Kuhberg-Runde

Discovery tour on former Fürstenberg territory

On the far western edge of the Donaubergland near Geisingen, you hike on Baden territory. Originally and over the centuries, however, the area was Fürstenberg territory and thus also shaped by this rule. The nearby Wartenberg with its castle and the town of Geisingen bear witness to this, as does the small village of Gutmadingen, which has been a district of Geisingen for around 50 years in the wide valley of the Young Danube, just behind Donaueschingen. Even though people here are - naturally - particularly proud of their Baden identity, the town, like many others, only became part of the Grand Duchy of Baden in 1806, but was still characterized by the Fürstenberg property policy right into the German Empire. This Fürstenberg period is still visible in the village in the mighty "stepped gables" (or stepped gables) of individual historic buildings in the village, which you should definitely look out for at the start of the tour. These imposing gables also date back to the Fürstenberg building regulations and are still a visible sign of the once prosperous farmhouses in the village.

The tour leads quickly up a hill on the so-called "Ostweg", one of the Black Forest Association's most important supra-regional hiking trails. The views of the Baar landscape and the young Danube as well as Gutmadingen and the town of Geisingen are fascinating along this section of the trail. On days when the sky is clear of clouds and the view is unobstructed by fog, you can see the Feldberg in the Black Forest. The Kuhberg (also known as "Kapf" for short), which gives this loop its name, is part of the "Länge" mountain range, which stretches in the shape of a triangle between Fürstenberg, Hondingen and Kirchen-Hausen. The route now heads towards the "Krähenloch", an idyllic valley incision. Here you will find the "Krähenlochhütte" with a barbecue area, which is the perfect place to take a break. It would be a shame not to have a snack and barbecue with you.This part of the circular tour is also steeped in history, even if there is hardly anything left to see. This is because iron ore was already being mined in this area in Fürstenberg times, which was then smelted in Bachzimmern or even (unjustifiably) in Ludwigstal near Tuttlingen in Württemberg. In the early modern period, bean ore was initially extracted here above ground and through excavations, ore-bearing rocks on the surface. In the 1830s and 1840s, the Fürstenberg "Karl Egon Mine" was then set up here and ore was even dug in mining tunnels on a larger scale. From 1930 and especially during the Third Reich, when the aim was to exploit all the raw materials in the country for the armaments industry, attempts were once again made to mine iron ore here on a larger scale. In 1940, 190 men extracted over 120,000 tons of raw ore here. Nevertheless, in the end it was not worth it and in 1942 it was over. However, attentive observers may still be able to find one or two traces in the landscape.Back in the village at the end of the hike, it is definitely worth taking a look at the extraordinary "Maria Trost" brotherhood chapel from 1760 and the parish church of St. Konrad (if they are open).