Ha-ha, Germany cracks me up.
I’m laughing at the fact that Germany has eight (yes, eight) towns with name Forst; four of them in the Rhineland-Palatinate alone, and this one here is in Baden.
Even funnier knowing that Forst actually translates to Forest! Confusing isn’t the word, is it? :-)
As lovely as the other Forsts might be, you won’t confuse Forst (Baden) with any other because this town of not even 8,000 residents sits on both the Baden Asparagus Route and the Bertha Benz Memorial Route.
Yeah, you’ve heard of the Bertha Benz Route before, haven’t you? No? It’s a route that highlights the trailblazing scenic route that Mrs. Benz and her two sons took in the 1880s in her husband’s Benz Patent Motorcar #3. Quite revolutionary — and a remarkable woman, no less.
In honor of the motorcar, you can also follow the Asparagus Route by automobile (or by bicycle) along this 136km scenic route.
I would, however, tell you the best time to take this route is between April and June — as that’s when the King’s Veggie is in season. It’s not uncommon to find either the green or white variety on many menus in local restaurants during this time.
Oh, good food — great scenery — and a three day Forest Lake Festival every year. Cool!
Even if you aren’t following either one of Forst’s scenic routes, you can still enjoy some sightseeing. I would recommend seeing the Bar Vicarage building from 1751, the Jägerhaus (that would be a hunting lodge) built in 1747, and the late 19th century Town Church.
If a castle is a must-see on your sightseeing To-Do list, then look no further than Schloss Bruchsal. OK, it might be in the neighboring town of Bruchsal (only 3km away), but the Baroque and Rococo castle has been painstakingly restored after being gutted by air raids in 1945. The museum houses a mechanical musical instruments museum, and a local history museum.
After a gander at this grandiose castle, there’s no way on Earth you’ll ever confuse Baden’s Forst with any other in all of Germany — or the rest of Europe, for that matter.
