The Zavelstein Fountain Tour

Start: Castle; destination: Zavelstein market square

Markings: Signage and trail network of the Black Forest Association.

Today, we take it for granted that high-quality water is available in practically unlimited quantities. This was by no means always the case. For a long time, especially in water-scarce regions such as the Swabian Alb or the high-altitude villages of the Black Forest, a more or less pronounced water shortage was part of everyday life, as was the case in Zavelstein. People made do with draw wells and cisterns. However, this caused serious problems: with limited water capacity, wells often ran dry after prolonged periods without rain, and water hygiene was poor.

The extremely high infant mortality rate well into modern times and the average life expectancy of medieval people, which was limited to 30 years at best, can be attributed in large part to diseases transmitted by unhygienic water. Moving grave epitaphs in the Zavelstein church bear eloquent testimony to the high infant mortality rate. In 1624, the then lord of the castle, Benjamin Buwinghausen von Wallmerode, ensured that the castle and town of Zavelstein were supplied with fresh spring water, which still feeds 15 wells in Zavelstein today.

The Zavelstein fountain tour, with 19 stops over a total length of 2 km, presents the history and special features of our water supply. The trail begins at the castle and ends at the market square (1) and is accessible in all weather conditions. It comprises 19 stops and is two-thirds circular. It is easy to find thanks to orientation maps at each stop.

The fountain tour was created in 2009 by the Black Forest Association Zavelstein in cooperation with the town of Bad Teinach-Zavelstein. To mark its anniversary year, Sparkasse Pforzheim-Calw provided financial support for the project.

Zavelstein Fountain Tour, total length approx. 3 km, 19 stations, starting at the castle, ending at the market square, central information point in the old town weigh house.