Wieden

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Autumn in the Black Forest

Wieden

We stayed here in 2017, during a beautiful autumn break.
The sheer beauty of the surroundings, the variety — and especially the number — of hiking trails truly surprised us. It was our first real hiking holiday with the kids, and it set the tone for many adventures to come.

The place we stayed, Chalet Abnona, was a little gem. I’ve had to look far and wide to find another cabin with that kind of authentic soul. Carefully restored, yet still exactly as it once was — with a tiled wood stove at its heart, spreading warmth through every room after a day out in the crisp mountain air. It wasn’t luxury that made it special, but the feeling of coming home to something timeless.

Wieden sits at about 850 meters above sea level, tucked into a narrow valley that stretches toward the Belchen.
• The surroundings are typical Black Forest: dense spruce woods, rolling alpine meadows, old wooden farmhouses with deep roofs, and views that shift constantly between intimate and wide open.
• The village itself is small, around 600 inhabitants, with a few guesthouses, inns, and mountain farms.
• It breathes calm, simplicity, and nature. Most people come here for the silence, the clean mountain air, and long walks through the hills.
 
Hiking & Nature
• From Wieden, numerous well-marked Wanderwege (hiking trails) start right from the village.
• Belchensteig (premium trail, 15 km): a spectacular loop around the Belchen summit, partly accessible by the Belchenbahn cable car.
• The Westweg (long-distance trail from Pforzheim to Basel) passes nearby.
• Wieden–Todtnauberg route: a tough climb, but on clear days you’re rewarded with views of the Alps.
• In autumn the landscape is breathtaking — dark green forests against golden-brown mountain meadows.
 
Winter
• A small but charming ski area with a few lifts and cross-country tracks.
• Many locals prefer snowshoe hikes or cross-country skiing it all stays cozy, low-key, and unpretentious.
 
Life & Atmosphere
• Expect mountain inns serving hearty local dishes Flammkuchen, Maultaschen, homemade soups — with a focus on regional ingredients.
• The locals are friendly but reserved; it’s the kind of place where you come to find silence rather than entertainment.
• In summer, small Bergfeste (mountain festivals) bring together live music, local food, and a quiet sense of community.
 
A list of hikes we did can be found here: Wieden - Trails
Photos © Niko Caignie — nikoc.be

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