Wieslet: Meadows, Slate and History

Wieslet combines striking landscape features with traces of history: wooded slopes and open meadows shape the scenery, while church paintings, the remains of a castle and the history of a museum reveal other sides of the area. Together, they make this a destination whose appeal lies in its different perspectives—from terrain and rock to architectural and local history.

Landscape and Rock

Wieslet is shaped by the Kleinwiesentäler basin: wooded, steep slopes and spurs alternate with permanent meadows and pastures in valley hollows and on level ground. In the southern part of the municipal area, the landscape opens into a broad valley with meadows and pastures. This contrast makes the slope, hollow and open valley distinct themes for planning a trip. Would you rather explore wooded, steep slopes and spurs, or meadows and pastures? The landscape offers more than one starting point for your interests.

Another nature-related feature is the Farnbuck slate quarry in Wieslet, a small, now-disused quarry in the Weitenau Mountains. Slate rocks from the Schlächtenhaus Slate Formation were quarried there. They are blackish-grey hornfels slates consisting mainly of quartz and biotite. Farnbuck shifts the focus from the shapes of the terrain to the properties of the rock: the formation, colour and composition give this nature-related feature a distinct character.

Church, Castle and Museum

Construction of the new Evangelical parish church in Wieslet began in 1757; the surviving features include wall paintings from 1760 and historic gallery elements in the Bauernbarock style. These details bring together architectural history, dated paintings and the historic design of the gallery. If you enjoy looking at architecture through its individual features, it is worth considering these details as distinct aspects of the church’s history.

The surviving remains of Rotenberg include the base of a round tower and a section of the castle wall. They stand on a hilltop northeast of the village of Wieslet. Rotenberg Castle was the seat of Dietrich IV of Rötteln. The surviving structures and the castle’s historic function offer two distinct ways to explore it: the form of its remaining ruins and its role as Dietrich IV’s seat.

The Ernst-Schleith Museum was established on 23 May 1996 in Ernst Schleith’s former studio at Wieslet School. The date, the former studio location and the artist’s name come together in a specific history of the museum. It complements the architectural heritage with insight into the history of the institution, without placing another castle or church at the centre.

In the wider destination of Kleines Wiesental

In the wider destination of Kleines Wiesental, Nonnenmattweiher lies at an elevation of 913 metres and is one of the highest still-water lakes in the Black Forest. It was artificially dammed in the early 18th century. In the process, part of the peaty lakebed broke away and formed a floating peat island. Several species of peat moss grow on the island, along with cotton grass, cranberry and round-leaved sundew. The presence of these plants may vary seasonally. The lake’s origins connect the pond, peat soil and plant life, creating a nature-related focus distinct from the Farnbuck slate quarry.

Tegernau Church is also part of the wider destination of Kleines Wiesental. In 1935, it was described as a small “Wälderkirchlein” (little church of the forest region), with a small bell turret. This historical description adds another perspective on the wider destination to Wieslet’s church and architectural history.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Wieslet, you can assess the village according to your preferred focus: the landscape and Farnbuck appeal to those interested in terrain and geology; the church, Rotenberg and the museum’s history offer cultural and historical themes. This lets you connect your choice of accommodation with the question of which aspects of the destination you would like to shape your stay.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Bürchau, Raich, Elbenschwand, Neuenweg, Sallneck, Wies.

Go to the wider travel overview: Kleines Wiesental.