The tourist office sells leaflets with more information (€1). A footpath loops up through well-tended vineyards to the whitewashed pilgrimage chapel, from where there are long views across the Ammer and Neckar valleys that are worth a pause to appreciate, before heading back to town. The city is also home to a great hike: the Kreuzweg (way of the cross) to Wurmlinger Kapelle, a 17th-century chapel perched atop a 475m (1558ft) hill, roughly 6km (3.7 miles) southwest of town. Whether it be liberal students, deeply traditional Burschenschaften (fraternities) singing ditties for beloved Germania, ecowarriors, artists or punks – all seem to have a soft spot for the town of Tübingen, which boasts one of the oldest universities in Europe. Join pilgrims on Wurmlinger Kapelle in Baden-Württemberg The best way to experience the area’s unique microclimate – where you might spot orchids, ferns, rare butterflies and lizards – is on the 13km (8-mile) designated trail connecting Schattenmühle, an old mill turned rustic hotel, to Wutachmühle, a log cabin serving refreshments and hot meals, which leads hikers through the middle section of the gorge. Schattenmühle is a 30-minute walk south of Göschweiler, a southern district of Löffingen. The spectacular landform is located near the town of Löffingen, close to the Swiss border and 20km (12 miles) east of Schluchsee. Wutachschlucht is a wild gorge carved out by the fast-flowing Wutach river, a tributary of the Rhine, and flanked by near-vertical rock faces. Rather than tackling the entire stretch, casual hikers might consider the largely forested, 16km (10-mile) leg between Schmalkalden, a historic town crowned by a handsome hilltop castle, and Tambach-Dietharz, which is home to a legendary water fountain that is said to heal all ailments (handy for those blisters!), as well as a convenient bus service back to town (weekdays only check with the tourist office for times).

The 410km (255-mile) Lutherweg pilgrimage trail winds across the central and eastern German states of Thuringia, Hesse, Bavaria and Saxony, linking together a number of Lutheran churches and monuments from the time of the Reformation.

Tackle the historic Lutherweg (Luther Trail) in Thuringia Ready to hit these outstanding walking trails when you go to Germany? Here's our pick of the country's best hikes. Regional tourist offices are on hand to help hikers with maps and local insights, with the walking season running from spring through to fall. Home to 200,000km (124,274 miles) of well-signposted trails, Germany’s landscapes encompass everything from high-altitude treks in the Bavarian Alps to woodland rambles in the Black Forest and lazy Rhineland vineyard strolls. Germans have a genuine passion for wandern (walking), which is not surprising when you consider what is on their doorstep.

Day trips in germany black forest