If you’re looking for the best things to do in Sasbachwalden, in the Black Forest, then we’ve got you covered.
On our German road trip, we found ourselves in the Black Forest, and we highly recommend stopping to explore the pretty village of Sasbachwalden and its surroundings.
Sasbachwalden, on the western edge of the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg, is known for its beautiful blooms and vibrant colours that can be seen from every window box, park, and green space.
Moreover, the village has won several awards for its flower displays and has been voted one of Germany’s prettiest villages.
But Sasbachwalden is not just known for its floral displays.
It is home to one of the most beautiful hikes in Germany, the Alde Gott Panoramic Hiking Trail.
The trail is the perfect showcase for all that Sasbachwalden has to offer: vineyards, pine and chestnut forests, waterfalls, meadows, orchards, its iconic German half-timbered houses and, most interestingly, its schnapps fountains.
Sasbachwalden in a Nutshell
Nestled in the heart of Germany’s Black Forest, Sasbachwalden is a charming village famous for its half-timbered houses, award-winning floral displays, and scenic vineyards.
Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a foodie, or simply seeking a tranquil getaway, Sasbachwalden offers something for every traveller.
Top Things to Do:
- Stroll Through Sasbachwalden Village: Wander along the cobblestone streets, soaking in the traditional architecture and vibrant flower displays that make this one of Germany’s prettiest villages.
- Explore the Schnapps Fountains: Discover over ten schnapps fountains (Schnappsbrunnen) scattered around the village. Sample local brandies and liqueurs as you hike, making for a uniquely refreshing experience.
- Hike the Alde Gott Panoramic Loop: This 10km trail showcases the best of Sasbachwalden, with breathtaking views of vineyards, forests, and the picturesque Gaisholl Waterfalls.
- Climb to Gaisholl Waterfalls: Opt for a shorter, 1km hike to these enchanting waterfalls, winding through a gorge filled with the scent of fresh pine and charming wooden bridges.
- Sample the Local Black Forest Gateau: Reward yourself after a hike with a slice of the region’s famous Black Forest Gateau at Bischenberg Restaurant—an authentic taste of the Black Forest.
- Mountain Biking: Head to the Schaeffler Mountain Bike Arena for thrilling trails set against the stunning backdrop of the Black Forest.
- Adventure Pool: Enjoy a family-friendly day at the outdoor pool, complete with a giant slide, diving towers, and beach volleyball. Open from mid-May to September.
Day Trips from Sasbachwalden:
8. Hike the Renowned Oberkircher Brennersteig: Just 15km away, this 14km trail in Oberkirche takes you through the Black Forest’s schnapps epicentre, with plenty of tasting opportunities along the way.
9. Visit Baden-Baden: A 35-minute drive brings you to this elegant spa town known for its luxurious thermal baths, stunning architecture, and vibrant cultural scene.
10. Take a Day Trip to Gengenbach: Just 30 minutes away, explore this medieval town famous for its half-timbered houses and the world’s largest Advent calendar.
11. Have Fun at Europa Park: Germany’s largest theme park is located 45 minutes from Sasbachwalden. It offers over 100 rides and attractions, perfect for a fun-filled day.
12. Explore the Cuckoo Clock Town of Triberg: An hour and a half south, Triberg is renowned for its handmade cuckoo clocks and scenic waterfalls.
13. Visit the Alsace Region in France: Just an hour and a half’s drive, the Alsace region boasts charming towns like Colmar and Strasbourg, with their iconic half-timbered houses and rich history.
Best Time to Visit
- Spring (March to May): Ideal for hiking with blooming flowers and mild weather.
- Summer (June to August): Enjoy outdoor activities and local festivals, though expect more tourists.
- Autumn (September to November): Experience the harvest season and wine festivals amidst vibrant fall colours.
- Winter (December to February): Discover a winter wonderland with nearby Christmas markets and opportunities for winter sports.
Good to Know
- Accommodation: Highly-rated options include:
- KONUS Card: If you stay in Sasbachwalden, you can get a KONUS Card, offering free bus and train rides in the Black Forest and free entry to the village’s outdoor pool.
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Sasbachwalden Map
How to use this Sasbachwalden Map
To use this map, expand it using the square symbol on the top right-hand side, and you will find the key on the left-hand side.
💡 While travelling in Germany, include a trip to Bavaria’s southeastern corner of Berchtesgaden and Konigssee. And definitely take an electric boat trip out to St. Bartholomew Peninsula and listen to the famous flugelhorn at the famous Echo Wall.
13 Top Things to Do in Sasbachwalden
One of the top things to do in Sasbachwalden is to explore the village itself.
Stroll along the cobblestone streets and admire the traditional architecture. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the local wineries and sample the region’s famous wines.
