When the frost makes the trees glisten white, when thousands of lights illuminate the cities and when under every step the snow it's time for snowshoe hikes, Christmas markets and toboggan rides. We have collected the most beautiful winter experiences in Baden-Württemberg's small town pearls for you.
Table of Contents:
1. winter sports in Münsingen
2. on the way in the winterly Renchtal
3. on wintry paths through Rottenburg am Neckar
4. on skis through Schramberg and the Remsbach valley
5th Freudenstadt: In Winter Wonderland
6. rest in the Tettnang crown brewery
7. mystic waldkirch
8. culture and literature in Weinheim
9. lake idyll in Bad Säckingen
10th Winter Magic and Guardian Angels in Bretten
11. discovery trip through the winter Calw
12. on a Christmas beer to Ehingen
13. from crib to crib through Ellwangen
14 Endingen: In the winter land of the winegrowers
Winter vacations in the Swabian Alb are a great pleasure for cross-country skiers, winter hikers and skiers. Münsingen is located at 750 meters above sea level and offers a total of 152 kilometers of cross-country ski trails, several ski lifts and sledding slopes. In the Tourist information in Münsingen you can also rent snowshoes and book guided tours. Among the very special experiences are the nostalgic rides of the Swabian Alb Railway. On selected days the steam train passes between orchards and juniper heaths. More info you will find here.
Comfortably to Münsingen by train and bus: Plan arrival.
The winegrowers' and farms in the Renchtal not only produce wine and vegetables; during Advent you can also choose your Christmas tree there and cut it down yourself. Afterwards, there will be mulled wine and punch to warm you up. Wineries from the region also organize torchlight walks through the frosty forests and vineyards, and host other culinary and cultural events. You can also listen to Christmas stories during torchlight walks on December 3 and 17. You can find more information hier.
By train and bus comfortably to the Renchtal: Plan arrival.
When the snow lies like powdered sugar on the roofs of the bishop's town, a stroll through the city takes on a very special atmosphere. Rottenburg am Neckar is one of the oldest places of settlement in the country. Even before the emergence of the medieval town in the 13th century, important settlements existed here on the Neckar in Neolithic, Celtic, Roman and early medieval times. You will find a lot of interesting information about the bishop's town in the Sumelocenna Roman Town Museum, in the Sülchgau Museum and in the Diocesan Museum. Or you can get to know Rottenburg on a guided tour. Around the city there is a lot of winter landscape to discover, which you can best explore on foot. Whether through the deep snow-covered forests of the Rammert, on impressive viewpoints such as the Wurmlinger Chapel or the Weilerburg, everyone will find the right tour here. Rottenburg is located in the beautiful NeckarErlebnisTal, well-known long-distance hiking trails, state long-distance biking trails and two premium hiking trails. such as the Wurmlinger Kapellenwegle and the Sieben-Täler-Runde run through the city. Rottenburg is also a stop on three pilgrimage trails that exude a special charm in winter. And: Thanks to numerous Packages you don't have to worry about anything during your winter vacation here.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Rottenburg am Neckar: Plan arrival.
In the Middle Black Forest lies the scenic Schramberg. It is the gateway to the Remsbach Valley. Cross-country skiers and winter hikers meet here to enjoy the winter nature on various trails and hiking paths. The mountains on the eastern edge of the Black Forest rise up to 940 meters. Near the parking lot is a 200 meter long toboggan slope. It is illuminated after dark, as is one of the cross-country ski trails. This one is two kilometers long and has an easy level of difficulty. You can find more info here.
By train and bus comfortably to Schramberg: Plan arrival.
When the first snow falls, Freudenstadt and its surroundings turn into a true paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. The cross-country ski trail network of about 100 kilometers leads around Freudenstadt and its districts and the "Northern Black Forest" ski trail creates a great connection from Freudenstadt to the cross-country ski trails of the Black Forest High Road. Along the latter, numerous lifts also take you to the skiing and tobogganing areas. A very special way to explore the National Park region are the horse-drawn sleigh tours or the snowshoe hikes. And when you feel really cold, you can relax in the Panorama bath or warm up again with a mulled wine on the biggest market place in Germany in Freudenstadt. Further information you will find here.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Freudenstadt: Plan arrival.
No matter whether you hike up or down the hop trail: Fine beer and tasty Vesper entice at the Tettnang crown brewery at the Bärenplatz like on the Hop Estate N°20 in Siggenweiler. The approximately four-kilometer-long trail leads through old cultivated land. Due to its length and trail characteristics, the tour through hamlets, orchards and hop gardens is well suited for winter walks - even with strollers. And those who like to hike on narrower paths can take the way back via the Brünnensweiler Höhe. Especially in winter, the chapel Maria Königin des Friedens offers a wide view towards Lake Constance and the Alps. You can find more information here.
By train and bus comfortably to Siggenweiler: Plan arrival.
The local mountain of Waldkirch is the Kandel, a kind of "Blocksberg" of the Black Forest. Because all kinds of stories are told about this mountain, which is said to have many mysterious powers ... And from its 1,243 meter high summit you can look out over Waldkirch and the Black Forest. Hiking around Waldkirch is also a real experience in winter, whether there is snow or not. On the outskirts of the town stands the ruins of the Kastelburg, the town's landmark. You can learn more about Waldkirch's past by visiting the Elztal Museum. Modern, interactive installations on four floors present the 1,100-year-old history of the settlement. In addition, there is an important organ building collection with many beautiful sounding orchestrions, revolving organs and fairground organs. You can find more information here.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Waldkirch: Plan arrival.
