Hotel Traube Tonbach

Anyone expecting doom and gloom from the Black Forest, in southwestern Germany, is in for a surprise. For one thing, it’s not black so much as green, a lush landscape filled with ancient forests and emerald grasslands. And though the name lends itself to some spooky connotations, a place like the Hotel Traube Tonbach is a reminder that a Black Forest holiday can be bright, airy, and filled with natural light. It helps that the building itself, a modernist country lodge, features massive windows spanning its double-height spaces, and that the spacious rooms and suites are outfitted in soothing white and neutral tones, and come with balconies or terraces with a view of the landscape. Red fabrics and natural-toned hardwoods make an appearance, for a dash of authentic German country style, but the overriding impression is a contemporary one. And where German country hotels excel, aside from the immersion in nature, is in their emphasis on health and wellness. Traube Tonbach offers an extensive spa program, with nine treatment rooms, three swimming pools, and a sauna, steam room, and bubbling warm-water pool. They’ll also sort you out with yoga, Pilates, or indoor cycling classes, hiking trails, cross-country skiing, or reservations at a nearby golf course. And through it all you’ll have your pick of five restaurants serving hearty, healthy fare. We dare you to try to come back feeling anything less than fully restored.