Ihringen: Vineyards, family trails and Kaiserstuhl trails

A long history of winegrowing

Wine was already being grown in Ihringen in 962; even then, the village was an important winegrowing community. The first documentary mention, under the name “Uringa,” dates from the same year. Wine is therefore not just a subject for excursions today, but also part of the village’s early history.

The Freiburg State Winery offers groups wine tastings combined with a tour of the Blankenhornsberg estate in Ihringen and the surrounding vineyards. Kaiserstühler Winzer Ihringen eG also holds wine tastings and cellar tours for groups; events are available on request. If you are particularly interested in winegrowing and wine, these activities can be a focus of your stay.

Short trails for exploring together

The Wendelin Wiedehopf Trail runs through Ihringen’s vineyards. It is 2 km long and takes around 1.5 to 2 hours; it is suitable for families. The Hummel-Herta Trail offers a different landscape, running through orchards. It is 1.2 km long and takes about an hour. The route runs right alongside the cycle path and is suitable for families and bicycles. These details give you a practical guide for planning your day without having to commit to a long tour.

The Kaiserstuhl Nature Centre is next to Ihringen Town Hall and is run by the Black Forest Association (Schwarzwaldverein e.V.). Its compact exhibition covers the nature and geology of the Kaiserstuhl; a terrain model and a reading and discovery corner for children round out the visit. From March to November, the centre also offers excursions to explore landscape and natural features, including orchids, sunken lanes and volcanic activity. The exhibition and excursions offer different ways to discover the region’s nature and geology.

Village art, gardens and views

The Ihringen Art Trail runs through the village along Riedengartenstraße. At several stops, artists from Ihringen display their work. This gives you a chance to encounter art as part of a walk through the village. The Fragrance and Herb Garden lies in the centre of Ihringen, in Schlupf. You can reach it via Riedengartenstraße 4 through a small alley, or from Vogelgasse along a footpath.

For a longer hike, the Panorama Trail starts at the car park by the Kaiserstuhlhalle in Ihringen. It is 6.5 km long, takes about 3.5 hours and passes over Schmerberg and Hintere and Vordere Eck to the start of Stalleckgasse. From Lenzenberg, Ihringen’s natural viewing platform, you can see, among other places, Tuniberg, Belchen, Blauen with its distinctive tower, and Schönberg. In clear weather, the Swiss Jura is visible; to the west, the view extends to the Vosges.

The Kaiserstuhl Trail follows largely unspoilt paths through vineyards, deciduous forests, loess sunken lanes and nature reserves; the route ends in Ihringen. If you want to hike the trail from Endingen to Ihringen, you can take the S1 Freiburg–Breisach train to Gottenheim or Breisach and change there for Endingen. The connections listed are the S1 Gottenheim–Endingen and the S5 Breisach–Riegel. Check which connection suits your plans for your specific trip.

Ihringen also offers cyclists a clearly defined route: the Kaiserstuhl cycle route is a 64 km circular tour for a day trip. It starts in Ihringen, passes through several villages and ends back in Ihringen. So when choosing a holiday apartment, you can start by considering your plans for the day: short routes through vineyards or orchards, a hike that ends in Ihringen, or a longer circular ride that starts and finishes there. The traditional procession for the Harvest Thanksgiving Festival also involves the winegrowers.

Discover more places

If you would also like to consider other destinations: March, Horben, Eisenbach, Oberglottertal, Eschbach, Munzingen, Schluchsee and Gundelfingen.

For the broader travel overview: Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald.