Villingen-Schwenningen - the friendly twin town
Anyone who likes to go on a voyage of discovery will be delighted by the historical flair of the modern Zähringer town of Villingen. Characteristic of the town centre are the cathedral "Unserer Lieben Frau" and the cathedral fountain, the almost completely preserved town wall, the mighty fortified and gate towers, beautiful half-timbered houses, babbling brooks and romantic winding alleyways, which reveal new secrets with every visit. Here you can forget everyday life, unwind and enjoy the cultural mix of 1000 years of town history and impressive sights in combination with the wild and romantic Black Forest landscape.
In Schwenningen, once the world's largest clock-making town, time has not stood still. The duet of tradition and progress works here. A splendid Wilhelminian-style villa here, a modern building there - a symbiosis that never ceases to amaze. You can relax and enjoy nature in the 4000-year-old nature reserve "Schwenninger Moos", which is also home to the source of the Neckar. The source of the Neckar can be visited in the Möglingshöhe city park.
Villingen-Schwenningen can be explored on your own or with a knowledgeable and interesting guided tour that leaves no questions about the town's history unanswered.
The twin town is very close to nature and offers plenty of variety in the countryside. The numerous supra-regional walking, hiking and cycling trails (such as the Black Forest and Alb Cycle Paradise, the Neckar Valley Cycle Path, etc.) in and around Villingen-Schwenningen make active recreation possible.
Centrally located in the border triangle of Germany, France and Switzerland, Villingen-Schwenningen is the ideal starting point for excursions to the Black Forest, Alsace or Lake Constance. All destinations can be reached by car in approx. 30, 60 or 90 minutes.
Villingen-Schwenningen - a town with great attention to detail, rich in tradition and at the same time lively and modern, is looking forward to your visit!
The nine suburbs also welcome you warmly:
Herzogenweiler
This pretty little town surrounded by greenery and fragrant Black Forest fir trees lies to the south-west of Villingen. As the name suggests, it was the hamlet of the Dukes of Zähringen, first mentioned in a document in 1208. The small rural settlement attracts visitors with its location in beautiful natural surroundings, wonderful footpaths and cycle paths that lead past the village, and rural, home-style hospitality: the rustic "Gasthof Hirschen" still slaughters its own meat - just like in the old days - and invites you to enjoy a meal in a cosy atmosphere. Herzogenweiler is a former glassmaking town. Why not take a look at genuine Black Forest glassware in the local museum and follow the documented history of glass production!
Marbach
At 3.80 metres high, the smallest church tower to date stands unchallenged in this village of 2000 inhabitants in the Brigach Valley, which is also a stage on the Black Forest Wutach Gorge circular hiking trail. With a population of 2,000, Marbach is a pleasant little community south of Villingen, which welcomes guests to its two inns or family-friendly holiday flats.
Marbach lies on the east bank of the Brigach. The village was first mentioned in a document around 1200 and was probably an old Alemannic settlement area, as can be deduced from grave finds. The monasteries of St. Gallen and Amtenhausen had ownership rights to the village.
Mühlhausen
The village in the Mühlbach valley with its 830 inhabitants is worth a visit for several reasons: the interesting farmer's museum, the Heimatstube, the smithy, the bakehouse, the mill and the Göpelhaus, where ghosts and witches are baptised every year in January, give you the feeling of being transported back in time. Come and see for yourself! The open day in the mill as a contribution to the German Mill Day, the "Backhausfest" in mid-September and the autumn festival with a hammer run at the beginning of October are also special events that make Mühlhausen a beautiful place to linger.
Obereschach
This idyllic holiday resort will be happy to welcome you, for example in its family-friendly holiday flats, charming private rooms, traditional inns or in the beautiful guesthouse with its cosy café. Sporty guests will get their money's worth in this village of 2000 inhabitants: Obereschach has well-maintained tennis courts and beautiful paths for cycling or hiking.
Pfaffenweiler
Being in nature, relaxing and discovering - Pfaffenweiler is the perfect place to do just that. The Tannenhörnle and Plattenmoos nature reserves with their rare flora and fauna, the Celtic burial mound on the Magdalenenberg and dark green, dense forests surround the residential area. On hikes along the well-maintained cycle and hiking trails that lead past Pfaffenweiler, you can simply unwind and enjoy nature. How about a break at the leisure centre with its cosy barbecue areas?
Rietheim
In the valley of the Danube source river Brigach and the Wolfbach stream in the foothills of the Black Forest, 3 km south of the old Zähringer town of Villingen, lies Rietheim at an altitude of 710 metres. The charming local recreational landscape is protected by the "Villingen Süd" landscape conservation area. An agricultural nature trail leads to the Laiblewald forest and Magdalenenberg along cycle paths and hiking trails beautifully embedded in the Black Forest landscape. In your free time, you can clear your head by playing tennis and other sports on the sports and tennis courts or simply have some sporting fun. With the barbecue area or the children's playground, Rietheim offers you and your family beautiful places to relax.
Tannheim
Tannheim became famous thanks to ski jumping world champion Martin Schmitt, who calls this beautiful village in the Black Forest home.
It is home to the nationally renowned aftercare clinic for children and adolescents suffering from cancer, heart disease and cystic fibrosis.
The traditional holiday resort has a wide range of offers for you. An outdoor swimming pool, a sports centre built in 1999 with two football pitches, three tennis courts and associated clubhouses as well as an adjacent shooting club make your stay in Tannheim even more enjoyable. In winter, a cross-country ski trail takes you to Pfaffenweiler or Herzogenweiler, while in summer there are well-developed hiking trails to the Plattenmoos nature reserve, which impresses with its unique flora and fauna, or to the Wolterdinger Weiher pond and the Zindelstein district with its castle ruins. Tannheim's charming location offers views as far as the Swabian Alb and the Alps. The neighbouring towns of Villingen-Schwenningen and Donaueschingen are just a short drive away, as is skiing in the nearby Black Forest.
Weigheim
The easternmost suburb of Villingen-Schwenningen was, like Obereschach, owned by the Johanniterkommende zu Villingen from 1317 to 1805. Situated on the Black Jura rock, Weigheim offers guests the opportunity to stay in two cosy inns or use the holiday flats for a longer stay. For leisure activities, the village also has beautiful sports and tennis courts as well as a barbecue area and children's playground.
Weilersbach
Weilersbach is characterised by its charming location on the Ammelbach, which cuts deep into the shell limestone plateau. Family-friendly holiday flats, a children's playground as well as sports and tennis courts offer families a nice offer. An inn and two restaurants invite you to linger in a cosy atmosphere, but you can also take part in sporting activities and use the beautiful hiking trails and cross-country ski runs that pass by the village.
