishes that we offer on our menu. We look forward to your visit!

À la carte
We are open for both visitors and our hotel guests: from 12.30 pm to 4.00 pm you can help yourselves from our Vitality buffet, from 12.30 pm to 2.00 pm we also offer a small selection of lunch dishes, and from 12.30 pm to 5.30 pm we serve coffee, cakes and snacks.

Table reservations for the evening are currently only available for either 6.00 pm or 8.00 pm and must be booked in advance, subject to availability. Our restaurant rooms and terrace are open every day except for Tuesday, when the restaurant is generally closed to non-guests.

Luxury 3/4 board
Make your holiday in the Black Forest into a gourmet holiday. For our guests, the day starts with a breakfast fit for a king: Fresh, crusty rolls, filling and nutritious muesli, fresh orange juice from the juice press.

Both sweet and savoury dishes, from eggs cooked just as you like them and various egg-based dishes at the buffet to a large selection of organic and vegetarian products. Drink a toast to the day ahead with a glass of sparkling wine and help yourselves from our generous breakfast buffet.

In the early afternoon, you can enjoy a light meal from our Vitality buffet – crunchy salads and delicious snacks, cakes and fruit. And in the evening, you can enjoy a 5-course dinner with a choice of 5 main courses.

Festive meals, sumptuous salad buffets, Black Forest buffet, barbecue evenings and buffets of starters and desserts round off your gourmet holiday in the finest possible way. And of course, we mustn’t forget the wide selection on our wine list and our drinks menu.

Grinde Hütte
A contemporary design with a traditional feel; right up at the top of the Hornisgrinde mountain at an altitude of 1,155 m is the Grinde Hütte. Here, we will spoil you with Black Forest specialities and a dream-like view across the Black Forest and the Rhine valley.

On foot it takes around an hour to get from our hotel to the Grinde Hütte. You can also use our popular transfer service (departs daily at 10.30 am) which takes you via the Seibelseckle and Lake Mummelsee directly to the Grinde Hütte.

And if you feel like some exercise, you can take a comfortable walk back to the hotel – downhill all the way!

Tradition with a contemporary feel.
A lodge is perhaps not quite the right word for what you will find here – once inside, you are greeted by a wood-burning stove made of raw steel. Outside, a traditional wooden shingle roof.

Lots of glass, so you can enjoy the highlight of this location from both the terrace and from indoors: an incredible view, right across the Rhine valley! Simply breathtaking.

Your celebration at the top of the mountain.
Our Grinde Hütte is the perfect location for a celestial celebration. You can book our lodge exclusively for your event from 6.30 pm onwards, and we can accommodate between 30 and 120 people.

Let us know what kind of event you are planning – we would be happy to send you further information and our events folder.

Seibelseckle
The Seibelseckle is a small, typically rustic Black Forest lodge, brimming with charm and originality.

Located at an altitude of 955 m, directly on the Black Forest High Route, you can gain direct access from the car park to a number of different hiking routes, and in winter to the ski lift, or make it the starting point for a wonderful cross-country skiing trip.

Or what about taking a sledge all the way down to the Forsthaus Auerhahn? Incidentally, there is a transfer service for skiers and hikers from the hotel to the Grinde Hütte, which will bring you up to the Seibelseckle lodge, departing daily at 10.30 am.

Enjoy a proper break!
Our cakes are home-made and taste amazing, our hearty snacks are typical regional specialities – from buttered pretzels and sandwiches filled with Black Forest ham through to our tasty frankfurter sausages.

Whether you fancy a cup of freshly brewed coffee with your food, a delicious glass of beer or a fruit schnapps to finish off – the choice is yours!

Wellness at the Forsthaus Auerhahn
From A for Ayurveda and I for Infinity Pool and M for Mukabhyanga to T for tender feet: our spa will make you feel really happy. You can look out at the forest through all the windows, even from the Finnish sauna.

Lie down and relax on one of our heavenly rocking loungers – perhaps with a glass of delicate fruit tea? Swim a few lengths in the outdoor pool to the sound of birds twittering in the trees.

Jump in and feel refreshed!
Inside or outside? Depends on the weather and on your mood! Take a dive into the indoor pool or the Infinity outdoor pool and enjoy swimming with a dreamlike view along the Langenbach valley to our deer enclosure. Relax in our spacious relaxation rooms and in the many areas with loungers in our Spa Area.

