Menzenschwand: Winterhalter heritage, village church and nature

Menzenschwand offers several distinct points of interest to help you choose where to stay: Winterhalter history, the Old Village Church, a classic cross-country ski trail and a natural attraction along the Geißenpfad. If you are looking for a hotel, these themes can help you tailor your stay to your interests. Local cultural and recreational activities each have a different focus.

Winterhalter and the history of the village church

The Winterhalter themed trail opened on 14 June 2025. It runs for 3.4 km through and around Menzenschwand and includes nine stops. These trace the lives and extensive body of work of the painter brothers Franz Xaver and Hermann Winterhalter, who were born and raised in Menzenschwand. The route thus combines a clearly stated distance with a biographical theme: it focuses on both the brothers’ lives and their work. Le Petit Salon is also dedicated to the two painter brothers.

The Old Village Church was built in 1687–1688 as the Catholic parish church of St. Martin. It was handed over to the Protestant parish in 1976 and consecrated as the Church of the Redeemer in 1978. Old ceiling and wall paintings were discovered beneath several layers of paint in the Church of the Redeemer. They were uncovered during restoration work carried out from 1976 to 1978. The dates and paintings offer two distinct perspectives on the church’s history: the building’s changing use and its historic artwork.

The Winterhalter Association hosts film evenings, concerts, exhibitions and readings in the Old Village Church. The events held on particular dates may vary.

Activities by season and interest

The Mösleloipe I is an easy classic loop trail starting in Menzenschwand’s Hinterdorf. It runs mostly over flat terrain and is suitable for beginners. Its seasonal use depends on snow conditions. So if cross-country skiing is important to your travel plans, check conditions in advance. The loop format, stated difficulty level and mostly flat route distinguish the trail from the Winterhalter themed trail, with its nine biographical stops.

The Menzenschwand Waterfalls are a particular highlight of the Menzenschwand Geißenpfad. This offers waterfalls as a natural attraction alongside the cultural and historical points of interest. The three interests can be clearly distinguished: the Winterhalter themed trail is dedicated to the painter brothers, the Mösleloipe is a classic loop trail that depends on snow conditions, and the waterfalls are a particular highlight of the Geißenpfad.

Additional information for the wider destination of St. Blasien

In the wider destination of St. Blasien, the cathedral offers a distinctive architectural feature. St. Blasien Cathedral, also known as the Black Forest Cathedral, was consecrated in 1783 as an abbey church with what was then Europe’s third-largest church dome. The central domed space has a diameter of 36 metres; the height from the floor to the crown of the dome is exactly the same. These two measurements illustrate the relationship between the breadth of the space and the height of the dome.

The Sanagarten is also part of the wider destination of St. Blasien. The park was created between 1923 and 1925 as the landscaped promenade garden of the former lung sanatorium and is considered an outstanding example of representative garden architecture from the 1920s. It is also a testament to St. Blasien’s spa town tradition. The St. Blasien Cathedral Trail is a loop that combines nature and history.

Getting to St. Blasien is straightforward: by car, you can reach the town via the B500 expressway from Titisee, Schluchsee and Häusern, or via Aha on Lake Schluchsee and Menzenschwand. SBG buses run year-round from Seebrugg railway station to St. Blasien; check current timetables before travelling. The weekly market in St. Blasien takes place on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sparkassenvorplatz. If you plan to visit, confirm the current schedule before your trip.

For the wider travel overview: Sankt Blasien.