Parks and Green Areas

Many islands of green are scattered all over the city, inviting you to take a stroll and linger. Around 120 hectares of greenery and parks are available for local recreation in Villingen-Schwenningen. All the larger facilities are equipped with a variety of walkways and connecting paths, children's playgrounds, play spots and seating, as well as trees, lawns and various planted areas, which are regularly maintained and developed further.

Ring parks

The city centre of Villingen is almost completely surrounded by public parks with old trees and shrubs along the historic city wall. From 1870 onwards, the outer wall and ditches were levelled. With the ring parks around the city centre, a multifaceted local recreational area with walking trails, children's playgrounds, seating, green areas, a flower clock and numerous planted areas has been created.

According to a decision by the local council, the fourth construction phase of the renewal of the Villingen ring parks in the Romäus Ring area will begin in summer 2017.

Hubenloch Park

Hubenloch Park is located above the historic city centre of Villingen. The green space is equipped with playgrounds, sports facilities, park benches and a look-out tower, which is also used as an antenna mast for mobile phones and offers a panoramic view of the city. The rose garden is part of Hubenloch Park, which covers almost 9 hectares. At an elevation of about 750 metres above sea level, it is one of the highest public rose gardens in Europe. The roses are not treated with pesticides, allowing rose lovers to gain valuable insights into the resistance and vigour of the individual varieties.

Schwenninger Moos

Open around the clock, free admission

The Schwenninger Moos is a natural treasure on the edge of Schwenningen. The mire area on the European main watershed has surprises in store at any time of the day or year. In spring flora and fauna awaken, in summer rare plants can be discovered or the breeding of birds can be observed, autumn brings wonderful colors or mystical wafts of mist and winter enchants with steel blue skies, snow and glittering hoarfrost. The nature conservation ordinance helps to preserve this unique landscape. So a walk is always worthwhile.

further information is available on the website of the environmental center

Mauthe Park

Mauthe Park is the largest public park in the centre of Schwenningen. After being closed to the public for decades, the park has been open to the public again since the 1970s. The private garden of the clock-making family Mauthe used to be surrounded by a high wall. The garden used to house a private riding arena where the children's playground is now located. In the centre of the park is a water fountain circle surrounded by benches, where children love to go in summer to play in the water.  There is also a children's playground, lawn area and benches on the park area of about one hectare.

Möglingshöhe

Möglingshöhe is a city park on the edge of Schwenningen near the exhibition grounds and ice stadium. It is partly wooded and partly interspersed with old trees and shrubs. With its numerous walking trails, the large children's playground, play spots and the Schwenningen associations' summer festival site, it serves as a recreational area for the local population. Möglingshöhe City Park and its adjoining areas were part of the site of the State Horticultural Show in 2010. In the course of the preparations for the State Horticultural Show, a number of alterations and extensions were carried out, such as enlargement of the former swan pond and the addition of a circular path along the shore of the lake. The playground has also been extended and now invites you to linger with a marble run and a barefoot obstacle course. The historical source of the Neckar is also located in Möglingshöhe City Park. In 1581, Duke Ludwig had a stone with the inscription 'This is the source of the Neckar' placed there. The original Neckar well stone was damaged about 50 years ago. After it was reconstructed, it was relocated to the Heimatmuseum Schwenningen. A replica of the well stone was placed near the original location in 1981.

Just like in the other parks of the city, the flowerbeds are displaying their colourful splendour once again.

Bürk Park

Bürk Park in Schwenningen is a private city park belonging to the villa of clock-maker Bürk. In 1990, large parts were acquired and largely preserved by the city of Villingen-Schwenningen. The park with its old trees, the historical ensemble of the Bürk Villa and the adjacent former Bürk Clock Factory offer residents and guests an area of rest and relaxation. The iron garden fence of the villa of former manufacturer Bürk is a particularly beautiful example of Wilhelminian fence architecture. New trails and paths were created with a new crossroads. Benches at the fountain and pavilion offer options for rest and leisure.

Spa garden in VS-Villingen

The spa park (Kurpark) in the city district of Villingen was established in 1935 as a 'spa park in Kneipp swimming bath' on the site of the former hammer mill in Kirnachtal. A footpath along the Brigach surrounded by trees and shrubs leads from the train station in VS-Villingen to the spa park in twenty minutes on foot. In 1934/35, National Socialist Mayor Hermann Schneider attempted to revive tourism by developing Villingen into a 'Kneipp spa location'. In the course of a job creation programme, a natural swimming pool, a spa garden, a Kneipp house and a sanatorium were built in rapid succession. Nowadays only the spa garden is substantially preserved. It is divided into a natural part with pond and circular path and a geometric part with lawn parterre and fountain. Terraced gravel surfaces, generous staircases embedded between hedges and natural stone walls and lush borders of flowers and shrubs provide it with typical Weimar era architecture. Its majolica figures from Richard Bampi's Kanderner Fayance Manufactory emphasise his unique design in this open-air exhibition space. They focus the viewer's attention on to the typical garden art of the 1930s.Due to their size, the figures are considered to be a significant technical innovation in the production of ceramics in the 1930s, both for their outdoor installation and for their new coloured glazes. In their entirety, the majolica figures have been listed as historical monuments since 2014. In spite of several renovations and additions to the building, essential parts of the spa garden have been preserved and are in well-kept condition, so that today you can linger between flower beds and hedges in a quiet, relaxing atmosphere from May to November. Built into the former lounging and reading hall is a concert shell and a restaurant that is open all year round. In the immediate vicinity, there is the outdoor waterpark, the pool still known as the 'Villinger Kneipp Pool', a miniature golf course and a playground. The spa garden has recently become known again as the venue for the Mosaik VS Association Annual Arts and Crafts Market, which takes place every year on the first weekend in July. From 2018 onwards, the Senior Citizens' Council of the City of Villingen-Schwenningen will offer regular music events of the VS Music Academy between May and October. The Spa Garden Circle of Friends offers a guided tour of the history of horticultural art from May to October. Those interested can contact the Tourist Information Office at the Franciscan Cultural Centre.

Villingen-Schwenningen also has three game enclosures at two locations. The game reserve 'Salvest' is located between the urban district of Villingen and Unterkirnach, the game reserve 'Natzental' at the edge of the urban district of Schwenningen in the direction of the customs house