Black Forest High Road

Germany's oldest scenic road runs for 60 km along the northern Black Forest ridge from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt, mostly between 800 and 1,100 m. The B500 is wide and beautifully surfaced, with long constant-radius curves through spruce forest and occasional views west across the Rhine plain to the Vosges.

The drive

The climb out of Baden-Baden is the tightest section. Once on the ridge, past Bühlerhöhe and the Mummelsee, the road opens into a rhythm of fast bends linked by short straights. It is as much about flow as speed.

The side roads are arguably better than the main route. The L83 down to Bühl, the road through Allerheiligen to Oppenau, and the B462 along the Murg valley are all narrower, twistier and much quieter.

In your Lotus

After the alpine passes, the B500 is a reminder that a Lotus is at its best in medium-speed corners where you can feel the chassis load up. It is also one of the easiest great roads to reach, close to the A5 autobahn and a natural stop on the way from the UK or Benelux to the Alps.