And if you have been out hiking or cycling all day, or have just finished a long day of cross-country skiing, you’ll be looking forward to a relaxing dip in our 36°C whirlpool, which will soon have you feeling simply heavenly again!

Outdoor Pool
Enjoy a swim with a dream-like view down into the Langenbach valley and across to our deer enclosure. Endless – that’s what Infinity means after all – and that describes the view as you look out on the magnificent scenery of the Black Forest.

20 m x 8 m are the generous dimensions of our combined indoor/outdoor pool, 29° C is the pleasant temperature of the water.

Enjoy swimming your lengths and then afterwards relax on a sun lounger in our large outdoor area, listening to the rushing sound of the Bergbach waterfall, or in one of our beautiful relaxation rooms.

Indoor Pools
We have two indoor pools. The first one is connected to the outdoor pool via a sliding door. With a water temperature of 29°C, you can look forward to the perfect swimming experience.

Around the pool, you will find a number of comfortable loungers and adjacent to this area is our relaxation room with its wonderfully relaxing outdoor loungers and a view right across the outdoor pool to the Langenbach valley.

Our second indoor pool is is 11 m x 4 m. This is our Family Pool – the place for children and adults to have lots of fun together.

Whirlpool
Our whirlpool promises some bubbly fun too – at a temperature of 36° C. After a long day’s hiking, when it’s rainy or after a visit to the gym, spending time in the whirlpool is simply heavenly. Give it a try – we are quite sure you’ll enjoy it!

Warmth that does you the power of good.
Whether you prefer the Finnish log cabin sauna with temperatures up to 90°C, or our gentle herbal sauna with the aroma of essential oils and a maximum of 45°C – at the Forsthaus Auerhahn, relaxation and recovery is part of the programme.

Especially beautiful: the view of the dark fir trees from the warm environment of our Spa Area.

Log cabin sauna
Your muscles will really benefit from soaking up the pleasant warmth of the sauna. Let your joints loosen up, let your soul unwind.

The view of the surrounding forest from our log cabin sauna (up to 90°C) will make you feel really calm and relaxed. We also recommend a visit to the sauna before a massage treatment, as the warmth will help any stiff or knotted muscles to soften up.

Herbal sauna
Our herbal sauna gives you a more gentle sauna experience with a lower temperature and the aroma of essential oils … in the Laconium (dry sweating room), which has a maximum temperature of 45°C, you can enjoy sweating slowly and gently for a period of up to 45 minutes.

Steam sauna and Laconium
At the current time, it’s more important than ever to do what we can to stay healthy. As an example, our steam sauna is exceptionally good for your airways with its finely atomised sea salt brine. Walk in, lean back and take deep breaths.

You can feel your chest expand as the wonderful atomised brine flows into your lungs. Our Laconium, a dry sweating room, has its origin in the thermal baths of the Romans.

The air is warmed up by means of the floor and wall tiles and by the tiled seating areas, and the humidity in the room is only minimal. In this case, it is the warmth that does your body good – after a long walk in the cold winter air, it feels really good.

Close your eyes. It’s your moment.
What a good feeling: putting yourself in the exceptionally gifted hands of our masseurs All the knots in your back loosen up. All the tension disappears. Breathe in. Breathe out. It’s that simple.

Let go and relax.
Lie down on one of our comfortable rocking loungers in our Panorama Relaxation Room and listen to the steady beating of your heart whilst you enjoy feeling safe and secure under the wooden arches of the roof.

In the “Quiet Waterbed Room”, our second relaxation room, you can enjoy the fine fragrance of the untreated Swiss pine that has been used to fit out this room. Lie down on the pleasantly warm waterbeds and allow wonderful relaxing music to lead you away into the land of dreams.

Fitness with a view of the treetops
Ready for a workout? Use our branded gym equipment from Life Fitness! Endurance training on the treadmill, the cross-trainer, the ergometer and the stepper. The multi-gym and dumbbells give you lots of different options for your strength training.

Invigorating Grander water, fresh from the spring, will quench your thirst when you are done with your sports programme and your muscles will soon relax again on our HydroJet massage bench. We promise!

Fitness training in the hotel!
Enjoy working out with high-quality branded gym equipment from Life Fitness. Make use of our treadmill, cross-trainer, ergometer and stepper for your endurance training. And our multi-gym and dumbbells give you lots of different options for your strength training.

Invigorating Grander water, fresh from the spring, will quench your thirst after a tough sports programme, and your tired muscles will soon relax again on our HydroJet massage bench.

