Discover Freiamt: Forests, Mills and Regional Delights

In Freiamt, forests, crafts and regional products offer tangible discoveries: at Rollberg, trail stations introduce the forest ecosystem; at the Freihof Museum, you can watch a woman distiller making spirits; and the farmers’ market offers produce from local farms. This makes it easy to balance nature, exercise and regional discoveries in different ways.

Nature Trails and Exercise at Rollberg

The Rollberg Forest Adventure Trail runs for 2.5 km along forest and nature paths. At 19 stations, the forest ecosystem is presented in an engaging, hands-on way. The Rollberg Forest Fitness Trail has a different focus, with opportunities to train endurance, strength and coordination. Together with the extension loop, it is about 4.5 km long.

The two trails therefore differ both in theme and length. Both are largely accessible with a pushchair and with a wheelchair when accompanied. Check the conditions on site before your visit.

Freiamt also has four Nordic walking routes covering more than 24 km in total. From May to October, guided hikes take place regularly on Tuesdays. There is usually a shorter route of about 4–6 km and a longer one of about 8–10 km. The distances for the guided hikes refer to individual hikes; the more than 24 km, by contrast, cover all four Nordic walking routes. Check the events calendar for current dates.

In the Hünersedel area, the 5.6-hectare “Kreuzmoos” nature reserve lies at an altitude of about 700 m. It includes fen and wet meadows; rare plants found here include round-leaved sundew, bogbean and marsh pennywort. These names give the natural area a distinctive character, setting it apart from the stations and exercise facilities at Rollberg.

Milling Heritage and Regional Insights

The listed Schillingerhof Mill in the Pechofen Valley was built in 1802 as a grain mill. It became fully operational again after restoration in 1997. Visits are possible by prior arrangement. The Kniestein Chapel below Hünersedel was built in 1866, adding another named site to Freiamt’s historic landscape.

The Hünersedel Tower is another Freiamt site whose status matters when planning a visit: it is closed until further notice because of structural defects that must first be remedied through repair work. Check the current closure status before your trip.

At the Freihof Museum in the district of Ottoschwanden, you can watch the woman distiller making spirits on the first Friday of each month. The event combines a museum visit with a first-hand look at the production process. Check the latest information in advance if you want to plan your visit around the demonstration.

The Freiämter Farmers’ Market takes place on Fridays in Ottoschwanden. It offers fruit and vegetables, eggs, cheese, honey, homemade spirits, bread, farm-made ice cream and other products from local farms. Opening hours are shorter in winter. The market day is also an opportunity to discover regional produce; check the current opening hours when planning your visit.

Kurhaus, Garden and Relaxation

An 18-hole miniature golf course is located right next to the Kurhaus Freiamt. Its obstacles are individually designed and offer different levels of difficulty. The course operates seasonally; check the latest information if you are planning a visit.

The spa garden at the Kurhaus Freiamt features a diverse range of plants, including a colourful perennial garden, peonies, evergreen and wintergreen shrubs, bulb plants, more than 1,000 daffodils and a heather bed. Each group of plants adds a different accent to the garden, from shrubs and flowers to bulb plants.

For relaxation in the water, the Freiämter indoor swimming pool has a sauna area with infusions every half hour, a Finnish sauna at 90 °C and a steam room at 45 °C. The foot bath at the Brettental hiking car park is for residents and visitors. Check the current operating status of the sauna area before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Herbolzheim, Simonswald, Kenzingen, Biederbach, Bahlingen, Waldkirch, Sasbach Am Kaiserstuhl, Malterdingen.

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