Black beauty

Germany's Black Forest boasts breathtaking scenery, adventure sports and just a touch of history.

The view from the train window was breathtaking. I was enchanted - and I had not even arrived at my destination, the Black Forest region in Germany.

Millions of pine trees, tall and straight, quietly sway on the hills, like a sea of dark green. The tallest tree in the Black Forest is the silver fir, which can grow to a height of 65 meters. With the golden sunshine dancing on the treetops and the forest dotted with quaint wooden houses surrounded by flowers, the scene is like gazing upon a beautiful fairy tale.