Villingen-Schwenningen
Villingen-Schwenningen is a twin town at the east side of the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) in Baden-Württemberg. Villingen is a major centre of German carnival celebrations. Schwenningen is well-known in the ice hockey world thanks to the Wild Wings team.
Understand
[edit]As can be guessed by its name, the town of Villingen-Schwenningen was created in the 1970s by merging the two separate towns of Villingen and Schwenningen and as such some aspects of infrastructure are still present in both "halves". In addition to that some surrounding villages were also annexed into the town and are covered in this guide.
The towns also have very different architectural characteristics: while Villingen has an old town with medieval city fortifications and other historical buildings, Schwenningen grew relatively late, which is why hardly any building is older than the 19th century.
Tourist information
[edit]Get in
[edit]
By train
[edit]- 1 Villingen (Schwarzwald) station. IC from Norden Norddeich to Konstanz, passing through cities such as Cologne. Regional connections from Karlsruhe – Baden-Baden, Tuttlingen - Ulm, Rottweil
- 2 Schwenningen (Neckar) station. Regional trains to Rottweil
By bus
[edit]- See also: Intercity buses in Germany
Flixbus serves the town.
Get around
[edit]
See
[edit]- 1 Internationales Luftfahrt-Museum (International Aviation Museum), Spittelbronner Weg 78, Am Flugplatz, 78056 VS-Schwenningen, ☏ +49 7720 66302. Apr–Sep: Tu–Su 10:00–19:00; Oct-Mar: Tu–Su 10:00–17:00. Aviation museum.
- 2 Wanne Observation Tower. Lattice tower built in 1888.
- Historic Villingen town centre. with Muenster and partially preserved city wall
- Franciscan Museum (Franziskanermuseum), Rietgasse 2, 78050 Villingen-Schwenningen, franziskanermuseum@villingen-schwenningen.de. Tu–Sa 13:00–17:00; Su public holidays 11:00–17:00. A cultural-historical museum with collections focusing on the town's history from its beginnings to the present, on the folklore of the Black Forest and on the Celtic princely grave of Magdalenenberg. €7 (special exhibition, adults), €5 (special exhibition, reduced).
- 3 Magdalenenberg. An Iron Age Celtic burial mound that is considered the largest tumulus from the Hallstatt period in Central Europe with a volume of 33,000 m³. A hiking trail called "Keltenpfad" (Celtic Path) connects the Magdalenenberg with the Franziskanermuseum. Along the road, panels inform about the site's history and significance.
Do
[edit]- 1 Helios Arena, Schwenningen. To ice skating or watch a game of the professional Schwenninger Wild Wings Ice Hockey Team.
- Every year in February, before Lent begins, the Alemannic carnival takes place throughout the region. There are parades and events in halls, and it is celebrated in the pubs in the evenings. A special feature are the "Besenkneipen", which are private apartments, usually in the city centre, which hang a broom over their door during the carnival period and thus invite anyone who wants to come and celebrate in their premises.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]In Villingen, many bars and pubs for every taste are located in Färberstraße. Those who prefer something more alternative will find the only three pubs in Schlösslegasse where you can find a place to retreat from the otherwise omnipresent carnival music. There is also the "Jazzkeller" in Webergasse
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Jugendherberge Villingen (youth hostel), St. Georgener Str. 36, ☏ +49 7721 54149.
- 2 Hotel Schweizerhof, Stumpenstraße 2, VS-Obereschach, ☏ +49 7721 87865, gasthof-schweizerhof@t-online.de.
- Hotel Bären, Bärengasse 2, VS-Villingen, ☏ +49 7721 206969-0, info@hotel-baeren.biz.
- [dead link] Hotel Garland, Farnweg 10, VS-Villingen (Kurgebiet), ☏ +49 7721 9484-0, info@hotel-garland.de.
- Central Hotel, Alte Herdstraße 12-14 (by Parkhaus Muslen), ☏ +49 7720 303-0, info@centalhotel-vs.de.
- Gasthaus Sternen, Hochstr. 2, Brigachtal, ☏ +49 7721 75146932, sternen-brigachtal@t-online.de.