Oberglottertal: Mill Culture and Hiking Trails

Oberglottertal combines a centuries-old mill with hiking trails that take in mining history and traces of the medieval Urgraben. The Hilzingermühle and two circular hikes offer different highlights: one focuses on water engineering and mining, the other on the mill and varied trails along the Glotter.

The Hilzingermühle and its history

The Hilzingermühle was built in 1621 and is considered one of the oldest mills in the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald that is still in working order. You can view its exterior at any time. Groups can arrange visits inside while the mill is operating through the municipality; please make arrangements for such a visit in advance.

The history of the Urgraben also dates back to the medieval mining period. Along the Oberglottertal Urgraben Route, you can see the remains of a water channel and traces of mining. The channel carried water from the eastern slope of the Kandel to mines in Glottertal and Suggental. Along the route, engineering remains bring to life the specific purposes for which the watercourse was used.

Two circular hikes, different highlights

The 10.5-kilometre circular hike follows traces of medieval mining and the Urgraben. Allow about 3.5 hours for the route; the ascent and descent are each 350 metres. It is a particularly good choice if you want to focus on the history of mining and water engineering.

Another circular hike covers 9.1 kilometres and leads to the Hilzingermühle. Narrow paths beside the Glotter alternate with shady woodland and sunnier stretches; the ascent and descent are each 362 metres. Compared with the Urgraben circular route, this one is slightly shorter, while the stated elevation gains are close. However, the scenery and destination make it quite different: here, the Glotter, woodland stretches and the mill shape the outing. Trail conditions and surfaces may vary depending on the season.

More trails in the wider Glottertal destination

The wider Glottertal destination has 100 kilometres of marked hiking trails. The Glottertäler Discovery Trail runs around the village and is marked with its own trail symbol. Illustrated information boards, featuring engaging text for children as well, share interesting facts about the surroundings along the way. The main route is 6.5 kilometres long, is also suitable for families with young children and can be used with a pushchair.

The Discovery Trail’s variants each focus on a different theme: the Vineyard Variant leads through the Eichberg vineyards and the heart of the Glottertal wine-growing area, the “Roter Bur” vineyard site. Along the way, you’ll find views across the valley and information about Glottertal wine. The Glotterbad Variant leads to the origins of the historic Glotterbad sanatorium; three themed information boards tell its story from the 15th century to the present day. A separate, nearly eight-kilometre Urgraben Variant is a short circular hike about mining in Glottertal and the Urgraben technical monument.

The landscape also helps put the wider destination in context: Glottertal lies on the western edge of the Black Forest, 14 kilometres from the university city of Freiburg, in the Breisgau area of the Baden wine-growing region. The vineyards on the southern slopes of the foothills of the Kandel are among the steepest and highest in Germany; vines are grown there at elevations of up to 500 metres above sea level.

Discover more destinations: Merdingen, Bollschweil, Ebringen, Bötzingen, Ballrechten-Dottingen, Münstertal/Schwarzwald, Auggen, Sölden.

View the wider travel guide: Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald.