Germany from A to Z: Villingen-Schwenningen

When you visit the twin town of Villingen-Schwenningen, start out with a short stroll through the center of Villingen. It's defined by historical buildings, alleys and a well-preserved city wall with towers and gates. The old imperial city of Villingen merged with the nearby industrial town of Schwenningen in 1972. Some 85,000 people live here today.

The minster is the landmark of Villingen. Construction began in the 12th century in the Romanesque style and was completed in the Gothic style after a town fire in 1271. The approximately 50-meter-high towers were added later. The Nägelin Crucifix is kept in the minster; legend holds that it has miraculous powers. It's the protective cross of Villingen and is still venerated today.

The Minster Fountain was erected in 1989 right next to the church, a work by the Black Forest artist Klaus Ringwald. Each of the eight sides is dedicated to a different epoch of the city's 1,000 years of history. Locally known personalities grace the surfaces.

The city wall of Villingen is to a large extent still very well-preserved and consists largely of the former inner-city wall from the 13th century. In the High Middle Ages, it was reinforced by towers and gate bastions. The outer wall was demolished in the 19th century. Today, the city wall is a protected monument and is illuminated in the evening.

During Carnival season, which is called Fasnacht or Fasnet in Villingen-Schwenningen, traditional characters with wooden masks of the various jester's guilds (Carnival associations) parade through the streets. The Fasnet is a centuries-old, important cultural asset in the twin town. The time of foolishness finds its climax from Schmotzigen Thursday to Fasnet Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday.

In the Clock Industry Museum, visitors learn how mechanical alarm clocks were manufactured, and also about the living conditions of the people who worked in the clock industry. Clock production was once the economic foundation of Schwenningen, which called itself the "largest clock city in the world." In the 1960s, more than 5 million timepieces were produced in the Kienzle clock factory alone.

Near the city is the Schwenninger Moos, a 4,000-year-old moor accessible by a hiking trail. Display boards provide information about the moor's formation and about native plant and animal species. Peat was mined here for 200 years, and during that time the moor was drained. It has been under nature protection since 1939, and more than 50 barriers have been built to keep the water in the bog.

The Schwenninger Moos is the natural source area of the Neckar River, which flows into the Rhine in Mannheim and is 367 kilometers (233 miles) long. In the district of Möglingshöhe in Villingen-Schwenningen, a symbolic source stone with a drain and a sculpture was created during the State Garden Exhibition in 2010.

A special excursion near Villingen-Schwenningen is the Triberg Waterfall. Here, the water of the Gutach plunges 163 meters (535 feet) over seven steps into the depths, making it the highest waterfall in Germany. The natural spectacle is particularly impressive during the meltwater periods or after a heavy rainfall. During the winter, the waterfall transforms into an ice landscape.

Those who visit Villingen-Schwenningen should go for the whole package — after all, not only the town itself is worth seeing, but also its surroundings. The Black Forest with its mountains, lakes and woodlands is a popular holiday region. In summer, guests come to hike and cycle; in the winter, they come to ski. But no matter the season, the view of the landscape is always beautiful.