Schauinsland mountain with a playground and observation tower

The mountain is located in the Black Forest, near the town of Freiburg im Breisgau. It rises to a height of approximately 1,284 metres above sea level. You can get up there via the Schauinslandbahn cable car (47.936722, 7.865167), but we drove up and parked at the top (47.908222, 7.892139).

The mountain has a rich history, linked primarily to mining, which played a significant role in the development of the city of Freiburg im Breisgau. From around the 13th century onwards, Schauinsland became one of the centres of silver mining in south-western Germany. Silver was a strategically important resource, as it was used for minting coins and strengthening the region’s economy. Over time, an extensive network of mines, tunnels and ancillary structures was developed. In the 17th and 18th centuries, mining gradually declined due to the depletion of silver deposits and rising production costs. As a result, most of the mines were closed.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Schaunland underwent a transformation: the former mines became historical landmarks and the region began to attract tourists. Today, some of the mines are open to visitors as part of guided tours.

One of the most tragic incidents associated with the mountain took place in December 1936. It went down in history as the ‘Schauinsland Tragedy’ (Schauinslandtragödie) and is still regarded as a stark reminder of the dangers of mountain conditions. A group of schoolchildren, accompanied by their teacher, had travelled from Freiburg im Breisgau to go on a winter hike.
During the hike, the group was suddenly caught in a severe snowstorm; weather conditions deteriorated rapidly, visibility was virtually zero, and the group lost their bearings. Moreover, the students were dressed lightly and lacked adequate equipment for such extreme conditions. The tragedy had serious consequences, and several children died of hypothermia. Part of the group was rescued, but many suffered frostbite. Today, memorials have been erected on Shawinland to honour the children who lost their lives.

There is a restaurant and a children’s playground near the top station of the cable car. You can also take a 600-metre walk to a beautiful observation tower, which offers views of the Black Forest, Freiburg and the Rhine Valley.