The region and its landscape

St. Märgen is located in the middle of the Southern Black Forest Nature Park, only 20 km from Freiburg. The alpine resort, to which visitors flock for the healthy air, lies at an altitude of between 850 and 1,100 metres above sea level. The most striking building in the village is the pilgrimage church, whose double towers can be seen from some distance away. St. Märgen is a popular holiday destination; it has many footpaths and a wide range of leisure facilities in both summer and winter. Many of the well-known tourist destinations in the Black Forest are also within easy reach of St. Märgen.

Its central location in the Black Forest makes St. Märgen an excellent starting point for day trips to many places of interest. Moreover, with your guest card most destinations can be reached by bus and train free of charge.

• Titisee: This clear mountain lake is only 18 km away – in summer it is a delightful spot to swim or hire a pedalo. The waterside nature trail is another attraction.
  
  
• Furtwangen: The old clock-making town of Furtwangen is about 20 km from St. Märgen. The German Clock Museum introduces visitors to the crafts of clock making and clock painting that have been practised in the Black Forest for centuries.
  
  
• Freiburg im Breisgau: Only about 20 km away is Freiburg, the city of sun and wine. The minster and the daily market are worth a visit, as are the historic old town and the city’s many museums.
  
  
• Feldberg: The Feldberg, the highest peak in the Black Forest, lies about 30 km away in one of the oldest nature reserves in the state of Baden-Württemberg. From the mountain there is a superb view stretching as far as the Swiss Alps; visitors are also attracted by the unique alpine flora of the area, its beautiful rock formations and a mountain lake dating from the Ice Age.
  
  
• Vogtsbauernhof: The Black Forest Open Air Museum is the perfect place to discover how people have lived and worked in the Black Forest over the last 400 years. Here the region’s culture and history come to life. The imposing Black Forest farmhouses are about 50 km from St. Märgen in Gutach, which is situated on the Black Forest Railway line.
  
  
• Écomusée d'Alsace: in Ungersheim, just over the border in Alsace is this open-air museum containing 70 original farmhouses and historic settings where history can be experienced at first hand.
  
  
• Wutach Gorge: This deep canyon, carved out of the landscape by the Wutach and Gauchach rivers, is not just a wonderful hiking area but also of great geological and botanical interest. It has been a nature reserve for more than 60 years.
  
  
• Kaiserstuhl: This horseshoe-shaped range of hills of volcanic origin rises above the Rhine valley about 50 km from St. Märgen. It is the warmest place in Germany and the sun-kissed local wine is not to be missed!
  
  
• Europa-Park: Germany’s largest theme park is about 54 km away; its many attractions will appeal particularly to families with children.
  
  
• Alsace wine villages: Explore neighbouring Alsace with its well-known wines and traditional-style rustic restaurants. A day trip can take you to many of the typical wine villages such as Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim, Ribeauvillé and the town of Colmar; the cities of Mulhouse and Strasbourg are also within easy reach.
  
  
• Basel: Just 70 km away on the Rhine is the Swiss city of Basel. Visitors will enjoy visiting the minster and exploring the city’s maze of narrow streets – as well as sampling the famous Swiss chocolate.
  
  
• Schluchsee: This reservoir, created by a dam, is about 38 km away; sailing and surfing are popular activities and pedalos can be hired.