The Breg, the longest headstream of the Danube, rises in Furtwangen; its source is in the Martinskapelle area. In addition to the source of the Breg and rock formations, Furtwangen is home to a historic place of worship, museums and winter sports activities. These varied attractions can help you narrow down your accommodation search to match your travel interests—from clockmaking and local history to hiking and cross-country skiing.
Brend, Spring and Landscape
The forested Brend area is home to the Günterfelsen, large granite boulders covered in moss. Built in 1905, the Brend Tower rises almost 20 metres above the summit. It is open to the public, and there is an inn right next to it; a nature friends’ house is nearby. Access and nearby dining options may change; check the conditions before your visit.
One specific hiking option connects several of these landscape features: the easy-rated Martinskapelle–Donauquelle–Brend circular trail is 5.56 kilometres long and takes around one hour and 35 minutes. It passes the Günterfelsen and the source of the Breg, with views of the Feldberg and the Rhine Valley. This circular trail brings together a spring, rock formations and far-reaching views. Route details may change; check them before setting out.
Architectural History, Museums and Mills
Martinskapelle is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Furtwangen and has been listed since 1951. St. Andrew’s Church in Neukirch, a district of Furtwangen, offers its own art-historical highlights: it has a Baroque interior and important works by Adam Winterhalder and Matthias Faller.
The KIRNER Cabinet displays around 160 works by Furtwangen genre painter Johann Baptist Kirner, including pencil and ink sketches. The Gasthaus Arche Museum dedicates four floors to local history, including historic household equipment and an old stable with feeding passages. The German Clock Museum’s collection comprises more than 8,000 objects from around the world. Its themes range from a single painter and local everyday history to clocks from an international context.
The Hexenloch Mill lies between St. Märgen and Furtwangen and was built as a sawmill in 1825. It has working sash and circular saws powered by a waterwheel. Products for sale include Black Forest ham, farmer’s sausage, honey, berry wines and spirits. The restaurant serves Black Forest specialties and homemade cakes, including Black Forest gateau. The range of products and menu may change; check the current offerings in advance.
Planning Winter Trails and Activities
The Bregtal Lift is at Staatsberg; the Martinskapelle cross-country ski network includes circular trails from Martinskapelle via Rohrhardsberg to the Brend. Hiking trails and cross-country ski tracks start right outside the Höhengasthaus Kolmenhof, by the source of the Breg and the historic St. Martin’s Chapel. Check local facility details before your trip. The lift, circular trails and paths by the spring and chapel offer different options for planning your visit.
Find Accommodation to Match Your Travel Interests
This helps you coordinate your outings with the time available during your stay. Check the latest details in advance for the Martinskapelle–Donauquelle–Brend circular trail and local facilities.
Cultural Context in the Schwarzwald-Baar District
In December 2014, Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet in the Schwarzwald-Baar district was added to Germany’s nationwide UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage register. It adds a distinct regional cultural dimension to the local museums and historic buildings.
Discover more destinations: Hüfingen, Vöhrenbach, Gütenbach, Neukirch, Villingen-Schwenningen, Niedereschach, Brigachtal, Bad Dürrheim
For the regional travel overview: Schwarzwald-Baar District.
