Discover Emmendingen: Castles, Wine and Trails

Emmendingen district offers various reasons to plan a trip: historic castle complexes, hiking and cycling trails, winter sports opportunities on the Kandel, as well as winegrowing and culture in the town of Emmendingen. Which of these aspects interests you most can help determine the focus of your stay.

Castles steeped in history

Hochburg is one of Baden’s largest castle complexes. It was first mentioned in writing in 1161. At the site, the Association for the Preservation of the Hochburg Ruins runs a museum and offers guided tours. If you are planning a tour, check the specific dates in advance.

Kastelburg can also be viewed through different historical clues: it was first named in 1289 as the place where a charter of the Lords of Schwarzenberg was issued. The design of the keep suggests it was built around the middle of the 13th century. The documentary evidence and the architectural assessment represent two different ways of learning about a castle’s history—one is a dated written record, the other an interpretation of its architecture.

Culture in the town of Emmendingen

In Emmendingen, the Hirsmüller Photography Museum is dedicated to the business and family history of the Hirsmüller photography shop in Emmendingen from 1861 to 1993. The Psychiatric Museum at the Emmendingen Centre for Psychiatry (ZfP) explores a different subject: historical photographs, documents and medical equipment illustrate living, housing and treatment conditions in earlier times.

The Leonhardt property stands on the market square and is the oldest surviving farmhouse of a farming citizen in Emmendingen. The listed cultural monument comprises the main building, the “Alte Metzig,” the “Magazin” and a barn. Regular courtyard concerts are held in the inner courtyard under the direction of Frank Goos; specific programme dates may change.

The “Cornelia Schlosser” costumed walking tour takes visitors on a stroll through Emmendingen. Cornelia Schlosser, the younger sister of Johann Wolfgang Goethe, is portrayed as a historical figure. Dates may vary here, too. In July, free pavilion concerts are also held in the town garden every Sunday from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. As event dates may change, it is worth checking the current programme before your trip.

Hiking, cycling and winter on the Kandel

Emmendingen district has 800 kilometres of hiking trails and routes. The Emmendingen Tourist Information Office has also marked five circular hiking trails together with the Emmendingen local group of the Black Forest Association. Check the latest route details before setting off. The valleys of the Elz and Simonswald also have family-friendly routes that are often suitable for pushchairs.

The scale of the region is also impressive for cycling: the district has 900 kilometres of cycle routes, including 250 kilometres of signposted routes.

At 1,242 metres, the Kandel is the highest mountain in Emmendingen district. The winter sports available there include downhill ski runs, cross-country ski trails, a snowboarding fun park, toboggan slopes and snowshoe hiking. Check the current snow conditions on the Kandel before your trip.

Winegrowing and the wine festival

Winegrowing in Emmendingen district is part of the Kaiserstuhl and Breisgau wine-growing regions and covers around 2,300 hectares. The Breisgau Wine Festival takes place in Emmendingen’s old town every year on the third weekend of August. More than 15 Breisgau winegrowers’ cooperatives and wineries present local wines, sparkling wines and new creations there. As dates and participating businesses may change, it is advisable to check the details for the relevant festival before your trip.

This gives you a choice of different themes when planning your trip: castle history and museums, cultural events in Emmendingen, trails in the district or wine-growing traditions. When looking for a hotel, you can consider which of these matters most to your stay.

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

For the overview of the wider region: Baden-Württemberg.