Discover Furtwangen in the Black Forest

Furtwangen in the Black Forest brings together the source of the Breg, distinctive forest and rock landscapes, historic sites and clockmaking culture. The Breg, the Danube’s longest headstream, rises in Furtwangen; the Breg Spring is in the Martinskapelle area. Nature, history and culture add different touches to your stay—from a walk through the forest to a glimpse of a clock collection.

Breg Spring, Rocks and Trails

The Günter Rocks lie in the wooded Brend area: large, moss-covered granite boulders that form a striking rock formation among the trees. Brend is a popular destination for excursions, and its summit offers panoramic views. The Brend Tower, built in 1905, stands there, rising almost 20 metres above the summit. The tower is freely accessible, an inn is right next to it, and a Naturfreundehaus is nearby. Check the latest information on access and places to stop for refreshments before your visit.

One specific way to experience the landscape is the easy Martinskapelle–Danube Spring–Brend loop trail. It is 5.56 kilometres long and takes about 1 hour 35 minutes. The route passes the Günter Rocks and the Breg Spring; along the way, there are views towards Feldberg and the Rhine Valley. Trail details may change, so check them locally before setting out. For cross-country skiing, the trail network at Martinskapelle includes circular routes via Rohrhardsberg to Brend. There is also the Bregtal lift at Staatsberg. This lets you choose among the options described according to your interest in a loop walk, cross-country skiing or a visit to the tower.

The Höhengasthaus Kolmenhof is located by the Breg Spring and the historic St. Martin’s Chapel; hiking trails and cross-country ski tracks start right outside. Check the latest operating details before your trip. The Naturfreundehaus Brend is right on the Pforzheim–Basel Westweg and serves regional specialities; here, too, you should check operating details before your trip.

Chapel, Clocks and Local History

Martinskapelle is one of Furtwangen’s oldest surviving buildings and was listed as a historic monument in 1951. The KIRNER Cabinet is dedicated to Johann Baptist Kirner, the genre painter from Furtwangen: the approximately 160 works on display include pencil and ink drawings. The German Clock Museum offers another perspective on the region, with a collection of more than 8,000 objects from around the world.

Local history is presented across four floors at the Gasthaus Arche Museum. Exhibits include historic household appliances and an old stable with feeding passages. In Neukirch, a district of Furtwangen, St. Andrew’s Church is also worth a look for its furnishings: it is decorated in the Baroque style and preserves significant works by Adam Winterhalder and Matthias Faller. Together, the chapel, museum and church offer different ways to explore the local history and art.

Sawmill, Specialities and Demonstration Distillery

The Hexenloch Mill lies between St. Märgen and Furtwangen. It was built as a sawmill in 1825; its working vertical and circular saws are powered by the waterwheel. The shop sells Black Forest products such as ham, farmhouse sausage, honey, berry wines and spirits. The restaurant serves Black Forest specialities and homemade cakes, including Black Forest gateau. The product range and restaurant offering may change; check before visiting.

The Rotenbauernhof operates as a demonstration distillery and offers tours that may also be suitable for groups and families. Confirm tour availability in advance. These glimpses of traditional crafts complement museum visits with a different subject: here, the focus is on sawmill technology and distilling rather than collection pieces.

More destinations in the Schwarzwald-Baar district

As a regional addition, separate from the destinations in Furtwangen, the Schwarzwald-Baar district offers other options for excursions. At Kirnbergsee in Bräunlingen-Unterbränd, a 2.5-kilometre circular trail goes around the oval lake and across the dam. The lake is part of a flora-fauna-habitat area; rare plants grow near the shore. For something on a very different scale, there is the 109-kilometre WasserWeltenSteig: on the German side, it runs entirely through the region, from Germany’s highest waterfalls in Triberg to the Rhine Falls near Neuhausen.

You can choose Furtwangen as a destination based on the experiences that interest you most; you can plan other destinations in the Schwarzwald-Baar district as a regional addition.

Discover more destinations: Dauchingen, Vöhrenbach, Bräunlingen, Gütenbach, Triberg in the Black Forest, Nußbach, Gremmelsbach, Tuningen.

See the overarching travel overview: Schwarzwald-Baar district.