Innovative tourism concept ‘Schwarzwald.Dorf.Hotel. – Albergo Diffuso’
An aerial view of the Old Mill Museum in the holiday village of Oberharmersbach - credits heimatlichter/Schwarzwald Tourismus
Schwarzwald Tourismus GmbH (STG) has selected five model municipalities for the tourism project ‘Schwarzwald.Dorf.Hotel. – Albergo Diffuso’. These are Klosterreichenbach (Baiersbronn), Nöggenschwiel (Weilheim), Oberharmersbach, Prinzbach (Biberach) and Schiltach. These towns will receive support in developing the concept until the end of 2026.
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‘Schwarzwald.Dorf.Hotel. – Albergo Diffuso’
At the heart of the project lies the concept of the ‘Albergo Diffuso’, a model of a ‘scattered hotel’ that has become successfully established in Italy and Switzerland. This involves combining existing, partly vacant buildings in a village to form a decentralized hotel. Guests stay in authentic accommodation scattered throughout the village, whilst central facilities are shared: the village square becomes the lobby, the local restaurants and cafés the breakfast room, and the local residents the hosts.
The ‘Schwarzwald.Dorf.Hotel. – Albergo Diffuso’ project, launched on September 1, 2025 and supported by the state of Baden-Württemberg, focuses on strengthening village centers, building culture and the range of accommodation. Central to this is the ‘Albergo Diffuso’ concept described above. Unlike in countries such as Italy, the Black Forest variant focuses on existing villages facing structural challenges such as vacant properties and declining tourism. The concept offers opportunities to breathe new life into buildings, strengthen the local economy and sustainably improve the quality of life and attractiveness of villages.
Selection of the model municipalities by Schwarzwald Tourismus GmbH
The selection was preceded by an extensive process, involving information sessions both online and on-site. There was considerable interest from the Black Forest, but due to limited capacity, a maximum of five municipalities could participate. The selected villages will receive free support in the form of advice and workshops until the end of 2026. The process consists of various phases, such as analysis, development and implementation planning, carried out by Schwarzwald Tourismus GmbH and consultancy firm co:compass. At the same time, the municipalities are working independently to set up local networks, formulate a vision for the future and develop concrete plans.
The aim is to draw up a bespoke implementation plan for each location, setting out clear measures, responsibilities and cost estimates.
Website: Schwarzwald
