Experience the Black Forest: Festivals, Exhibitions and Unique Events

WHY IT RATES: The Black Forest region is offering a variety of cultural events over the coming months including exhibitions on HipHop and glassmaking, an exploration of grave robbery, panoramic art, music festivals, a choral event, cultural summer activities, a crystal festival and an art installation at St. Blasien Cathedral. —Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Managing Editor

 The Black Forest region is packed with cultural highlights in the coming months, offering everything from historical abbey culture to modern exhibitions and concerts. Here’s a preview of the diverse experiences you can enjoy. www.kultur-schwarzwald.info

'Stories of HipHop' at the Pforzheim Jewellery Museum

HipHop culture has shaped generations, and its "language" is understood worldwide. The exhibition "Stories of HipHop" at the Pforzheim Jewellery Museum showcases the flashy jewellery, music, graffiti, and rap that define the culture. Curated rooms explore the different aspects of HipHop, and the exhibition includes concerts, dance events, panel discussions, and a "HipHop Kitchen" evening. It runs from March 30 to June 29, 2025. www.schmuckmuseum.de and www.storiesofhiphop.de

New Glass Museum in Schluchsee

The Black Forest has a long history of glassmaking, recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Schluchsee’s new exhibition at the Kurhaus highlights the Aeule glassworks, which operated from 1716 to 1878, and showcases both everyday glass and the local glassmaking history. The exhibition focuses on the region’s glassware and the historical importance of the Aeule glassworks. www.hochschwarzwald.de and www.unesco-im-schwarzwald.de

'Grave Robbery: Tracing the Past through the Centuries' in Villingen-Schwenningen

The Franziskanermuseum presents the exhibition "Grave Robbery: Tracing the Past through the Centuries," which explores the phenomenon of grave robbing from the Celts to the present day. Through artifacts and stories, the exhibition reveals how grave robbers reflect societal complexities. The exhibit runs from April 5 to July 6, 2025. www.franziskanermuseum.de

Rainforest in the Black Forest: 'Amazonia' Giant Mural in Pforzheim

The gasometer in Pforzheim, built in 1912, now hosts stunning 360° panoramic art by Yadegar Asisi. His "Amazonia" mural spans 3,000 square meters and showcases the Brazilian rainforest in hyperrealistic detail, including its plants and wildlife. The mural can be viewed from multiple levels, enhanced by light and sound installations. The exhibition runs year-round. www.gasometer-pforzheim.de

'Black Forest Music Festival'

From May 23 to June 9, 2025, the "Black Forest Music Festival" will present a range of performances, from classical to jazz, pop, and rock, under Mark Mast’s artistic direction.

Highlights include Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana performed with the band Spark (May 23–25) and various other concerts, such as "Violons Barbares" (May 29), "Brass2Go" (June 1), and "Singer Pur" (June 3). www.schwarzwald-musikfestival.de

Chorfest Baden Focuses on Albert Schweitzer

The "Chorfest Baden," from July 4 to 6, 2025, will gather over 2,000 singers from Germany, France, and Switzerland. The highlight will be the premiere of an oratorio about Albert Schweitzer’s life, composed for his 150th birthday. Schweitzer, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, had a strong connection to the Black Forest. The festival will include performances, workshops, and a large choir night. www.chorfest-baden.de and www.albertschweitzer-haus.de

Cultural Summer in the Northern Black Forest

From July 17 to August 17, 2025, the "Cultural Summer" in the Northern Black Forest will feature over 100 events, including classical festivals like the Belcanto Opera Festival "Rossini in Wildbad" and the Maulbronn Monastery Concerts. Other highlights include the "Happiness Festival" in Straubenhardt and the "Gerbersauer Reading Summer" in Calw. A new cultural bike tour on the Enztalradweg will offer a unique way to experience the region’s culture. www.kultursommer.nordschwarzwald.de

'Festival of Crystals' in Haslach

Haslach will host the "Festival of Crystals" on August 2 and 3, 2025. Around 100 exhibitors will present minerals, fossils, and mining antiques, alongside live music and expert talks. Visitors can also explore the "Segen Gottes" visitor mine, one of the Black Forest’s most significant historical mines, offering a glimpse into the region’s mining past. www.festival-der-kristalle.de

'Gaia' Art Installation at St. Blasien Cathedral

From October 3 to November 9, 2025, St. Blasien Cathedral will feature "Gaia," a 10-meter-diameter art installation by Luke Jerram, representing Earth based on NASA images. The installation is a stunning, 3D, scale model of the planet, offering a unique perspective of the Earth as seen from space. The cathedral’s impressive dome adds to the experience. www.hochschwarzwald.de/gaia

SOURCE: Baden-Württemberg press release.

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