Weekly programme
Do you prefer training with an instructor? Then take a look through our weekly programme. Practise meditative sequences of movement in our courses in yoga, Pilates or progressive muscle relaxation in the gym.

Join our guided hiking trips and Nordic Walking tours and make use of our transfer service for hiking and skiing. If you want to combine doing sport and exploring the Black Forest, you can loan a mountain bike from the hotel free of charge, or an electric bike for a hire fee.

If you are keen on cross-country skiing, you can join the trail right outside the Forsthaus Auerhahn, or take a sledge and ride down the 4 km toboggan run from Seibelseckle to the Forsthaus Auerhahn.

Bring your running shoes with you and enjoy some gentle jogging in the wonderful Black Forest air on forest trails that are gentle on your joints. As soon as we are allowed to open again, you will be able to find our weekly programme here.

E-bikes & mountain bikes in the Black Forest
Whether you prefer a mountain bike, a trekking bike or a ladies’ bike – if you love sport, you’ll enjoy biking in the Black Forest. We can loan you just the right kind of bike for your needs here at the Forsthaus Auerhahn.

Together with our e-bike partner racextract. from Offenburg, we are able to offer you a selection of the very best electric bikes from the Black Forest, available for hire. The racextract. brand, founded in 2011, is committed to producing hand-made bikes in Offenburg on the edge of the Black Forest.

With his company raceextract., Jörg Scheiderbauer – a former professional mountain biker – combines biking with his love of the landscape in this region, the typical terrain that is found in the Black Forest, and he chooses the names for his bikes accordingly. The “Hornisgrinde 1164m” edition was manufactured especially for us.

Our Black Forest
Black Forest – “Silva Nigra”– as the Romans called our expansive low-level mountain range. Even on a short holiday in the Black Forest you will soon realise that the Black Forest is by no means as black as its name suggests.

In fact you will be amazed at the diversity of colourful plants and animals you will find here. And be careful – your holiday region also holds a few secrets.

If the old legends are to be believed, ghosts used to live in Lake Mummelsee, the glacial lake below the Hornisgrinde, together with a king who watched over them. Why not take a trip out on the lake in a pedalo and look into the water. Are the ghosts still there on the bottom of Lake Mummelsee?

Active summer holidays
The sun casting its broad rays through the trees. A babbling brook. Deep black glacial lakes. Colourful plants, fragrant and beautiful. The aromatic forest air in the early morning. Dew in the meadows. Gentle rolling hills and winding paths.

There’s nowhere on earth where the summer is more beautiful than here! Spend some time in our unique Black Forest countryside, and leave your worries behind – you will soon see how much better you feel.

Nordic Walking
The great thing about Nordic Walking in our region: you can simply set off from wherever you’re staying!

Or if you prefer things to be a bit more structured: in Baiersbronn there are two Nordic fitness sports parks which each have five certified routes and there are a further six designated Nordic walking routes in the holiday region.

We would be happy to lend you a pair of Nordic walking poles. So you can have lots of fun doing some healthy exercise with the side effect of improving your cardiovascular fitness.

Hiking
The “Baiersbronner Wanderhimmel” (Baiersbronn Hiking Paradise) didn’t get this name by chance: 550 km of hiking trails lead you through some magnificent scenery, along streams and through shaded woodland paths and up to sunny hilltops. Would you prefer a guided walk? Then perhaps book one of our popular hiking trips or go hiking with our hiking guides.

Electric bikes & mountain bikes
Treat yourself to an unparalleled experience: riding through the Black Forest on a mountain bike! For example, right past our deer enclosure to the tops of the black forest. There are also countless other bike tours through the Black Forest.

And if you’re worried you won’t manage it, simply book one of our e-bikes and take things a little easier.

Deer enclosure
Something special for adults and children alike: the deer enclosure right next to the hotel. Here you can observe native red deer living in their natural environment.
Many of the hiking trails lead past the deer enclosure, which is open all year round.

Active winter holidays

Snow falling on the dark fir trees. Forests, pinecones and icicles heavy with snow. White splendour, sparkling in the sunshine. Bright nights with the moon shining down on the snow-covered hills. And a million stars overhead on every clear winter night.

Here in the Black Forest, it’s especially beautiful at Advent, Christmas and New Year. Enjoy the peace and quiet, far away from city life!

