Sölden between hiking trails, history and local life

Sölden lies between the Schönberg-Hohfirst area and the Black Forest; at the same time, the village is located directly on the L 122 between Schönberg and Schauinsland. Hiking trails in the Black Forest Association network, the Benedictine nuns’ priory and the weekly market at Lindenplatz offer different attractions. You can tailor your stay to your interests, balancing nature, history and everyday village life.

Hiking in Sölden

Sölden’s hiking trails are part of the Black Forest Association’s trail network. Trail conditions may vary; check current conditions before setting out. This lets you adapt your plans to the specific route rather than relying solely on its general inclusion in the network.

The historic Bettlerpfad

The historic Bettlerpfad (Beggars’ Trail) runs from Merzhausen near Freiburg through the Hexental valley and the Norsinger Grund to Badenweiler in the Markgräflerland region. It is about 27 kilometres long and can be divided into five stages. One stage runs from Wittnau to Bollschweil: it is about four kilometres long and has little ascent. This provides two different planning benchmarks: a longer overall route and a significantly shorter section with a gentle incline. Hexental is a foothill zone of the High Black Forest; its species-rich fauna and flora are protected under nature conservation law.

Cluny history in Sölden

Sölden’s Benedictine nuns’ priory was under the authority of Cluny from 1115 to 1570. For those interested in culture, this long historical connection is one of the village’s defining landmarks. Another connection is Sölden’s link to the Cluniac sites of the Black Forest: in 2003, the village joined the Fédération des Sites Clunisiens. The history of the priory and the village’s later membership in this cultural network thus offer two distinct points of reference.

Weekly market and direct sales

A weekly market has been held at Lindenplatz since July 2012. On Thursdays, a mobile sales vehicle from the Stiegeler butcher’s shop offers meat and sausage specialities there. Direct sales in Sölden also include meat and sausages from the Gerteiser country butcher’s shop, spirits and fruit spreads from Thomas Uhl, and potatoes, apples, apple juice and eggs from Ludwig Vetter. Market dates, participants and products may change; check the latest information before visiting.

For everyday shopping, Sölden has a full-range EDEKA supermarket with a Beckesepp café. The café offers an open view of nature. The local options are therefore different: the market at Lindenplatz and the direct sales offer specific specialities, while the full-range supermarket has a broad selection. Check the latest opening hours for the market and café before visiting.

Getting here and finding your way around the region

Sölden is connected to public transport. As routes and timetables may change, check the latest regional information when planning your trip. Sölden is located directly on the L 122 between Schönberg and Schauinsland. You can consider road access and public transport as different options for getting here.

Throughout the wider Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald destination, many places are accessible by train. The free KONUS guest card can be used for free travel on local and regional trains and buses throughout the Black Forest.

Discover more destinations: Bötzingen, Müllheim, March, Heuweiler, Ihringen Am Kaiserstuhl, Oberrimsingen, Pfaffenweiler, Gundelfingen.

Back to the wider travel overview: Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald.