Apache2: Access Forbidden

Ok my proble is as follows: my Apache2 is configured with
/srv/www/htdocs as DocumentRoot and I can access that folder without
any problems by pointing the browser to http://localhost/, but as soon
as I create a subfolder I get Access Forbidden when I try to access
that one.
Also I'm trying to have a folder in my home-directory linked in the
apache filesystem: I tried almost everything (link from
/home/cxd/public_html -> /srv/www/htdocs/cxd, reverse link,
mod_userdir, ...)but all I get is the 403 Access Denied message.
Can someone give me a hint what to do now?

Ok I think I got it: I've made the directory in my home directory
readable but not my home-directory... Well since I don't want to make
my home-directory world-readable, I will drop the option with the
subdirectory.

But what about linking a directory in the server-root into my home
folder... that should work, shouldn't it?

What do you mean by 'search'?
The directory I create is world readable so there should be no problem
with Apache accessing it.