Winden im Elztal: Landscape, Leisure and Fasnet

Winden im Elztal is nestled among fields, meadows and forests in the heart of the ZweiTälerLand holiday region. The municipality consists of the districts of Niederwinden and Oberwinden. In Oberwinden, you’ll find the leisure centre at Kirchberg—a specific place to visit for anyone who wants to include activities for play and exercise alongside the surrounding scenery.

Leisure at the Kirchberg centre

The leisure centre includes a playground, mini golf and table tennis. There is also an exercise trail for young and old, a children’s playground and a boules court. The exercise trail, children’s playground and boules court are freely accessible all year round. For families, the play and exercise facilities provide practical ideas; the range of activities also extends from mini golf and table tennis to boules. This allows you to consider different activities when planning your day, rather than focusing your stay on just one pastime.

Fasnet traditions in Oberwinden

The local history of Fasnet also offers a special insight. One historic Fasnet tradition in Oberwinden was the men’s choir’s Kappenabend, held at the Sonne from 1949 onwards on Schmutzige Dunschdig. On Fasnet-Samschdig, the local music association organised a torchlight procession through the village, followed by an evening of entertainment at the Gasthaus Bahnhof. The Kappenabend and the procession followed by an evening event represent different types of celebrations associated with Oberwinden.

Landscape and holiday planning

The landscape of fields, meadows and forests gives Winden im Elztal its natural setting; the leisure centre at Kirchberg adds practical activities to the mix. When planning, you can weigh these options against each other: should the landscape be the main focus of your stay, or would you also like to include activities such as mini golf, table tennis and boules?

In the wider destination of Emmendingen

Looking at the wider destination of Emmendingen broadens the picture to include activities across the district. Emmendingen district has a network of 800 kilometres of hiking trails and routes. The district has 900 kilometres of cycling routes, including 250 kilometres of signposted routes. These figures describe different options for planning regional activities around hiking or cycling.

At 1,242 metres, the Kandel is the highest mountain in Emmendingen district. Winter activities available there include downhill ski slopes, cross-country ski trails, a fun park for snowboarders, toboggan runs and opportunities for snowshoeing. The winter activities on the Kandel therefore make up a distinct highlight within the wider Emmendingen destination.

History and wine culture in Emmendingen

The Hochburg was first mentioned in writing in 1161. It is one of Baden’s largest castle complexes. An association dedicated to preserving the ruins of Hochburg runs a museum there and offers guided tours. The castle combines a long history with a cultural attraction today; it is advisable to check the exact tour dates in advance.

Winegrowing also shapes the wider Emmendingen destination: in the district, it is part of the Kaiserstuhl and Breisgau wine-growing regions and covers around 2,300 hectares. At the Breisgau Wine Festival, held annually in Emmendingen’s old town on the third weekend in August, more than 15 Breisgau winegrowers’ cooperatives and wineries showcase local wines, sparkling wines and new creations. If you would like to include this festival in your plans, check the dates for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Vörstetten, Forchheim, Rheinhausen, Weisweil, Waldkirch, Denzlingen, Endingen am Kaiserstuhl, Simonswald.

See the wider travel guide: Emmendingen.