Only about 10 kilometers from Freiburg you’ll find the fabulous little hamlet of Denzlingen right on the edge of the mystic Black Forest (Schwarzwald).
Even though this town has been inhabited since the days of the Romans, it was destroyed during quite a nasty battle that took place here during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). Thankfully for us, it has been rebuilt allowing us to enjoy all that the town has offer.
As Denzlingen sits along the beautiful Black Forest, you’ll most likely want to spend as much time outside enjoying the scenery. However, there are quite a few old buildings around town that deserve just as much attention.
Do yourself a favor, spend at least two days here to experience everything. Don’t worry about accommodations as there are plenty of small local guesthouses in town.
If you’re going to experience the great outdoors first, know that you’ll have the opportunity to play some miniature golf (open only from April to November), tennis, and volleyball. It seems that all activities outdoors have some wonderful views of the forest mountains in the background.
Then there’s this fabilous Denzlingen’s outdoor pool and sauna. It went under a 10 million Euro renovation and the final results are well worth your visit. Not only a magnificent pool for swimming is there, but a new sauna and sweeping views of the Schwarzwald are also part of the package.
With all your outdoor activities taken care of, it’s time to visit some of the old buildings. One has stood here for more than a thousand years. The oldest (and most stunning) are the ruins of St. Severin. Built around the year 1000, it has been in ruins since 1547.
Remember to visit the Stork Tower, formerly known as St. Michaels. A former local artist, Mr. Theodor Zeller, painted a beautiful mural here after he returned to Denzlingen after his forced exile to Italy in the 1930’s. As Zeller was one of the town’s most famous residents, he also painted at St. Jakob’s Church, too.
As if this isn’t enough to keep you busy, there are plenty of wine tasting tours and cycling and hiking trails through this area of the forest in Baden-Württemberg.
There’s more if you can manage to visit the week before Lent, when Denzlingen holds its Fastnet celebration with local residents dressing up like ears of corn.
Any place where residents are willing to dress up like vegetables and party and has a history spanning back more than a thousand years is worth a visit anytime of the year.