Our sport-loving guests appreciate the winter here too. Skiing and snowboarding. Ice skating on the ice rink in Baiersbronn. Cross-country skiing. The good old sledge. And perhaps you might want to give winter hiking a go, with or without snowshoes!

Cross-country skiing
Just like hiking in summer, cross-country skiing is very easy if you are staying here: right next to the hotel, you will find the starting point to join a network of perfectly maintained and well-prepared skating and cross-country trails.

A total of ten cross-country skiing trails with tracks and three skating trails with various lengths and levels of difficulty connect a network of trails which total approx. 72 kilometres.

Sledging
It’s not only children that love sledging: you can loan a sledge from us at the Forsthaus Auerhahn, free of charge, and take the transfer service at 10.30 am to the Seibelseckle lodge. Here you will find some beautifully prepared slopes – one of them even leads back to the hotel!

Winter hiking, with or without snowshoes
Here in the Black Forest, we have 180 kilometres of winter hiking trails and three special snowshoe routes for you to enjoy during your winter holiday.

It depends on the snow conditions, but generally a pair of sturdy, waterproof boots should be adequate for a gentle and relaxing winter hike. If you prefer, however, we can also loan you snowshoes and poles for your hiking trips, free of charge.

Skiing & snowboarding
There are several ski lifts in and around the Baiersbronn area along the Black Forest High Route, some equipped with floodlights. The pistes are ideal for beginners and families, classed as easy to medium.

Our popular transfer service for skiers and cross-country skiers will take you directly to the Seibelseckle ski lift. We would be happy to help you plan your winter holiday with us in the Black Forest.

Ski lifts
There are a number of ski lifts in our immediate surrounding area. Our transfer service for skiers will take you there every morning, departing at 10.30 am. And you can also hire skis there, in case you don’t have your own equipment with you.

Activities for kids
Bobby cars? Check! Sand pit? Check. Table football? Check. PlayStation? Check.

Your children are going to love this holiday hotel! And you too as their parents because the holiday programme for kids offered by the Baiersbronn Tourist Office and the child-friendly and teenager-friendly facilities at the Forsthaus Auerhahn are the perfect prerequisites for a relaxing family holiday.

It may be that the hiking trip you had planned will no longer be such an attractive option when your children find out about all the activities that are on offer here. Perhaps you might want to decide at short notice to pay a visit to our wonderful spa area. Or enjoy some time out with coffee and cake on the hotel terrace?

Children’s programme
Have you heard of Murgel? Your children will encounter the mascot for the Baiersbronn children’s programme in lots of places here in Baiersbronn: there’s lots going on in Murgel’s Playroom (25km to drive), with a trampoline, a slide and a huge matching pairs game.

Children between the ages of 3 and 12 can have lots of fun here, and Murgel and two members of staff will be there to keep an eye on them! Your children will certainly have lots to tell you when you sit down for dinner together in the evening.

The holiday programme for kids offered by the Baiersbronn Tourist Office has something for everyone: colourful craft days for creative types, archery and treasure hunts for adventurers, discovery tours with a forest ranger for nature lovers … choose from more than 500 different events every year!

Attractions

• Baiersbronn has 5 outdoor pools and 5 mini-golf courses (10-30 km)
• Hauff´s Fairy Tale Museum in Baiersbronn (25 km)
• Mehliskopf: all-year-round bobsleigh run, climbing centre,downhill cart track (26 km)
• Enzklösterle: climbing centre, giant slide, adventure golf course (32 km)
• Dornstetten barefoot park (35 km)
• Holzweg (“Wood trail”) in Baiersbronn; this 2.5 km circular route highlights the properties of wood as a precious raw material (25 km).
• Geocaching, the new type of treasure hunt (25 km)
• Luchspfad (“Lynx trail”): a hiking trail with 20 interactive stations where you can learn about the habitat of the lynx (approx. 3 – 4 hours, 30 km)
• Wildnispfad (“Wilderness trail”): Hiking trail with some climbing in an area that has to a large extent been left for nature to recover following Cyclone Lothar (approx. 3 hours, 30 km away)
• Pedalos on Lake Mummelsee (36 km)
• Bear park in Bad Rippoldsau (55 km)
• Experimenta Experience Museum, Freudenstadt (35 km)
• Toccarion, Baden-Baden: a world of musical experiences for children between the ages of 5 and 12 (40 km)

Website: www.forsthaus-auerhahn.de

Rooms: 20

Price: from 238 EUR per night