The ruins of Schenkenburg Castle are Schenkenzell’s landmark and provide a distinctive historical point of reference when choosing where to visit. The village also offers monastery history in the district of Wittichen, St. George’s Chapel in Kaltbrunn and trails leading to a range of destinations. This makes it easy to plan your stay around a particular focus: historic sites, a hiking destination at Staufenkopf, the Kleine Kinzig Reservoir or a mountain bike tour. When looking for accommodation in Schenkenzell, this distinction can help you put your own plans for each day first.
Trails with Different Destinations
The Staufenkopf barbecue hut sits high above Schenkenzell. Hiking trails lead to the 683-metre summit of Staufenkopf via Rinkenbach, Wanne or Sattellege.
The Rossberg Reservoir Tour offers a different destination: it starts at Schenkenzell Town Hall, passes through Wittichen to the Kleine Kinzig Reservoir, and returns to Schenkenzell. This lets you compare two different destinations: Staufenkopf as a summit and the reservoir as the goal of the Rossberg Tour. As surface and access conditions may change, check them before setting out.
For mountain biking, the 21-kilometre Bettelmännle Tour is a named option. It starts and ends in Schenkenzell and leads through woodland and over hills. Along the way, it repeatedly offers views of the characteristic Black Forest landscape. Check current trail conditions before riding.
The Flößerpfad Kinzigtal also makes Schenkenzell a landmark along a longer route. Following former timber-rafting weirs, the trail reaches Schenkenzell station and continues from there to the ruins of Schenkenburg Castle and Schiltach. The trail is around 33 kilometres long in total: approximately 11 kilometres make up the Loßburg–Alpirsbach section and approximately 22 kilometres the Alpirsbach–Wolfach section. If you plan to take this trail, check the current signs before setting out.
The Kinzigtäler Way of St. James offers another perspective on the route stages. Schenkenzell is the first stage destination on the approximately 16-kilometre section from Loßburg to Schenkenzell.
Monastery History and Chapel
In the district of Wittichen, Luitgard founded a hermitage in 1324 with 33 sisters. Only the Lange Bau and the Baroque church remain of the former monastery. Together with the ruins of Schenkenburg Castle, Wittichen forms another historical focus within Schenkenzell.
In Schenkenzell-Kaltbrunn, St. George’s Chapel was first mentioned in 1275 in a list of parishes belonging to the Diocese of Constance. The chapel may be used for funeral services and private occasions such as weddings, baptisms and other Christian celebrations. Its use must be arranged with the relevant contact persons. If you are planning such a celebration, making these arrangements is therefore part of the preparations.
Getting Here by Train
Schenkenzell is on the Offenburg–Freudenstadt railway line and can be reached on the Ortenau S-Bahn, which serves Schenkenzell station. Check the current timetable before departure. The station is also a specific landmark on the Flößerpfad: from there, the route continues to the ruins of Schenkenburg Castle and Schiltach.
Discover more destinations: Schiltach, Sulz am Neckar, Vöhringen, Epfendorf, Zimmern ob Rottweil, Villingendorf, Eschbronn, Dornhan
For the full travel overview: Rottweil.
