Glottertal – Vineyards, Black Forest and Discovery Trail
Accommodation in Glottertal
Vineyards on steep south-facing slopes, trails through the countryside and a themed trail with stories from the valley define Glottertal. The village lies on the western edge of the Black Forest, in Baden’s wine-growing region, in the Breisgau area, and 14 kilometres from the university city of Freiburg. This gives you a choice of hiking, wine-growing history and cycling trips when planning your visit. Which of these appeals to you most can also guide your choice of a holiday apartment in Glottertal.
Between Kandel Mountain and the vineyards
The municipality stretches from the western entrance to the valley, at 280 metres above sea level, to Kandel Mountain, which rises to 1,243 metres. Vineyards lie on the southern slopes of its foothills and are among the steepest and highest-altitude vineyards in Germany. Wine is grown here at elevations of up to 500 metres above sea level; grapes have been cultivated for centuries at the foot of the Black Forest mountains. In Glottertal, mountain scenery and wine-growing thus come together. If you are interested in both, you will find different ways to explore them locally: alongside the landscape, the Discovery Trail also covers wine, while the vineyards offer a vivid look at local wine-growing.
Discovery Trail: routes with different themes
The Glottertal Discovery Trail is a themed route around the village. A dedicated trail marker indicates the route; along the way, numerous illustrated panels provide information about the area through engaging texts, including texts for children. The main route is 6.5 kilometres long and is also suitable for families with young children. It is easily accessible with a pushchair—a practical advantage if you are looking for a route suitable for pushchairs when planning your day.
If you are interested in wine, you can choose the vineyard route. It leads through the vines of Eichberg and the heart of the Glottertal wine-growing area, the “Roter Bur” vineyard. Along the way, you can enjoy views across the valley; the route also offers insights into Glottertal wine. Wine-growing is the focus here, while other sections of the Discovery Trail explore different topics.
The Glotterbad route focuses on the origins of the historic Glotterbad sanatorium. Three themed panels tell the eventful story of Glotterbad, from its origins in the 15th century to the present day. Another independent option is the Urgraben route: this short circular hike, just under eight kilometres long, explores mining in Glottertal and the “Urgraben” technical monument. You can therefore choose your hike according to what you most want to discover: wine-growing, the history of Glotterbad, or mining and technology.
Hiking, breaks and cycling
Glottertal has 100 kilometres of marked hiking trails, so the Discovery Trail is not the only themed route available. During hikes around the village, the Glottertal nature loungers offer places to take a break amid nature and at scenic viewpoints; all are accessible via marked hiking trails. If you like to build a break into your hike, you can make one of these spots your destination or a place to rest.
You can also explore the surrounding area by bike: Glottertal is a good starting point for both challenging and leisurely rides. The well-signposted cycling network takes you through sunny Breisgau and the Kaiserstuhl, into the neighbouring valleys of Elztal, Simonswäldertal and Dreisamtal, and to the city of Freiburg. Alongside hikes, you can choose cycling trips to a range of regional destinations. So, when looking for a holiday apartment, first consider whether you want to spend most of your time exploring the valley’s hiking trails and themes, or also plan cycling trips into the surrounding countryside.
Discover more places
Discover more places in Sölden, Merzhausen, Heuweiler, Oberglottertal, Schluchsee, Lenzkirch, Dittishausen and Umkirch.
For the overarching travel guide, see: Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald.
