Neuenweg: Forests, Trails and Local History
Accommodation in Neuenweg
Neuenweg lies at the uppermost end of the Kleine Wiese valley on the southern slope of the Belchen, surrounded by extensive forests. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Neuenweg, the landscape, hiking trails and historic traces help put the destination into perspective. The Nonnenmattweiher reflects the area’s natural history, the Belchen Südhang circular trail offers specific hiking options, and the church tells the story of the area’s architecture and local history.
Landscape and natural history
The Nonnenmattweiher formed in a cirque created by glaciers. In the early 18th century, the cirque lake was artificially dammed. As a result, part of the peaty cirque floor broke away to form a floating peat island. Its formation thus links the glacially shaped hollow with a peat island that formed later.
Within the wider destination of Kleines Wiesental, the Nonnenmattweiher lies at an elevation of 913 metres and is one of the highest still-water bodies in the Black Forest. Several species of peat moss grow on the peat island, along with hare’s-tail cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum), cranberry (Vacinium oxycoccos) and round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). The plants’ presence may vary seasonally. Another natural feature in Neuenweg is a very old and unusually broad pollarded beech.
Hikes of varying lengths
From Neuenweg, the Nonnenmattweiher can be reached on either a short hike or a full-day hike. This makes a clear difference when planning your day: you can consider the trip a shorter outing or an activity for a full day of hiking. The Belchen SĂĽdhang circular trail offers different planning details: it is 11.2 kilometres long and has 750 metres of elevation gain. These figures may vary slightly depending on the mapping. Distance and elevation gain provide two different measures of the circuit.
The route to the Belchen is marked with the Schwarzwaldverein’s yellow diamond; it first leads to the Sternschanze. Check the current trail markings before setting out.
Historic traces along the trail and in the church
The Belchen SĂĽdhang circular trail passes the Alte Grenzmauer (Old Border Wall). The moss-covered remains of the wall, made of stones stacked on top of one another, still stand just under a metre high. The circuit thus combines details about the route with a specific built feature along the way.
Neuenweg Church also preserves two landmarks in the area’s history. A tombstone dating from 1692 is set into its right exterior wall. It commemorates an imperial officer who was buried in Neuenweg and oversaw the construction of the fortifications on the Hau on behalf of Austria and the “Türkenlouis.” Construction of the church began on 17 June 1807; the work was largely complete by 2 December 1807. It was consecrated in the first half of 1808. The tombstone and the building chronology thus offer different historical points of reference for the area.
Mountain passes and getting your bearings
Neuenweg lies along three mountain passes. The western route to the Rhine Valley splits at the “Haldenhof” inn: one road leads via the Sirnitz to Badenweiler, and another via Münsterhalden and Münstertal to Staufen. To the east, the route crosses the Hau into the Große Wiesental valley to Schönau and continues via Todtnau to the Feldberg. To the west, the route branches at the Haldenhof in two directions; to the east, it continues through several named places. This layout provides a clear geographical reference when you are finding your bearings among the area’s road connections.
Discover more destinations: Wieslet, Wies, Raich, BĂĽrchau, Elbenschwand, Sallneck
View the wider travel overview: Kleines Wiesental.
