Energy Route

1 The city wall with its gates and towers as well as the minster essentially shape the historic old town of Villingen. You can get a detailed map at the Tourist Info & Ticket Service at the Franziskaner Kulturzentrum (www.tourismus-vs.de). The Kaiserturm, built in 1372, is one of the historic watchtowers. It was renovated from 1992 to 1994. The Bickentor was erected in 1260 and is one of the first city gate towers. Attached directly to the city gate is the Bicken Monastery, which was the Ursuline Monastery and girls' school from 1782. Today it houses the St. Ursula School. The Obere Tor is the highest gate tower in the city. It is younger than the two other remaining gates, the Bickentor in the east and the Riettor in the west. The Riettor is the oldest city entrance and was probably built in spring 1233. It has a staircase to the "Keffit" prison. Behind the former Franciscan monastery stands the highest watchtower in the Villingen city wall, the Romäusturm, at 39 meters. A picture of the local hero Romäus, who was once imprisoned here, adorns the north side of the tower built from boss stones. The first construction phase of the Minster “Our Lady” was in 1120. The new building of the late Romanesque minster took place around 1220. Heinrich von Fürstenberg designated the minster as his burial place. In 1530, the protective patronage of the minster changed from “John the Baptist” to Mary – “Our Lady”. The Old Town Hall, located directly on the minster square and whose core dates back to the early 13th century, was extensively expanded in the 16th century and received roughly its current appearance at that time. It is used for special exhibitions and weddings.

2 The spa town Unterkirnach, in the middle of the Southern Black Forest Nature Park, is considered the former cradle of Black Forest orchestrion building. Black Forest orchestrions were in demand worldwide and entertained people in cafés, inns, and dance halls. Today, they can only be admired in museums – quirky musical automata from another era. Tours available on request at the Tourist Information.

3 At the charming Mühlenplatz in Unterkirnach, the historic Kirnach mill and the idyllic mill pond enchant visitors. Every Tuesday at 10 a.m. there is a mill tour. Every Tuesday morning, you can watch the baker at work over his shoulder.

4 The Unterkirnach play barn offers all year round, in any weather, over 1,000 sqm of play and sports area on three levels. Regular action and animation programs ensure a lot of variety. In the children's paradise, western saloon, Tanni's Spaceworld, adventure Tanniland, and Tanni's small animal barn, kids will find everything their hearts desire. Cyclists are warmly welcome here.

5 The Stöcklewald Tower is a popular excursion and rest destination. 127 steps lead up to the viewing platform, from where you can enjoy the panorama over the central Black Forest to the Feldberg, the Swabian Alb, and the Alps.

6 The 150-year collection of Black Forest clocks in the German Clock Museum in Furtwangen is the most comprehensive of its kind worldwide and offers deep insight into the history, tradition, and culture of the Black Forest. Clocks from abroad were also collected here as early as the 19th century. Acquisitions by the state, e.g., the Hellmut Kienzle collection in 1975, complement the international collection. With over 8,000 objects, the collection depicts a multifaceted and international picture of history and technology surrounding the phenomenon of time.

7 The Watchmaker’s House in Vöhrenbach is a real gem. The listed building was renovated by volunteers from the Heimatgilde in countless hours of work and is planned to be converted into a museum.

8 The St. Michael’s Chapel (or Bruderkirchle) near Vöhrenbach is a pilgrimage chapel shrouded in legends from the 16th century. Directly opposite this jewel, a rest area with a pond invites visitors to relax.

9 The Magdalenenberg, located southwest of Villingen and the largest burial mound in Central Europe, was first the subject of an excavation in 1890. Eighty years later, the German Research Foundation left no stone unturned and found 126 secondary burials with rich grave goods in the burial mound. The burial chamber, dated to 616 BC, is the largest Hallstatt-period wooden find in Central Europe and can be viewed today in the Franziskaner Museum in the Villingen old town.

This route is presented by Stadtwerke Villingen-Schwenningen.