Cuckoo Clock Workshops

Several small workshops in and around Schönach still produce cuckoo clocks using traditional hand methods. A genuine handmade Black Forest cuckoo clock is a serious piece of craft: the cases are hand-carved from linden wood, the mechanisms assembled from wooden gears, and the decoration applied by hand. They are also considerably more expensive than the mass-produced clocks available elsewhere.

Visiting a working workshop is possible in Schönach and nearby villages including Triberg and Furtwangen. Ask at the village tourist office for current information on which workshops are open to visitors. The German Clock Museum in Furtwangen (about 20 km north) tells the full history of Black Forest clockmaking and is worth the detour.

things to do sight
A story
The Black Forest cuckoo clock was invented in the early 18th century, with the Schönach area being one of the earliest centres of production. At its peak in the 19th century, entire families in the region spent winters carving and assembling clock components. The craft nearly died in the 20th century but has experienced a revival as collectors and tourists increasingly value handmade German originals over imported imitations.