Sightseeing tour
I joined a sightseeing tour which I had previously booked in Japan via Internet. The tour guide was Nagata, Japanese national and he ran a travel agency in Baden-Baden. His German wife ran a pretty boutique called "Hamami" selling Japanese goods.

Inside there were lots of Japanese cultural goods. I am very curious who are the people come to her shop?

I got picked up at the boutique "Hanami" and we headed for a 4-hour tour.
Here was our first tourist destination, Altes Schloss(Old Castle). It is on the top of a hill just outside the town. Entrance is free. On the left side of the entrance to the castle, there was a cafe and carpark is nearby.

I heard that it was built in 1102 and it was home of the Marggraves of Barden from 11th - 15the century. Apparently, it was destroyed by fire and now there were only intricate stone walls.

Today, the building itself was in ruins but it's well-worth a visit!

It stood on the top of a hill overlooking the surrounding wooded area, the town of Baden-Baden and the Black Forest.
right: From the top of the castle in a western direction, you can see the view of the Black Forest, the Rhine and Alsace. Alsace is one of the regions of France and it borders on the east of Germany. France is very near from Baden-Baden!