Baiersbronn Classic, the classic car rally in the Black Forest

Once a year the Murg valley sounds different. Historic engines rattle and burble through the bends, and people line the roadside with coffee cups and phones at the ready. Since 2013 the Baiersbronn Classic has been the region's motoring highlight, a classic car rally that calls itself, with a wink, the "Black Forest rally for connoisseurs".

The nickname says it all. Nobody here races the stopwatch for seconds. The rally is about consistency and enjoyment, with the top chefs of the Michelin-starred village as the culinary pit crew.

The event has a historic forerunner, the Ruhestein hill climb of 1946, where German motorsport rose again after the war. The Baiersbronn Classic picks up that legacy. Its route also follows the historic race track up to the Ruhestein.

From there it continues as a Black Forest rally should. Along ridge roads and through quiet side valleys, down into the vineyards of the Ortenau. Around 500 kilometres of cornering in all, spread over a long weekend.

Entry is open to classic cars built up to 1979, pre-war gems and borderline modern classics alike. Scoring is based on regularity. Drivers who keep their times consistent beat those who are merely fast. That keeps the pace civil and the mood friendly.

What really sets the rally apart, though, is the gourmet side. Baiersbronn's Michelin-starred and leading chefs take over the rally's stops with surprises. Nowhere else are pit stop and gourmet station so close together.

In 2026 the Baiersbronn Classic ran for the twelfth time, from 24 to 26 September. For spectators, the weekend is a gift every year. The start and the stage finishes are in and around Baiersbronn, the cars can be seen up close in the village, and there are plenty of photo spots along the route. The climb up to the Ruhestein in particular has the feel of a hill climb race.

If you have a classic of your own to drive, entries go through the events page of Baiersbronn Touristik. Starting places are in demand and regularly taken early.

You do not need a race number to enjoy the weekend. Watch the cars line up in the morning, picnic beside the route up on the heights at midday, and in the evening catch the day's stories in the village. By the end, the drivers all sit down at the same table anyway.

From Engel Obertal, the action is practically on the doorstep. Obertal is part of the rally's territory, and the Ruhestein is a quarter of an hour away. And when you have had enough of burbling carburettors, simply swap the pit lane for Wolke 7.