Triberg is one of the most touristic towns in the Black Forest. So much so that it is rare not to see it included in any route through this part of Germany. This German village is known for its waterfall, and for having the biggest cuckoo clock in the world.
🗺 What to do and see in Triberg
Last December I fulfilled one of my travelling dreams: to travel to Alsace at Christmas. Given its proximity, I decided to include part of the Black Forest in my itinerary.
Triberg was one of those points on my route through the Black Forest. Schiltach is the most beautiful village in this area, but Triberg is one of the most touristic.
📍 Town centre and Black Forest Museum
Triberg is a village of just over 5,000 inhabitants, whose main tourist attractions are (almost) in the same street.
That’s why my advice is that before entering the museum or the waterfalls, take a stroll along the main street. Marvel at the façades, go into the local shops and look for that object you usually collect on your travels.
This street is also home to the House of 1,000 Clocks, which I’ll tell you about a few paragraphs below.
Triberg is home to the Black Forest Museum. Here you can find out more about the history, life and customs of this German region.
It is open all year round. In winter it is closed on Mondays, but in summer it is open seven days a week. Admission costs 6€ per person. However, there is a combined ticket for the Triberg Waterfalls and the Black Forest Museum which can save you a few euros.
Did you know that in Triberg you can try the authentic Black Forest cake recipe?
Café Schäfer boasts the original recipe.
It is said that the father of the current owner of Café Schäfer knew the inventor of the cake and passed the recipe on to him. As a result, the inhabitants and tourists of Triberg have been able to enjoy the real recipe for the Black Forest Cake for decades.
📍 The world´s largest cuckoo clock
On the outskirts of Triberg, you’ll find the two clocks vying for the title of World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock.
I didn’t get to see either in person, only Weltgrößte Kuckucksuhr in passing with the car, due to the snowfall on the day I visited Triberg. Still, if you look at the picture, the clock is almost as big as the houses in the area.
This one is located in Schonach, and in practice it takes second place. Eble Uhren-Park boasts the largest clock in the world.
Both can be seen from the outside, but if you want to see how the clock works on the inside, you’ll have to pay an entrance fee.
📍The house of 1,000 clocks
The Black Forest is the cuckoo clock capital of the world.
As you stroll down the main street of Triberg, you’ll see that for such a small town, there are many shops selling cuckoo clocks.
The House of 1,000 Clocks or Haus der 1000 uhren is a must-see in Triberg. This watch shop has no less than 1,000 cuckoo clocks. Each one more beautiful than the next.
Small watches, large watches, minimalist watches, watches with the finest details, watches in a more antique style, or modern watches. Some of them have a price that is scary, reaching over 10.000 and even 20.000€.
📍The Triberg waterfalls
One of Triberg’s main tourist attractions, the Triberg waterfalls themselves (Triberger Wasserfälle) are self-described as the highest waterfalls in Germany. In fact, I thought so until I did some research and read an article, which stated that they were the ninth highest.
The waterfalls are open all year round, and the entrance fee is 3.5€.
The main entrance is located in the middle of the village, although there are other access areas – which you can consult here – to the falls.
We went in through the main entrance. The same as the one shown in the image below.
Within the area comprising the Triberg waterfalls, there are different trails. Some with steeper slopes, others with more bearable paths. Along the way, you will see different indications of them.
If you are travelling in December, don’t forget to check the dates of the Christmas market. Last December, the festival of 1,000 lights was held in Triberg to mark the fifth anniversary of the Triberg Christmas market.
The footpaths were dressed in hundreds of lights during the night. It must have been magical. It was a pity it didn’t coincide with the dates we were going.
As it had snowed on the day we visited Triberg, access to much of the falls is closed. Even so, we were able to enjoy a beautiful landscape like this one. Snow everywhere, lush forest and the famous Black Forest waterfall.