Hochtal route

1 Schonach is known not only for its many natural beauties but also as the venue of the FIS World Cup for Nordic Combined. The 'Black Forest Cup' has been held here for over 40 years - ski jumping from the Langenwaldschanze and cross-country skiing contests with the world’s best athletes competing in the Wittenbach cross-country stadium.

2 The almost 400-year-old farm museum (former residential part of the Reinertonishof) was damaged by a fire in 2006. The first sod for rebuilding was turned in 2008. The traditional museum was reopened in 2010.

3 Schönwald was settled about 750 years ago. The impressive beauty of its forests surely inspired its name. The place originally consisted of the mighty Black Forest estates, a famous stone’s throw apart, which dominated the high valleys. Only later did the village grow around the church, becoming what it is today: a well-kept spa town focused on hospitality for over 100 years. However, time has not stood still. Schönwald has recently opened up to the younger generation and was once again awarded as a particularly family-friendly year-round vacation spot in 2015. Thanks to healthy and invigorating mountain air, Schönwald is recognized as a premium-class health spa.

4 Schönwald also has its ski jumping hill, the Adlerschanze, whose in-run tower is a landmark far above Schönwald. From 1968 to 2005, major competitions took place here for men and, more recently, for women. In summer 2008, it was decided to discontinue the large Adlerschanze for cost reasons. The two youth hills are still in use.

5 The Blindensee is a legendary raised bog lake located at the watershed between Gutach and Elz. The outflowless 'Blindensee', with its typical rich raised bog plant life including cranberry, grasses, clover, heather, etc., can be reached via a wooden boardwalk. The lake’s name likely comes from a former nearby farm whose owner was blind from birth (Blindenhof). Its incredible beauty throughout the seasons must be experienced, especially when the sky’s blue reflects perfectly still on the dark forest lake in calm weather.

6 Schonach, including the districts of Rensberg, Rohrhardsberg (an independent municipality until 1970), and Schonachbach (situated below Triberg), is one of the largest village communities in the Black Forest and lies in one of the most beautiful high valleys, 770 - 1163 meters above sea level – village centre at 850 m. The landscape shows a variety of hills and valleys and is crisscrossed by forests, meadows, pastures, heaths, and bogs. Geologically, the area belongs to the Triberg granite massif, where rock formations have created large and small waterfalls on the Gutach, Schonach, Elz, and Alpirsbach rivers. The bioclimatic conditions correspond to a mild climate from May to September, and a stimulating climate from December to March, which led to Schonach being classified as a spa town.