Wittenschwand lies in a broad high plateau basin at an average elevation of around 940 metres. Fields and meadows lie between its smaller associated settlements. This gives your explorations a range of themes: the highland landscape, stone and mining, and the history of St. Andrew’s Chapel.
High Plateau Basin and Klosterweiher
The broad high plateau basin and the fields and meadows between the smaller settlements give Wittenschwand its landscape setting. Another notable feature is Klosterweiher: it can be seen from Horbach and lies mostly within the Friedrich-August-Grube nature reserve. The area can thus be understood both through its open highland landscape and through the protected setting surrounding the pond.
Stone and Mining at Friedrich-August-Grube
Above Klosterweiher is the Friedrich-August-Grube nature experience and themed playground. Its features include stone-themed play equipment, stone sound installations and information boards about mining. There is also a mine exploration tunnel that can be reopened, as well as protected nickel spoil heaps with a striking occurrence of lichens. The themes are varied: the play equipment and sound installations focus on stone, the boards provide information about mining, and the spoil heaps and lichens connect the site to nature. Play, mining history and a protected natural feature are thus presented side by side, without any one of them overshadowing the others.
The History of St. Andrew’s Chapel
St. Andrew’s Chapel in Wittenschwand was formerly the Chapel of St. Jodocus and was built around 1630. It was later transferred to the Protestant parish of St. Blasien, after a new Catholic chapel had been built in Wittenschwand. This sequence puts its history in context: the former Chapel of St. Jodocus was followed by the construction of a new Catholic chapel, and then St. Andrew’s Chapel was transferred to the Protestant parish.
Routes in the wider destination of Dachsberg (Southern Black Forest)
In the wider destination of Dachsberg (Southern Black Forest), the Albsteig Black Forest trail runs from the mouth of the Alb near Albbruck to its sources on Feldberg. Along the way, the route climbs Dachsberg, from where it offers fantastic views. Since 2017, the Albsteig Black Forest has been a premium hiking trail. Its endpoints define the direction of this long-distance route, while the climb to Dachsberg marks another notable section.
Another focus is the mining trail. It is around seven kilometres long, connects former mining sites and can be started at the Mineral Museum in Urberg or at the town hall in Wittenschwand. This gives you both an approximate route length and two specific starting points for planning. The trail can be distinguished from the Albsteig’s landscape and long-distance route themes by its links to former mining sites.
Dachsberg and Ibach have an extensive network of trails for hiking, Nordic walking, cycling and winter tours. It is available to residents, people seeking local recreation and tourists alike. For winter walks, there are also groomed trails across the plateaus and through the forests. This is a seasonal option and depends on snow conditions; if that is what you are planning, check the snow conditions before your visit.
Mining and Traditional Beekeeping in Dachsberg
The “Gottesehre” Mineral Museum in Dachsberg-Urberg uses a film and other media to provide information about the disused mine. Several display cases showcase splendid minerals from the mine. The mining trail and the museum have different focuses: the trail connects former mining sites, while the museum centres on the history of the disused mine and minerals from the mine.
The Zeidlerpfad trail in Dachsberg-Urberg, near the “Goldenhof”, shows how honey was harvested and bees were kept in the past. It offers historical insights into traditional forest beekeeping and its ecological significance. Dachsberg and Ibach are also members of the Black Forest Biosphere Reserve, established in 2016. Together, these themes provide a distinct regional perspective on mining history, traditional beekeeping and the landscape of the wider destination.
Discover more destinations: Urberg, Vogelbach.
Back to the wider travel overview: Dachsberg.
