Scheffellinde (Scheffel’s lime tree) on the Hohentwiel

The so-called ‘Scheffellinde’ on the Hohentwiel is one of Singen’s best-known natural monuments. It was planted in 1775 and stands in front of the inn on the Hohentwiel estate. Large gaps in the branches, hollows in the trunk and crown supports bear witness to its great age and the many storms it has weathered.

The lime tree gained particular cultural and historical significance through the poet Joseph Victor von Scheffel. During his stay at Hohentwiel in 1854, he frequently visited this spot and wrote around nine chapters of his historical novel *Ekkehard* here. The novel, published in 1855, played a key role in raising the profile of Hohentwiel beyond the region.

Since August 2026, a statue of Scheffel has made this connection between literature and the site even more visible. The statue, commissioned by the ‘Freunde des Hohentwiel’ support association, stands directly beneath the Scheffel lime tree. An information panel on the back tells the story of Scheffel and his novel ‘Ekkehard’. Thus, this special place today combines a natural monument, literary history and the Hohentwiel experience.