Tour Germany's Enchanted Black Forest Where Fairy Tales Are Set

2012-05-07T14:14:03.122Z

Germany's Black Forest got its name from the conifers that block out most light below, giving the region a mysterious aura. Add castles, cuckoo clocks, castles and tiny villages and you've got the setting for a real-life fairy tale.

According to legend, the Brothers Grimm were inspired by the forest in their native country when they wrote Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty.

A German photographer who calls himself stophel posted his amazing images of the forest on video-sharing site Vimeo.

Tour Germany's Enchanted Black Forest Where Fairy Tales Are Set

The name "Black Forest" dates back to the Roman era and refers to the conifers blocking out all the light.

Pines and firs are the main trees found in the forest.

Fog inside the forest gives it an eerie feeling

There are many castles throughout the forest that are popular tourist attractions.

The forest was said to inspire the Brothers Grimm as they wrote Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty and Hansel and Gretel.

The footpaths inside the black forest are some of the first to be established in the entire world.

The castles inside the Black Forest are some of the largest and best-kept in the world.

The forest is only a fraction of its former size because of moden logging.

Here's a tiny waterfall inside the forest.

Here's a path, much like the one the Brothers Grimm wrote about Hansel and Gretel following.

Here, a rare sunbeam cuts through the forest's cool fog.

Here, some fog creeps over petrified rocks and leaves in the forest.

The Black Forest has an area of 4600 miles.

Inside the Black Forest are tiny villages. Here are some of their windmills.

The Black Forest used to be full of cuckoo clock makers renowned for their precision, but most were shut down during World War II.

Here's an eerie view from the middle of the Black Forest at sunset.

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