Emmendingen: Discover Castles, Wine and the Kandel

Emmendingen combines urban history and culture with the varied landscape of the district: wine-growing, an extensive network of hiking and cycling trails, and the Kandel each offer something different. There are also museums, historic buildings and regular concerts.

City History and Museums

Hochburg Castle is one of the largest castle complexes in Baden. It was first mentioned in writing in 1161. The Association for the Preservation of the Hochburg Ruins runs a museum there and offers guided tours. This brings the history of the complex together with a specific visitor offering; if you plan to take a tour, you can check the dates in advance.

Kastelburg Castle also offers a glimpse into different historical periods: in 1289, it was first named as the location where a document issued by the Lords of Schwarzenberg was displayed. The keep’s construction suggests it dates to around the middle of the 13th century. The documentary reference and the architectural dating are two distinct historical points of reference.

In Emmendingen, the Leonhardt property on the market square brings together the city’s history and architectural heritage. It is the oldest surviving farmhouse in the city. The complex comprises the main house, the “Old Butchery,” the “Storehouse” and a barn; together, they form a cultural monument. The Hirsmüller Photography Museum offers another way to explore local history: it presents the company and family history of Emmendingen’s Hirsmüller photography business from 1861 to 1993. With historical images, documents and medical equipment, the Psychiatry Museum at the Emmendingen Center for Psychiatry shows what living, housing and treatment conditions were like in earlier times.

Concerts and Special Reasons to Visit

Free pavilion concerts take place in Emmendingen’s Stadtgarten on Sundays in July, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. If you are visiting that month, they can be an additional reason to make time for music outdoors. Dates may change, so check the specific schedule before your trip. Regular courtyard concerts led by Frank Goos are also held in the courtyard of the Leonhardt property. As programme details can change, it is worth checking the latest schedule.

Another way to get to know Emmendingen as an urban setting is the “Cornelia Schlosser” theatrical tour. The walk portrays Cornelia Schlosser, the younger sister of Johann Wolfgang Goethe, as a historical figure. Dates may vary. Alongside museums and historic buildings, this offers a range of ways to explore history: through exhibitions, surviving architecture or a guided tour around the city.

Wine, Hiking and the Kandel

Wine-growing in Emmendingen District is part of the Kaiserstuhl and Breisgau wine-growing areas and covers around 2,300 hectares. The Breisgau Wine Festival takes place in Emmendingen’s old town every year on the third weekend in August. More than 15 Breisgau winegrowers’ cooperatives and wineries present local wines, sparkling wines and new creations there. Festival dates and participants may change; if the festival is a key reason for your trip, check the specific details for the weekend you plan to visit.

For hiking, the district offers a network of 800 kilometres of hiking trails and routes, as well as five signposted circular trails. The latter were signposted by the Emmendingen Tourist Information office together with the Emmendingen local branch of the Black Forest Association; route details may be updated. The Elz and Simonswäldertal valleys have family-friendly routes that are often suitable for pushchairs, too. This qualification is useful for planning: routes are often suitable for pushchairs, but this does not apply universally to every trail.

At 1,242 metres, the Kandel is the highest mountain in Emmendingen District. Activities listed there include downhill ski runs, cross-country ski trails, a snowboard fun park, toboggan runs and snowshoe hiking. In addition, the district has 900 kilometres of cycling routes, including 250 kilometres of signposted routes. Hiking, cycling and winter sports therefore offer different options for planning your trip.

Find the Right Accommodation for Your Trip

When choosing accommodation, start with the experiences you have planned: are you focusing on museums, historic architecture and concert dates in Emmendingen, or would you mainly like to explore the district’s hiking and cycling trails? The Kandel and the wine-growing area also offer their own highlights. Decide which visits matter most to you, then compare the locations of suitable accommodation with your specific travel plans. This keeps your search focused on your interests without treating different places and activities as interchangeable.

Discover more destinations: Elzach, Simonswald, Waldkirch, Sexau, Malterdingen, Kenzingen, Herbolzheim, Emmendingen, Denzlingen, Bahlingen, Forchheim, Rheinhausen, Biederbach, Freiamt, Vörstetten, Endingen am Kaiserstuhl, Riegel Am Kaiserstuhl, Teningen, Sasbach Am Kaiserstuhl, Winden Im Elztal, Gutach Im Breisgau, Weisweil, Wyhl Am Kaiserstuhl.

Go to the overview of destinations: Baden-Württemberg.