In the town of Baden-Baden, in southwestern Germany's Black Forest

 “I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: but he who is not afraid of my darkness, will find banks full of roses under my cypresses.” --Friedrich Nietzsche

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(in southwestern Germany, at the north-western border of the Black Forest) Baden-Baden, one of Europe’s most fashionable spa towns, is an ideal base for exploring the Black Forest and a great place to stay for getting pampered. Found in the rolling hills of the northern part of the Black Forest, the 19th–century town is filled with striking Belle Époque-era architecture and old-world luxury. Baden-Baden has a vibrant cultural community with events and art exhibitions throughout the year. Wandering the alleys and lanes of Baden-Baden's tightly packed Old Town is a perfect way to explore its Baroque-influenced architecture, as well as to visit the many small jewelry and antique shops, galleries, and cafés that make up its considerable charms. The 17th-century Convent of the Holy Sepulchre is also worth visiting, especially for its elaborate grid separating the Nuns' Gallery and the carved botanical designs on the pulpit. Take a walk into the Black Forest National Park, or stay in the town center and enjoy the curative waters of the thermal baths, which were built in the early 1800s.