Aside from Freiburg’s Bächle, the Old Town, Freiburg Cathedral, and the Historic Department Store, the Schauinsland is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. The Schauinslandbahn’s valley station in Horben is just a short trip away, whether you’re traveling by car or using public transportation.
The largest city in the Black Forest—often referred to as the “Gateway to the Black Forest” or the “Capital of the Black Forest Region”—has its own mountain, the 1,284-meter-high Schauinsland. From the Schauinslandbahn’s mountain station, you can enjoy the view over the Upper Rhine Valley: Basel lies to the south; directly across from the Black Forest to the west lie the Vosges Mountains; and further north—though no longer visible—is Strasbourg. Between the Black Forest to the east and the Vosges Mountains lie Alsace on the French side and the Kaiserstuhl on the German side, separated by the Rhine.
The Schauinsland – A Popular Destination for Freiburg Residents
A trip to the Schauinsland is a favorite among many Freiburg residents. There are plenty of recreational activities to enjoy: hiking, a mining museum, the Schniederlihof Farmhouse Museum, mountain biking, and, in winter, of course, cross-country ski trails and toboggan runs.
Other popular destinations in the Black Forest are easily accessible from the summit: the Feldberg, Schluchsee, and Titisee. People who come here are looking for fresh air and nature. Nearly 24,000 km of hiking trails await you. As Goethe once said, “You’ve only truly been somewhere if you’ve been there on foot.”
A journey through history reveals the economic importance of the Schauinsland to Freiburg. Zinc, iron, and silver were mined there. This brought wealth to Freiburg in the Middle Ages and made it possible to build the cathedral.
To the Summit on the Schauinslandbahn
One of the most impressive ways to reach the Schauinsland is by the Schauinslandbahn. Built in the 1920s, the Schauinslandbahn is Germany’s longest circulating gondola lift, with a length of 3,600 meters. With 37 gondolas, it climbs 746 meters in elevation.
If you’re planning a trip to Freiburg, don’t forget to visit the Schauinsland. And if you’re planning a tour of the Black Forest with us, we’d be happy to include the Schauinsland in your itinerary.
