Originally published on September 5, 2025
We crossed the border into Germany with Freiburg as our final destination, but first we detoured into the Black Forest National Park to see the famous All Saints Waterfalls and the ruins of the old monastery nearby. The waterfalls tumble down seven cascades, dropping more than 90 meters in total. Getting to the bottom meant navigating a long series of steep steps—our legs may not have thanked us at the time, but the views certainly did. The sound of the rushing water echoing through the gorge was worth every step.
Just above the falls stand the haunting ruins of the All Saints Abbey (Kloster Allerheiligen). Founded in the 12th century, it was home to Premonstratensian monks before fires in the 19th century left it in ruins. Today the abbey is a dramatic shell of Gothic arches and walls, framed by the dark pines of the Black Forest—a spot that feels equal parts peaceful and mysterious. After soaking it all in, we climbed back up, found our car, and finally made our way to Freiburg, ready to see what this German university town had in store for us.
