At 1.414 meters high, the Belchen in the Black Forest is not the highest mountain in the region, but it is one of the most impressive. Its striking shape and breathtaking panoramic views make the Belchen one of the most popular excursion destinations in the entire Black Forest.
Geographical location
The Belchen mountain is located in the southern Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg, about 35 kilometers south of Freiburg . The surrounding municipalities of Kleines Wiesental, Münstertal , Schönau and Todtnau offer numerous recreational opportunities and accommodations of all categories.
geology and landscape
The landscape of the Belchen is characterized by its jagged, uninterrupted rock faces that rise 1.000 meters from the Munster Valley. Its north face is thus the area with the highest relief energy in the German low mountain ranges. But the mountain also drops steeply in the south, its crags sinking 800 meters into the valley floor of the small meadow near Neuenweg.
The Ice Age glaciation of the Belchen region did not leave such clear traces as on the Feldberg . In the north and south, small avalanche cirque glaciers formed, their maximum extent reaching the edge of the Black Forest.
Flora and fauna
Due to its rare flora and fauna, the Belchen was declared a nature reserve as early as 1949. The area was expanded to 1.600 hectares in 1993 and is now part of the Southern Black Forest Nature Park. Many species of rare butterflies, beetles, and birds can be found here. Typical bird species include the raven, song thrush, citril finch, dipper, peregrine falcon, and capercaillie.
Belchenhaus and cable car
The Belchenhaus , located just a few meters below the summit at an altitude of 1.360 meters, is the highest-altitude inn in the Black Forest. Since 2001, the summit has been car-free, but can still be easily reached by the Belchen cable car, or of course on foot or by bicycle. The Belchen cable car offers barrier-free access at both the upper and lower stations.
hiking and sports
For hikers, the Belchensteig trail , a certified premium hiking trail, is highly recommended . This challenging 15 km circular route (hiking time approximately 5-6 hours) starts in the classic style at Wiedener Eck, leads via Multen and the Belchenhaus to the 1.414 m high summit, and combines a wide variety of landscapes in a diverse tour.
For less ambitious hikers, the Summit Circular Trail is an easy 30-minute (1,2 km) tour with spectacular views, accessible from the mountain station. The route over the steep northern flank of the Belchen is particularly impressive, while rest areas and numerous viewpoints invite you to linger.
In addition to these tours, the Westweg trail, with its 285km, also runs over the summit of the mountain.
In total, around 200 km of marked hiking trails open up the region around the “most beautiful mountain in the Black Forest” and offer the right route for every requirement – from easy strolls to challenging mountain tours.
Winter sports on the Belchen
In winter, the Belchen turns into a popular ski resort.
Lifts and slopes
The Belchen ski area has:
- 1 Elevator: The Belchen gondola, which provides comfortable access to the slopes
- 8 km of slopes total, divided into:
- 6 km of easy slopes (75% of the total slope area)
- 2 km of intermediate slopes (25% of the total slope area)
- No difficult slopes
- Additionally there is 8 km of ski routes for skiers who want to ski off the groomed slopes
The ski area is located at an altitude of between 1.100 and 1.363 meters above sea level, with an altitude difference of 263 meters.
The Belchen is also the end point of the 100km long long-distance ski trail from Schonach via Hinterzarten, Feldberg, Notschrei to the Belchen.
panoramic view
One of the highlights of the Belchen is undoubtedly the panoramic view, which extends to the Alps, the Vosges and the Rhine Valley when visibility is good. The sight is particularly impressive at sunrise or sunset, when the sun's light bathes the landscape in a golden light.
The Belchen system
The Belchen system is a fascinating astronomical constellation of five mountains called "Belchen" in the border region of Germany, France, and Switzerland, which likely served the Celts as a solar calendar over 2000 years ago. The center is the Alsatian Belchen (1247m) in the Vosges Mountains, from which the other four Belchen peaks have a precise astronomical alignment: the sun rises over the Black Forest Belchen (1414m) in the east at the equinoxes (beginning of spring and autumn), over the Little Belchen (1272m) in the northeast at the summer solstice, over the Swiss Belchen (1099m) in the southeast at the winter solstice, and over the Great Belchen (1424m), the highest mountain in the Vosges, on May 1st, coinciding with the Celtic festival of Beltane. The probability that these five mountains happen to be called "Belchen" is extremely low, which is why local historians have linked the name to the Celtic god of light, Belenus. This unique geographical configuration allowed the Celts to precisely determine the beginnings of all four astronomical seasons from the Alsatian Belchen, making the Belchen system a remarkable prehistoric solar observatory.
Conclusion
Whether you're an avid hiker, a passionate mountain biker, or a winter sports enthusiast – the Belchen in the Black Forest offers an unforgettable experience in every season . With its breathtaking views, diverse flora and fauna, and a wide range of sports and leisure activities, the Belchen is an absolute must-see for every visitor to the Black Forest.
