Hotel Konradshof – A Gem in the Northern Black Forest

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At Hotel Konradshof in the Northern Black Forest, the principle of “less is more” applies. Idyllically situated on a high plateau surrounded by extensive forests, this family-run business, now in its fourth generation, offers the perfect base for relaxed days in nature. It’s one of those places where it’s easy to downshift and indulge in idleness, as I found out for myself on an early summer weekend in June.

A Family Refuge in the Northern Black Forest

The journey from Zurich to the small village of Besenfeld—part of the Seewald municipality in the Northern Black Forest—takes just over two and a half hours. We opted for this detour with a rented electric car—although one could also reach the destination by train and bus, it would take nearly twice as long. Fortunately, we could sustainably recharge at the Hotel Konradshof’s electric charging station using electricity from their own wood gasification plant. The necessary wood chips come from their own forests. Those who know me understand how such thoughtful and innovative details catch my attention!

Hotel Konradshof boasts a 100-year tradition of hospitality. Early in the 20th century, guests were already being accommodated in a separate residential building on what was then a farm. After the farm was destroyed by a fire in the late 1970s, the current guesthouse was built and opened in 1980.

Since 2011, Annette Sackmann has been at the helm. She took over the family business in its fourth generation and has since developed it energetically into a small haven. A unique feature of the 18 spacious hotel rooms: all have a generous balcony with a view of the greens. So did our room “Esche.” Annette Sackmann later told me that all the rooms on the first floor are named after trees—on the second and third floors, however, the fauna of the Black Forest served as the inspiration for the room names.

Ideal Starting Point for Extended Forest Walks

The wonderful weather awakens the desire to use the remaining hours until dinner for a first exploration tour. The beauty of Konradshof is that you can start hiking or cycling tours directly from the hotel. Within just a few minutes, you find yourself in the midst of nature.

We take Annette Sackmann’s advice and follow the signs towards Nagoldquelle at Urnagold. At this small hamlet, documented since the Middle Ages, the romantic Taubentalweg begins. The lighting mood in these late afternoon hours is simply enchanting—and we don’t encounter any other people on our round. Instead, we observe numerous birds and even catch a glimpse of a deer.

The round on the Taubentalweg seems to me the perfect start to the weekend. You can find the exact route on the following map. It mainly consists of forest paths and gravel roads. Crossing the Nagold river twice can be a bit “tricky” depending on the water level.

Extra Tip: If you not only want to immerse yourself in nature but also learn more about it, you can follow the trail of Felix, the Seewald Fox. Here, 44 signs with tricky questions await you. A puzzle fun for young and old.

Dinner in a Relaxed Atmosphere

Back at the hotel, a delicious 4-course dinner menu awaits us at Konradshof. Except for the rest days (Wednesday and Thursday), Annette Sackmann and her team serve a daily changing, seasonal menu as well as selected regional classics à la carte. What pleases me particularly about the menu: the fresh spring salad and the strawberries!

Perfect Start to a Summer Day in the Northern Black Forest

The next morning I wake up with the first rays of the sun. Outside on the balcony, I breathe in the fresh morning air and listen to the birds singing. Then I seize the opportunity to take a few strokes in the natural swimming pond. The temperature this June morning: somewhere between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius. Or in other words: thoroughly refreshing! Besides the natural swimming pond, the park-like garden surrounding Hotel Konradshof also includes two log cabins. One cabin houses a sauna and relaxation room. The second serves as a space for massages and treatments.

After this morning swim, I am not only wide awake but also hungry. High time for breakfast! And for those who dread the buffet battle, you can breathe a sigh of relief. At Hotel Konradshof, the daily customizable breakfast is served directly at the table. You simply tick on the menu card at the table what you fancy that day, and a few minutes later, it is served perfectly and environmentally friendly portioned. Of course, you can also reorder if needed. In my opinion, a great concept.

Saddle Up, Ready, Go – Explore the Black Forest by E-Bike

Hotel Konradshof is not only the ideal starting point for hiking but also for cycling tours. Various signposted cycling paths lead through the Black Forest, including specific gravel bike and mountain bike routes. We wouldn’t want to miss this.