Many gardens and parks contribute to the special atmosphere in Weinheim, at any time of the year. The Ingrid Noll Trail is new. It leads through the castle park and sighting garden, the old town, the medicinal herb garden and the exotic forest. The start is at the Old Town Hall. Via an audio guide, which is called up with a QR code, Ingrid Noll begins to narrate. The city's best-known citizen talks about Weinheim's historical background and shares anecdotes from her life. In some places, she also reads appropriate passages from her detective novels. Afterwards you can warm up in one of the numerous restaurants. You can find more information here.
Take the train to Weinheim comfortably and without traffic jams: Plan arrival.
The leaves on the shore are covered with white hoarfrost. Fog hangs over the surface of the water. The paddleboats on the jetty gently rock in the still water, icicles hang from the roof of the small inn. If you take the half-hour tour to the mountain lake above Bad Säckingen, a quiet winter spot awaits you here. On the way, you will pass the game preserve. Here live red deer, sika and fallow deer, which you can observe in peace. Once you reach the lake, you can walk around it and enjoy the snow-covered forest. On the way back, it is worth stopping at the Villa Berberich café. Villa Berberich is an imposing building from the Wilhelminian period, where you can also visit the mineral museum and art exhibitions. And if you are still cold after that: In the warm water of the Spa Aqualon you will definitely thaw out again. You can find more information here.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Bad Säckingen: Plan arrival.
More than 1,250 years of town history - Bretten can look back on a long past. Numerous buildings and sights still bear witness to times gone by. In winter, numerous lights transform the town with its many half-timbered houses into a romantic Christmas village. Bretten is located in the middle of the Kraichgau-Stromberg, the land of 1,000 hills. During a winter walk, you can enjoy nature with all your senses - past snow-covered orchards and vineyards, over gentle hills and through frosty forests. To warm up, visit the German Guardian Angel Museum in the Schweizer Hof or the Badewelt Bretten with its swimming and sauna facilities. Further information you will find here.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Bretten: Plan arrival.
When snow covers the roofs of the picturesque half-timbered houses like powdered sugar and atmospheric lights illuminate the winding alleys, then it's winter in Calw. During a Adventure torch hike you can spend an exciting winter evening with eerily beautiful stories about Calw and the Black Forest. In the darkness, when the moon shines in full size, the lambent flames of the torches create a very special atmosphere. Also the Night watchman invites you to evening walks with exciting tales of times gone by. Wrapped up warm and on the way on the near-city Hiking trail "Around Calw you can enjoy magnificent views and learn about special personalities, monuments and history. You can find more information here.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Calw: Plan arrival.
The Danube town of Ehingen is idyllically located in the middle of the Swabian Alb and is especially known for its numerous breweries. For every 25,000 inhabitants, there are five breweries that brew more than 50 different beers. It's no wonder that everything here revolves around beer, even in winter. Specially brewed varieties for the winter months can be found, for example, at the BergBrauereiwhich you can reach via the 2.5-kilometer-long beer hiking trail. This way you can explore the snowy winter landscape at the same time. Breweries with their specialties also await you in the middle of the old town. How about a beer in the Schwanen Brewery Inn or with the first Ehingen draft wheat beer "Goldener Adler" in the Eagle brewery in Paulas Alb? You can find more information here.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Ehingen: Plan arrival.
The Basilica of St. Vitus, the Protestant Town Church, the Schönenberg Pilgrimage Church, St. Mary's Church, St. Wolfgang's Church and St. Anthony's Chapel: Yes, Ellwangen is teeming with churches. If you have a thing for places of worship, you've come to the right place. From Christmas Eve until February, the churches in Ellwangen are filled with Christmas scenes. Then they house nativity scenes of all kinds and ages. The time span ranges from the magnificent baroque nativity scene in the castle museum to the most recent, so-called "poor people's nativity scene" by Sieger Köder in the cloister of St. Vitus Basilica from 1998. You won't miss any of them on the "Ellwanger Krippenweg". The path leads not only in the city of Ellwangen itself to nativity scenes, but also in the surrounding area to Rosenberg and Hohenberg, to Hinterbrand and Hütten. You can find more information here.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Ellwangen: Plan arrival.
In the small town of Endingen, winter is usually a bit sunnier than elsewhere - then the snow glitters especially beautifully. You can also hike over the hills of the Kaiserstuhl in the dark season. The region is best known for its vineyards and for the winegrowers who press the finest wines from the grapes. Even in winter you can stop at some of them and taste the noble drops. Back in Endingen, it's worth taking a stroll through the cute town center with its colorfully lit half-timbered houses and stepped gables. How about a hot chocolate in one of the traditional cafés with a view of the snow-covered streets? You can find more info here.
By train comfortably and without traffic jams to Endingen: Plan arrival.
Cover photo: Bretten's market square with its half-timbered houses and fountain is brightly lit in winter © Michael Knötig
