Gasthof Hirschen

A picturesque drive past green meadows and flower-bedecked chalets leads to the Gasthof Hirschen, located about 6 kilometers beyond Wolfach in the tiny hamlet of Oberwolfach-Walke. Colorful geraniums adorn the Hirschen’s many windowboxes and a small stream flows by across the street. This inn is one of the oldest in the Black Forest, dating from 1609. Its attractive restaurant encompasses a series of cozy rooms, each decked out in an inviting, old-fashioned style. The menu is enticing, offering a delicious variety of local dishes. Follow the Oriental rug runners up the old staircase to a small lobby area, which displays an antique clock and a cabinet filled with antique dolls. There are 17 guestrooms in the main building, all with private baths. These bedrooms are not overly large, but are pleasantly furnished. My favorite rooms are found in the lovely new wing of more modern rooms, many of which have balconies overlooking the garden. You can enjoy sunny days on the flower-filled terrace or in the tranquil garden, the only sounds the birds in surrounding trees. In winter cross-country skiing is a popular sport in this region of forests and rolling hills. The quiet rural location and warm welcome of the Junghanns family make it easy to see why the Gasthof Hirschen is a popular country inn for travelers “in the know.”