At the reception of Konradshof, “normal” bikes and e-bikes can be rented upon advance booking. With the latter, the hilly terrain of the Black Forest is somewhat easier to overcome. We follow another tip from Annette Sackmann in the morning and follow the signposted Black Forest Panorama Cycle Path along paved forest roads up to just before Igelsberg. Then follows a rapid descent down to Erzgrube on the banks of the Nagold Reservoir—in summer, the forebay is also a popular bathing spot. If you continue downstream along the Nagold Valley cycle path from here, you will reach the small town of Altensteig with its picturesque old town after about 14 more kilometers.

We cycle back upstream along the Nagold to Besenfeld (see the route on the map above) and immediately add another cycling round in the opposite direction. This time, we follow the open plateau along the Black Forest High Road West to the idyllic Kaltenbach Lake. This lake was artificially created in the 18th century for timber rafting. Today, it’s a beautiful excursion destination that can be reached from the Konradshof both by bike and on foot. You can find the route of our second cycling round on the following map.

Delicious Snack Break as a Reward

We have planned our two cycling tours so that we are back at Hotel Konradshof in time for afternoon coffee. We don’t want to miss the daily freshly baked cakes and tarts. Especially not when the selection includes a homemade Black Forest gateau.

By the way: The sun terrace and the restaurant also welcome external guests. So you can also plan a short stop here if you are on a cycling tour, hiking, or just passing through Besenfeld.

Side Trip to the National Park Center Ruhestein

The Seewald municipality is just a few kilometers from the National Park Black Forest, founded in 2014. We took the opportunity and combined our return trip with a detour to the national park. Along the so-called “Black Forest High Road” (Federal Road 500), there are several noteworthy excursion destinations. For example, the “Lothar Path.” This nearly one-kilometer-long circular trail leads through the natural landscape that has regenerated itself since the devastating hurricane “Lothar” (1999) via walkways, ladders, and stairs.

Good to know: The Lothar Path is the shortest of a total of four adventure paths that start from the Lothar Path parking lot. More information about the hiking trails can be found at Adventure Paths in the National Park

The nearly eight kilometers away National Park Center Ruhestein is also worth a visit. The center, opened in 2021, fascinates with spectacular architecture (the building is designed to resemble stacked tree trunks). The permanent exhibition, which focuses on the increasingly wild forest, is also interesting. The museum visit is also a great option for bad weather.

Good to know: The National Park Center is open in the summer months from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Monday is a day of rest. Regular admission for adults costs 8 euros. There’s a discount of one euro for those arriving by public transport. Parking is chargeable. More information can be found here: National Park Center

On the drive towards Lothar Path / National Park Center Ruhestein, it’s worth making a short stop at the height of the Kniebishütte. From here, a nearly 20-minute walk leads to the Ellbach Lake Viewpoint. For me, the scenic highlight of this weekend in the Northern Black Forest!

We felt very comfortable at Hotel Konradshof and—as you can see from this report—fully exploited the advantage of the great location. Thanks to many tips from Annette Sackmann and her team, we return to Switzerland with more ideas for excursions in the area than on the way there. So, it’s quite possible that there will be a reunion with Konradshof sooner or later.

Practical Tips for Your Stay at Hotel Konradshof

• • Hotel Konradshof in Besenfeld is accessible via Freudenstadt Main Station by public transport. The bus stop Besenfeld Oberwiesenhof, Seewald (Bus line X78 Freudenstadt – Bad Wildbad) is 200 meters from the hotel. The hotel has two charging stations for electric cars.

• • Room rates vary depending on the category and length of stay. Overnight stays in a classic room including breakfast start from 83 euros per person. The costs for half-board start from +30 euros in addition to the aforementioned overnight price (bookable from two nights). Current price information can be found here: Room Prices Hotel Konradshof

• • Dogs are also welcome in the hotel after prior arrangement and for a corresponding surcharge. However, they are not permitted in the restaurant.

• • If you are arriving by car, I recommend a stop in Alpirsbach. The monastery and the brewery museum are worth seeing. We also had a good meal in the beer garden of the brewery inn.

• • During a previous stay in the Northern Black Forest, we explored other attractions in the vicinity of Hotel Konradshof. Among them, the impressive Treetop Path in Bad Wildbad. In the meantime, the suspension bridge “Wildline” has been added as another attraction.