Black Forest spa town in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany, in the Oos valley, 68 km/42 mi west of Stuttgart; population (2005 est) 54,600. Its mineral springs have been known since Roman times, and it became a fashionable spa in the 19th century. The town has a conference centre, the Kongresshaus (1968).
The stars stand for the two islands. Red recalls the struggle for independence. Yellow is said to represent the country's cocoa plantations. Effective date: 12 July 1975.