Furtwangen im Schwarzwald

Furtwangen im Schwarzwald is a historic town nestled in the heart of the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Known as the "City of Clocks," Furtwangen has been the center of German clockmaking for over two centuries and is considered the birthplace of the famous Black Forest cuckoo clock. The town sits at an elevation of about 850-1150 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest towns in Baden-Württemberg. This elevated position provides stunning panoramic views of the surrounding Black Forest landscape and contributes to the region's distinctive climate that helped shape its clockmaking traditions. Furtwangen's clockmaking heritage dates back to the late 17th century when local farmers began crafting wooden clocks during the winter months. The craft evolved from simple wooden timepieces to the elaborate cuckoo clocks that became synonymous with the Black Forest region. The town became a center of innovation in timekeeping, with local craftsmen developing new techniques and designs that were exported worldwide. Today, Furtwangen is home to the renowned German Clock Museum (Deutsches Uhrenmuseum), which houses the world's largest collection of Black Forest clocks and chronicles the complete history of timekeeping. The town also hosts the Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences, which specializes in computer science, engineering, and business administration. Visitors to Furtwangen can explore traditional clockmaking workshops, enjoy hiking trails through the pristine Black Forest, and experience authentic German culture in this charming mountain town.