St Martin's Chapel

St Martin's Chapel stands at approximately 1,085 meters high in the upper Katzensteig valley in the Black Forest region. The small building sits near the source of the Danube and is surrounded by forested highland terrain.

Archaeological digs in 1958 uncovered evidence of a religious structure from around 800 AD, possibly a spring shrine with a baptismal basin. These discoveries show that the site has served as a place of religious significance since the early Middle Ages.

The chapel is named after Saint Martin, a figure who holds meaning in local devotion practices. Visitors find a place where hikers and locals naturally gather to pause and reflect on the surrounding landscape.

The chapel sits directly on two popular hiking routes: the West Way and the long-distance ski trail from Schonach to Belchen. Visitors can reach it easily whether walking or skiing during winter months.

The chapel sits at the edge of the European watershed that divides the Rhine from the Danube, marking a major geographical boundary. Visitors stand at a point where water flows in two directions toward two of Europe's most important rivers.

Location: Furtwangen im Schwarzwald

GPS coordinates: 48.09610,8.15558

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:00