For nature lovers, plenty of hiking trails offer breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. The Waterfall Trail is a popular route, and make sure to indulge in the local cuisine at one of the charming restaurants in the area.
Road tripping with your partner? Find out how we cope with travelling with each other 24/7.
1. Stroll Through Sasbachwalden Village
Sasbachwalden is a picturesque village full of half-timbered houses, surrounded by vineyards, verdant meadows and lush forests, all set against the backdrop of the Black Forest Mountains.
Wander through the quaint streets. You’ll find houses adorned with colourful flowers and beautiful facades. The architectural charm of the village is entrancing.
Sasbachwalden was one of our favourite stops on our Germany road trip, part of our larger Europe by motorhome trip.
We parked our motorhome in the Sasbachwalden Wohnmobil Stellplatz beside a bubbling stream with views across the village and the mountains beyond.
Our first stop was at the Tourist Information Office, where a young woman who spoke several languages greeted us with a huge smile and enthusiastically told us all about what to explore in Sasbachwalden and the surrounding area.
Here, we first learnt about the unique schnapps trail — refreshment for the hikers.
I knew Germany was famous for its Oktoberfest and beer drinking, but schnapps as a refreshment on a hike?
This was a concept we were keen to learn more about.
2. Explore Sasbachwalden’s Schnapp Fountains (Schnappsbrunnen)
There are over ten schnapps fountains (also called schnappsbrunnen) around Sasbachwalden.
At each ‘station’, you’ll find a small tray of clean glasses and resting in a crate partly submerged in the fountain water, you’ll find a selection of schnapps, liqueurs, cider, or if you need to stay hydrated, some non-alcoholic options such as juice.
The cold mountain spring waters supplying the fountains in Sasbachwalden keep the schnapps cool, and for a small fee, you can choose from a variety of flavours.
Of course, being in the Black Forest, it would be remiss not to try its famed cherry brandy. Be warned, though, that schnapps in Germany are not sweetened and can, therefore, pack a burning punch on the way down.
Schnapps is a clear brandy from fermented fruits such as cherries, plums, apples and apricots.
The Black Forest climate provides excellent growing conditions for stone fruit, and you’ll see plenty of orchards in Sasbachwalden. Any property that grows fruit can apply for a licence to produce schnapps, so many varieties are homegrown versions.
In Sasbachwalden, the large cooperative, Alde Gott, produces wine and brandies (schnapps) with the local fruit of cherry, plum and pear distilled in local homes.
You may be happy to hear that the Alde Gott premises are beside the motorhome parking.
3. Hike The Alde Gott Panoramic Loop
The Alde Gott Trail is a stunning hike of about 10km, which takes you on a circular route around Sasbachwalden. It is one of the Black Forest Schnapps trails. (The other is the Oberkircher Brennersteig Trail)
This trail is commonly regarded as moderately challenging and typically takes around three and a half hours. It’s an excellent hiking route, and you’re unlikely to come across many other individuals while you’re exploring.
The Alde Gott trail takes you past vineyards, meadows and forests. You’ll pass by the Königsrain Winery and the Schelzberg Monastery Winery and Distillery, so you might want to stop and sample their local products.
The route begins and ends at the entrance to the Gaisholl Waterfalls trail, and you can pick up a route map at the Tourist Information Office. The scenery on the route is spectacular. After about 4.5 hours, you’ll circle back to the start of the trail.
The best time to check out this trail is between March and November, avoiding the worst winter weather.
4. Climb to Gaisholl Waterfalls
If you don’t want to do the whole Alde Gott Loop, then the first part of the Alde Gott Hiking Route includes a one-kilometre hike up to the Gaisholl Waterfalls or Sasbachwalden Wasserfall.
As you hike upwards, you’ll come across multiple small waterfalls flowing through the gorge. Along the way, you’ll crisscross charming wooden bridges while the scent of fresh pine fills the forest.
This is the steepest part of the hike, ranked as ‘medium’ difficulty and should take about an hour.
Along the way, you will stumble upon either a schnapps fountain or a wooden box where you will find a choice of schnapps or wine to ‘ refresh’ you on your climb.
5. Sample the Local Black Forest Gateaux
At the top of the Gaisholl Waterfalls Gorge, there are two restaurants: the Wilderer Stube and the Bischenberg Restaurant.
(Check their opening times to make sure you aren’t disappointed looking for cake when you’ve climbed the Falls)
We felt compelled to rejuvenate by sampling the regional speciality, Black Forest Gateau Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, at Bischenberg Restaurant. This sumptuous gateau consists of layers of chocolate sponge, whipped cream and cherries.
And, of course, in true Black Forest style, it’s also infused with kirsch, a morello cherry brandy.
