Located in Baden-Württemberg's Black Forest region, this twin city has Celtic roots from 4th century BC. Its medieval center, expansive forests, and mild climate make it a regional center.
Villingen-Schwenningen lies at the eastern edge of the Black Forest. In Villingen, three 13th-century gates tower above narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses. The Schwenninger Moos nature reserve marks the beginning of the Neckar River, while the city's industrial past lives on in two clock museums. During winter, carnival participants wearing wooden masks and carrying heavy bells parade through medieval squares, continuing traditions that date back centuries.
Getting Around the Twin Centers
Villingen-Schwenningen consists of two separate urban areas connected by regular buses and trains. The Schwarzwaldbahn railway links Villingen to major cities like Stuttgart and Konstanz, while the A81 motorway runs along the eastern edge of both towns. Walking works well for exploring attractions within each center, but you'll need public transport to travel between Villingen and Schwenningen.
Medieval Walls and Gates of Villingen
Three 13th-century gates mark the entrances to Villingen's old town - the Oberes Tor in the north, Riettor in the west, and Bickentor in the east. Each gate stands about 20 meters high, and the Bickentor includes a 16th-century roundel added when the town became an artillery fortress. Walk along the wooden battlements at Käferbergle, or visit the 14th-century Romäusturm tower, which served as a prison from the 1500s.
Clock Museums and Craftsmanship
Inside the former Württembergische Uhrenfabrik Bürk factory, the Uhrenindustriemuseum demonstrates how craftspeople make alarm clocks and cuckoo clocks by hand. The museum tells the story of Schwenningen's clock-manufacturing industry during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Heimat- und Uhrenmuseum, located in an 18th-century building, displays timepieces from the 1500s to 1800s, including clockmaker Hellmut Kienzle's personal collection.
The Neckar's Source and Natural Areas
The Schwenninger Moos nature reserve covers three square kilometers of moorland and peat bogs, with over 400 plant species growing among spruce and birch forests. This area marks the source of the River Neckar, which flows 362 kilometers before joining the Rhine. Walk along the hiking path and wooden pier to explore the moorland. In the adjacent Stadtpark Möglingshöhe, the Neckarquelle monument pumps underground water to create the river's symbolic starting point.
Winter Carnival Traditions
During Rosenmontag, carnival characters fill Villingen's streets. The Narro wears a white linen costume with medieval motifs and an orange wooden mask, plus 18 kilograms of bells. Look for the Altvillingerin character in early 19th-century fashion with silk shawls, and the Wuescht in straw-padded trousers carrying a wooden shield to block thrown pine cones and snowballs.
Aviation History
The Internationales Luftfahrt-Museum displays aircraft from both World War I to the Cold War era at Schwenningen airfield. See a Fokker Dr. I replica, a MiG-15, an F-104G Starfighter, and various helicopters. The indoor exhibition contains hundreds of model planes, an early de Havilland Ghost jet engine, and a collection of ejection seats.
