The Scheffel Trail in Singen am Hohentwiel is a cultural-historical loop trail that takes visitors on a journey in the footsteps of the famous poet Joseph Victor von Scheffel. The trail recounts the writer’s life and works, highlights his significance for the city of Singen, and offers fascinating insights into the history of the Hegau-Lake Constance region. The starting point is Singen train station, from where the trail runs along Scheffelstraße and August-Ruf-Straße, passes the Scheffelhalle, and finally leads up to the upper fortress of Hohentwiel—one of the city’s most striking landmarks.
Joseph Victor von Scheffel, once a highly esteemed 19th-century poet, is known to many today only by name. In the Hegau-Bodensee region, however, his memory lives on: numerous streets, buildings, and cultural institutions commemorate him and his popular fictional characters. The appreciation for Scheffel is particularly evident in Singen—he enjoyed staying at the historic Krone Inn, lived for a time at the restaurant on Hohentwiel, and wrote his famous novel “Ekkehard” there in the spring of 1854.
The Scheffel Trail combines nature, culture, and literature over a distance of about two kilometers. Along the way, informational signs invite visitors to learn more about Scheffel’s life, his works, and the literary references. At the same time, the trail offers magnificent views of the city, the Hegau landscape, and the surrounding volcanic mountains, which are sure to delight hikers and culture enthusiasts alike.
Whether for tourists, literature lovers, or families—the Scheffel Trail is an ideal destination in Singen. It combines historical insights, literary discoveries, and nature experiences on an easy-to-walk route, making it perfect for day trips, strolls, and cultural walks in the region.
Autorentipp
The view from the Hohentwiel fortress ruins of the town of Singen, Lake Untersee, the Hegau region, and the Alps makes the strenuous climb well worth it!
Wegbeschreibung
Train Station
The dawn of the industrial age in Singen. Scheffel used the railroad, which began operating in Singen in 1863. The construction of the train station in 1877 marked the beginning of the town’s urban development.
Scheffelstraße
Veneration of Scheffel in 19th-century Singen. Naming of the street during the poet’s lifetime. Description of the village at that time and its social structures, leading up to the city’s development with Scheffelstraße as the main shopping street and home to large department stores.
Hadwigstraße
Introduction to Hadwig, Duchess of Swabia, and a summary of the Ekkehard novel.
Municipal Libraries
From the first edition of *Ekkehard* to the bestseller in English and French. Reference to the municipal libraries, which hold around 200 editions.
Ekkehard School
The Scheffel cult gives rise to the naming of streets, fountains, squares, and schools. Reference to the Scheffel Association and the Scheffel Prize for excellence in German.
Old Village
Scheffel’s connections to the Hegau region through his grandmother, his acquaintances in Singen society, and his love for the Hegau landscape.
“Krone” Inn
Scheffel’s fondness for the Krone Inn in Singen, where the village dignitaries used to gather. The artists’ corner from 1926 and the unveiling of the Scheffel memorial plaque in 1929.
The Halls
The Festival Hall, built in 1906, and the reasons for its demolition, as well as the construction of the Scheffel Hall for the 10th Hegau Singers’ Festival in 1925.
“Hohentwiel” Inn
What motivated Scheffel to write *Ekkehard*? From his studies at the Abbey of St. Gallen to the inn on the Hohentwiel, where parts of the novel were written. The founding of the Scheffel Community on the Hohentwiel and the open-air plays.
Württemberg Hohentwiel Society
The reasons for the donation of the medallions on the Hohentwiel depicting Scheffel and Bismarck lay in the national self-confidence following the founding of the German Empire in 1871.
The Scheffel Statue
The Scheffel statue by Singen artist Gero Hellmuth was unveiled in 2014 with a view of Hohentwiel. It depicts the poet in the moment of inspiration for his novel “Ekkehard.”
Buchempfehlungen des Autors
Reinhild Kappes: Joseph Victor von Scheffel – Insights into a Multifaceted Life. Singen, 2011 (Hegau Library, Vol. 150)
Weitere Informationen
You can purchase the Scheffel publication at the Singen City Archives for €7.80.