In Sasbachwalden’s village, you’ll find plenty of restaurants and wine producers, mainly on a single street, Talstrasse. It’s nicknamed the ‘Badische Genussmeile Sasbachwalden’ — Sasbachwalden’s Baden Pleasure Mile.
6. Mountain Biking
If you are into mountain biking, the Schaeffler Mountain Bike Arena in Sasbachwalden is the place to head.
You can read the trail rules and learn more about them here.
7. Head to the Local Outdoor Adventure Pool
The Adventure Pool in Sasbachwalden is open from mid-May to the end of September, so if you are a family, this is a great place to visit in summer.
Four 25-meter lanes are available for fitness-oriented visitors, while the 56-meter-long giant slide with the adjoining fun pool is also fun. If you’re feeling adventurous, the diving pool with 1—and 3-metre towers awaits you.
There is also beach volleyball, table tennis, and a kiddies’ paddling pool. As an added bonus, the pool has free Wi-Fi.
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Day Trips From Sasbachwalden
Sasbachwalden’s central location in the Black Forest makes it an excellent starting point for various day trips to explore the surrounding attractions and nearby towns.
Here are some enjoyable day trips you can take from Sasbachwalden:
8. Hike the Renowned Oberkircher Brennersteig
Oberkirche is the schnapps epicentre of the Black Forest. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Black Forest Scnapps Trail starts here, about 15km or a 20-minute drive from Sasbachwalden.
The Oberkircher Brennersteig is a 14-kilometre trail loop in Baden-Württemberg. It passes several distilleries and, as on the trail in Sasbachwalden, you’ll also find schnapps and honesty boxes along the route.
9. Visit Baden Baden
Baden Baden is a spa town (with traditional Roman baths) that is a 35-minute drive away.
Take a trip here to enjoy museums and gardens and explore this upmarket town. Baden Baden is renowned for its luxurious spas and thermal baths.
The natural hot springs’ healing properties have attracted visitors for centuries. Relax in the warm waters or indulge in a rejuvenating spa treatment.
Aside from its wellness offerings, Baden Baden boasts stunning architecture and a rich history. The Baden-Baden Casino, for instance, is considered one of the most beautiful casinos in the world.
Stroll through the town and admire its elegant buildings, including the famous Kurhaus.
It also has plenty of hiking routes. situated at the foothills of the Black Forest.
Fellow travellers recommended we visit Baden Baden, but the day we visited, there were several diversions and road works.
All the signs were in German, and after we had driven the same route with our 8-metre motorhome three times and knocked down several traffic cones (in fact, a whole row of traffic cones down one street!), we decided Baden Baden wasn’t for us.
Once we eventually found a route out, we didn’t venture in again.
It’s a shame we have such cringe-worthy memories of a town we didn’t see much of except for one-way narrow streets that we couldn’t fit down!
However, many visitors sing its praises.
10. Take a Day Trip to Gengenbach
Gengenbach is about a 30-minute drive from Sasbachwalden and a delight to visit.
Genbach is a charming German town that features a medieval-style town centre. Its narrow cobblestone streets are lined with picturesque half-timbered houses, and the windows are adorned with shutters and flowers that spill out from the window boxes. Take some time to explore this quaint town and soak up its unique atmosphere.
At Christmas time, Gengenbach’s old town hall becomes an Advent calendar. Its 24 windows are magically lit up, making it the World’s largest Advent calendar.
11. Have Fun at Europa Park
Germany’s largest theme park for adventure lovers is a 45-minute drive from Sasbachwalden.
Europa Park is one of the most popular amusement parks in Europe and offers a wide range of attractions for visitors of all ages.
With over 100 rides and shows spread across 15 themed areas, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Thrill-seekers can get their adrenaline pumping on roller coasters, and families can have a blast on the water rides and attractions in the Scandinavian and Adventureland sections.
For those who prefer a more relaxed experience, there are a variety of shows and live performances happening throughout the day.
Europa Park also boasts several hotels, camping sites, restaurants, cafes, and snack bars, ensuring that visitors can refuel and recharge during their visit.
🏆 Germany’s Largest Theme Park
⭐️ Europa Park | ⭐️ 4.7/5 Star Reviews | Book Here
12. Explore the Cuckoo Clock Town of Triberg
One and a half hours south of Sasbachwalden is the town of Triberg, famous for its amazing cuckoo clocks.
A visit to this charming town is like stepping into a fairytale. Triberg is famous for producing handmade cuckoo clocks, and visitors can explore a variety of shops and workshops dedicated to this traditional craft.
The town’s highlight is the world’s largest cuckoo clock, standing at an impressive 12.5 feet tall. Every hour, on the hour, the cuckoo emerges from the clock and delights visitors with its familiar “cuckoo” call.
In addition to its iconic clocks, Triberg offers stunning scenery with waterfalls, hiking trails, and beautiful landscapes.
