On the eastern edge of the mystic Black Forest in South Germany is the delightful town of Nagold. Wedged into the steep valley sides, this relatively isolated area is a great place to explore the surrounding countryside.
It’s a riverside settlement that has been inhabited since the Stone Age — around 2000-3000 B.C. — as its location is almost perfect with very fertile soils. Later, the Celts invaded this ideal spot and left behind traces of their everyday lives, even leaving royal burial mound that can still be visited today.
In the 1st century, the Romans also set up camps here and built an impressive viaduct which passes around the city. This settlement was then heavily defended many centuries later during the medieval 13th century, with a 5 meter high wall, moat and gated towers!
There are also the ruins of the castle, Hohennagold, perched on the steep outcrop on the opposite valley side — still watching over the landscape.
The streets of Nagold also retain a lot of history, with half-timbered houses dotted throughout the city center. Several of these beautiful and structurally amazing medieval buildings are up to 6 stores high! You won’t fail to be impressed with their intricate designs and top-heavy appearance.
Long terraces of stores and tiny houses open up into great plazas where there are some great views of the heart of this quaint town and the surrounding valley sides. Also, from outside of the busy streets you can see what makes this isolated beauty such a desirable location. Even a walk along the river is a delight as it is lined with a handful of ornate fountains.
Being in the very center of this delightful fertile valley, Nagold is surrounded in all direction by kilometers of woodland. Firstly, there is the extensive nature park Schwarzwald Nord/Mitte (the north and central Black Forest) which is present in virtually every direction you look, but there is also the smaller Schönbuch Nature Park to the east.
All this outdoors is sure to make for some great hiking and amazing scenery whichever direction you decide to go from here!
