Schnapps walk in Sasbachwalden (Germany)

My summary

Concept of the schnapps tour

Some friends had told me about these original routes, where you can hike through magnificent landscapes and taste the local schnapps at the same time. Naturally, I was intrigued! We all went together on a grey autumn day, but the scenery and colors that awaited us made for a wonderful afternoon. And without abusing the schnapps, of course 😉 Léa also went to test the second itinerary, so we can give you a full report 🙂

The Schnapsbrunnenwege are signposted routes with fountains where bottles of locally produced schnapps are waiting for you in the cooler.

We also often findother delicacies: liquors, wine, soft drinks, sometimes coffee (not in the fountain, eh, in a thermos next to it!) and even chips to accompany the tasting if needed.

In addition to the fountain, there’s a small cupboard for glasses, picnic tables and sometimes even a shelter. It’s all very well done and very pretty: all you want to do is settle in!

You help yourself and pay into a piggy bank on site. Make sure you have some change, as you’ll need to pay €1 per glass and €2/3 if you take a larger quantity (there are mini-bottles, for example). The idea, of course, is not to get drunk, just to sample local specialities on the way. What a pleasure it is to stop off at a cute little place, choose your drink and enjoy a pleasant, gourmet break!

Two schnapps tours to choose from

There are two Schnapsbrunnenwege in Sasbachwalden: a 7km loop (Schnapsbrunnenweg 1) to the north of the village and a longer 12km loop (Schnapsbrunnenweg 2) to the south.

My hike on the Schnapsbrunnenweg 1 (by Laurène)

I did the first loop (7km, about 2h without breaks), which I really enjoyed: a good climb at the start but no difficulties after that, and really lovely scenery all the way!

Between the forest, the Gaishöll waterfalls, the vineyards and the panoramic views of the villages nestled in the vineyards, it was a real postcard at every moment.

As a bonus, I tasted a glass of a quince liqueur to die for, enough to warm up my body and my heart 😉 I will come back to try the second schnapps tour one of these days, for sure!

My hike on the Schnapsbrunnenweg 2 (by Léa)

This second 12 km circuit (approx. 4 hrs), with its 400 m elevation gain, was a real “coup de coeur”! It has to be said that the weather conditions were quite special: we started out climbing through the vineyards, then into the forest in the middle of the fog. Then we walked for a while between fog and sun, which made for sublime lighting. Finally, we left the fog behind to enjoy the sunshine and magnificent cloud seas!

The Schnapsbrunnenweg 2 passes several schnapps farms and fountains, but many were not open as it was November. That said, a glass of delicious cherry liqueur was more than enough for us, after which we tried an equally good sparkling fruit juice.

A little bonus for the gourmets: the end of the hike passes near the adorable restaurant Spinnerhofwhich serves gargantuan slices of Black Forest!

With its beautiful and varied landscapes, its tiny bucolic villages to cross and its gourmet reward at the end, I would do this hike again with great pleasure!