You can take a leisurely stroll through the town, admiring the charming half-timbered houses, or venture further into the forest for a more adventurous experience.
13. The Alsace Region
If you enjoy visiting Sasbachwalden, then I’m sure you would love travelling through the Alsace region of France.
You can reach the beautiful towns of Colmar, Ribeauville, Eguisheim, Riquewihr, and the Alsace region’s capital, Strasbourg, in about an hour and a half’s drive from Sabachwalden.
Like Sasbach, these towns and many others boast half-timbered houses adorned with flowers, cobblestone streets, and a cozy fairytale that captivates visitors.
Whether you’re interested in history, culture, wine, food, or simply seeking a relaxing and picturesque getaway, the Alsace region offers a truly memorable and enriching experience.
When is the Best Time to Visit Sasbachwalden?
We were in Sasbachwalden in mid-May. Spring was in full force, butterflies flitted around the hedgerows and bees buzzed amongst the wildflowers.
However, the best time to visit Sasbachwalden depends on your preferences for weather, activities, and the type of experience you are looking for. Each season offers something special.
Ultimately, the best time to visit Sasbachwalden depends on your interests and preferred activities. Spring and autumn are excellent choices for enjoying milder weather and vibrant green landscapes.
Summer and autumn are ideal for outdoor adventures and wine-related experiences. The winter months are best if you’re a winter sports fan or want to experience a charming winter atmosphere.
Here’s a breakdown of what to expect during different times of the year:
Spring (March to May):
Sasbachwalden brings pleasant weather with milder temperatures. The surrounding landscapes come to life with blooming flowers and greenery.
It’s an ideal time for hiking and nature walks as the trails are less crowded. Additionally, this season is excellent for wine enthusiasts as the vineyards begin their growth, and some wine-related festivals may take place.
Summer (June to August):
Summer is a popular time to visit Sasbachwalden, but it can be busier with tourists. The warmer weather makes it perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and exploring the Black Forest. Summer also brings various local events and festivals, offering a glimpse into the region’s culture and traditions.
Autumn (September to November)
Autumn in Sasbachwalden is a magical time when the forests turn into a symphony of colours. The vineyards are ready for harvest, and the wine festivals are in full swing. In early October, Sasbachwalden it holds its annual Thanksgiving and Wine Festival. The weather remains pleasant, making it another great season for outdoor activities.
Winter (December to February)
Winter in Sasbachwalden transforms the landscape into a winter wonderland. The Black Forest receives snow, making it an ideal time for winter sports like skiing and snowboarding in nearby areas.
The village itself exudes a cozy atmosphere, and you can enjoy the traditional Christmas markets in nearby towns like Baden-Baden and Freiburg.
Good To Know When Visiting Sasbachwalden
- Visit the Tourist Office for local maps and information:
- Talstraße 51, Kurhaus “Zum Alde Gott”, 77887 Sasbachwalden,
- Phone: +49 7841 6407980
- Website
- If you are staying in Sasbachwalden, either at a hotel or the motorhome parking, you are able to claim the KONUS Card (from the Tourist office or Hotel Engel), which entitles you to free bus and train rides within the Black Forest and free entry to the village’s outdoor pool.
Accommodation in Sasbachwalden
These are the top rated Hotels with the best reviews in Sabachwalden:
Hotel Der Engel
✔️ Breakfast included
✔️ ⭐️ Rating 9.1
“Lovely village and gorgeous hotel. Staff friendly and helpful, good food and wine! Highly recommend!” — Brendan, Australia.
Pension am Weinberg
✔️ Great location
✔️ ⭐️ Rating 9.2
“In a glorious location in the middle of vineyards but only a three-minute walk to village centre restaurants” Anne, UK
Relax Hotel Tannenhof
✔️ Breakfast & Spa
✔️ ⭐️ Rating 8.7
“Great views, very nice breakfast, and the sauna is a plus!” Juan, Germany
Things to do in Sasbachwalden, Germany … That’s a Wrap
So there you have it.
Sasbachwalden, nestled in the Black Forest of Germany, offers visitors a charming and diverse experience.
The unique schnapps fountains add a flavourful twist to your hiking experiences here, and the local wineries and delicious regional cuisine will further enhance your visit.
Beyond Sasbachwalden’s borders, day trips to destinations like Baden-Baden, Strasbourg, Europa Park, and the Alsace region offer additional delights, making Sasbachwalden an ideal base for exploring the best of the Black Forest and its surrounding attractions.
Whether you visit in the bloom of spring, the warmth of summer, the colours of autumn, or the charm of winter, Sasbachwalden promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of the Black Forest.
Also, let us know if you have a good recipe for Black Forest Gateau. 😉 You can drop us a line here or leave a comment below.
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