Sustainability in the Black Forest: Schwarzwald Panorama Review
Schwarzwald Panorama is one of the most forward-thinking sustainable hotels in the Black Forest, known for its circular living approach and deep connection to the surrounding landscape.
Located in the spa town of Bad Herrenalb, the hotel goes beyond surface-level eco initiatives, integrating sustainability into everything from architecture and energy use to dining and wellness.
We were eager to experience the hotel for ourselves and see what circular living really meant in practice. This guide is our experience, and everything you need to know before booking a stay at Schwarzwald Panorama.
Staying in Bad Herrenalb at Schwarzwald Panorama
Schwarzwald Panorama is tucked into the lush conifer forests of the northern Black Forest, in the spa town of Bad Herrenalb, just a short drive from the charming town of Calw.
The town still feels very local and authentic, with most visitors coming from other parts of Germany rather than being overrun by international tourism. I really loved this. It made our visit feel more relaxed and grounded, rather than crowded or hectic.
Bad Herrenalb also takes sustainability seriously, with ongoing efforts to protect the surrounding woodland.
You feel that calm when you’re out walking, and especially from the hotel itself. Schwarzwald Panorama really does live up to its name, with wide views over the town and straight into the forest beyond.
Circular Living & Sustainability
What really impressed us at Schwarzwald Panorama was their pioneering approach to sustainability, especially in their newly renovated “Circular Living” rooms, which we were lucky to experience during our stay.
The concept of Circular Living came to fruition when it was time to renovate rooms at the hotel in 2023. Typically, during hotel renovations, which typically happen every 10 years, everything is usually trashed, unfortunately.
But hotel owner, Stephan Bode decided to try something new at Schwarzwald Panorama, and asked, “What is the most sustainable way to renovate rooms?”
And so, the Circular Living concept was born. These rooms are designed so that their next renovation won’t create waste at all.
Every element is considered long-term: furniture is either fully recyclable or biodegradable, and suppliers are contractually required to take pieces back in 20 years rather than sending them to landfill.
Materials follow cradle-to-cradle certification standards, from natural, biodegradable paints to finishes that avoid harmful chemicals entirely.
The result is a room that feels modern and comfortable, while quietly proving that sustainability doesn’t have to be a compromise.
This impressed us most of all, showing a genuine respect for the Black Forest and proving that coexistence with nature is possible without exploiting it.
The Rooms
The hotel itself has 97 rooms, suites, and apartments in total, and we were lucky to stay in Waldklang, a Circular Living room inspired by the dense treetops of the Black Forest.
The room is full of real, living moss and tree bark, and honestly, it felt so peaceful that you could immediately tell how much effort went into designing these spaces.
From the calming color palette to every piece of furniture, every detail felt intentional. I’m not sure if it was the design alone, but the room had a noticeably fresh, airy feel, which was such a treat compared to the typical stuffiness of hotel rooms. This felt like wellness at its finest.
The layout was thoughtfully designed as well, with the practical areas of the room separated from the bed area, alongside plenty of storage and a tea and coffee setup that was actually useful.
The bed area felt like the star of the show: an extremely comfortable king-size bed facing a wall-to-wall sliding glass door, with views stretching across Bad Herrenalb and out to the panoramic Black Forest landscape.
The Spa
We were really excited to try the spa area Schwarzwald Panorama, and we were really impressed by the overall offerings.
To begin with, the initial area you walk into for the pool and jacuzzi is calmly lit with a dome above the pool, looking above, letting natural light in, and this area is incredibly spacious,s so you never feel claustrophobic even if there are other guests around.
We love a good sauna session, and we were pleased to learn that there are two different types of saunas at the spa, a Finnish sauna as well as a bio sauna with colored light.
We loved both of these, and especially the outdoor terrace for a cool down with ergonomic swinging wooden beds. I felt like I’d drifted off to another reality with how peaceful it felt, with the views and sounds of nature.
It isn’t a spa stay without a massage, and we were seriously impressed with ours at Schwarzwald Panorama. So many massages feel a bit weak, but our therapist knew exactly how to work out the kinks from the day.
After a sauna session and the massage, we had no choice but to give in to a nap back in our peaceful Waldklang room.
Dining and Regional Food
We love a good hotel meal, and we were more than excited for our culinary adventure at Schwarzwald Panorama, especially when we learned that their commitment to sustainability doesn’t end with the rooms and the hotel’s design.
From mostly organic foods to biodegradable napkins, Schwarzwald Panorama really walks the walk when it comes to the hotel’s food. The ingredients follow strict organic standards and are sourced from suppliers who avoid synthetic fertilisers, prioritise animal welfare, and take a recycling-focused approach. As a result, the vast majority of the food and beverages served are certified organic.
There is always a vegan dish on the menu, which we were really pleased about, as we try to eat as little meat as possible. It felt thoughtful rather than token, and very much in line with the hotel’s wider approach to sustainability.
The meals felt more like dining at a fine dining restaurant, and our host each evening was incredibly knowledgeable when it came to wine pairings. No request for our meals ever felt like too much, and everything was handled with an easy confidence that made each dinner feel relaxed rather than formal.
We enjoyed a wide range of dishes over our stay, from a vegan vegetable lasagna that was surprisingly creamy for a vegan dish, to a juicy chicken Kiev, and steak with potatoes and caramelized red onions.
Who Schwarzwald Panorama Is Best Suited For
If you care about staying somewhere that takes sustainability seriously, not just as a talking point but in how the hotel actually operates, Schwarzwald Panorama makes a lot of sense. It’s a strong fit if you want to slow down, spend time in the spa, go for long forest walks, and enjoy relaxed, well-thought-out meals in the evenings.
This isn’t a hotel for rushing around or packing your days with sightseeing. It works best for a quieter stay where design, comfort, and respect for the surrounding landscape are given equal weight.
If you’re looking to find a hotel in the Black Forest that doesn’t just want to appear sustainable in a marketable way, but actually follows strict sustainability concepts and measures, Schwarzwald Panorama is ideal. It’s an ideal fit if you want to get away in nature, be pampered in the heart of nature, but still be just a close distance away from some of the Black Forest’s best towns and cities to visit.
