Cross-trail Freiburg - Lake Constance: Freiburg - Ebnet

The Freiburg-Lake Constance cross-trail starts at the stop „Oberlinden“ of tram line S1.

Following the tracks, we go to the „Schwabentor“ and cross the Schlossbergring via the Schwabentorsteg. At the foot of the Schlossberg, we immediately stand in front of the historic signpost at the former starting point of the two long-distance hiking trails of the Black Forest Association. To the left is the new signpost location („Schwabentor“, 281 m), marked with the white-red lozenge pointing towards „Sieben Linden“. We climb in switchbacks up to the Greiffeneggschlössle and enjoy the view from the chestnut garden over Freiburg's old town with the cathedral and further onto the Black Forest.

On the further ascent, we pass a playground by the stairs to the Kanonenplatz. Where wax soldiers once performed their duty, now sharpened wooden poles remind of their lances and spears.

On the „Kanonenplatz“ (356 m) stood the outer castle of the Burghalde castle built in 1091 by the Zähringers. They founded the city of Freiburg at the foot of the Schlossberg. Today, the place is a popular excursion destination and viewpoint over the heights of the Black Forest, the Vosges, and the Kaiserstuhl. To the east, there is a beautiful view into the Dreisam valley. We enjoy the panorama over Freiburg, its local mountain Schönberg, and the Rhine valley. For an even more comprehensive view, a detour on the historical circular walk up to the Ludwigshöhe and its viewing platform is worthwhile.

Back on the wide Burghaldenring, we follow it on the cross-trail to the „Kleinen Kanonenplatz“. It formed the „small redoubt“, the forward work of the „Fort d'Aigle“ on the „Salzbüchsle“. The Schlossberg stairs lead up to the Schlossberg tower via 288 steps and 15 landings. After a further 153 steps, we can enjoy the phenomenal view over the city of Freiburg and its surroundings from three platforms. The striking, 33-meter-high observation tower on the „Salzbüchsle“ was erected in 2002. It is supported by long Douglas fir trunks that were felled by Hurricane Lothar in 1999 in the city forest. In 2014, the wooden trunks had to be secured with steel cables. The former small fort was connected to the upper castle through „communication“. The path marked with the yellow lozenge leads from here back onto the cross-trail.

From the junction of both paths „Über der Lochredoute“, the Burghaldenring continues through deciduous forest to the „Rote Hütte“. Here at the wayside lies the trunk of a 40-meter-long Douglas fir tree. It has been converted into the longest single-trunk bench in Freiburg.

To the left, the path follows the fitness trail to the crossing „Siebenlinden“. While the Kandel Höhenweg and Breisgauer Weinweg branch off here to the left, the cross-trail continues toward „St. Ottilien“. We briefly follow the forest road, pass the Katholikentagskreuz, then turn right into Vogelsangweg. At the next fork, we immediately leave it again to the left onto the path marked with a wooden sign „Parcours“, running parallel to the forest road. It leads us gently uphill eastwards to „St. Ottilien (460 m)“, to the pilgrimage church and beer garden. Incidentally, the 48th parallel runs right through here.

After the excursion restaurant, the path climbs up to the left. „Above St. Ottilien“, the „St. Wendelinweg“ runs to the „St. Wendelin Chapel (545 m)“.

We follow the St. Wendelinweg a short distance further. At the next fork, we descend sharply to the right via Albert-Schüle-Weg and Rosskopfweg into the Welchen valley, which features mostly combined bike/walking paths.

Past a barbecue area, we reach the „Welchental entrance (340 m)“ at the town sign of Ebnet. There are still 10 km to Buchenbach. Here there is the option to branch off to the „Ebnet final stop (0.8 km)“ to take a regularly scheduled bus (Sundays only on call) to the Littenweiler station and continue the cross-trail from Himmelreich.

From Ebnet the cross-trail continues on to Buchenbach.