Summer mountain cable car Bad Wildbad

The Sommerbergbahn is a funicular railway with a track width of 1000 mm, which overcomes a height difference of 291 m from the valley station in Bad Wildbad to the mountain station on the Sommerberg over a distance of 738 m. In between there is the panorama station and an exit point where the two railways meet. This exit point is particularly interesting for children, as they can watch the two railways pass each other. It is also part of our “Enjoy the Black Forest” package.

History of the Bad Wildbad summer cable car

The idea of ​​the Bad Wildbad Sommerbergbahn began long before the opening in 1928. It was the spa doctor Dr. Wilhelm Josenhans who had been promoting the Sommerbergbahn since 1898. The idea behind it was to connect the town with all its baths and the Sommerberg. The preparatory work and discussions on how to realize this project took no less than 10 years. But once the spa doctor and the community had reached an agreement, construction could begin. The architect used the Heidelberg cable car up to the Königsstuhl and the Nero mountain cable car in Wiesbaden as models for the new cable car. The cost of the new cable car was estimated at 437,000 marks. However, the budget was exceeded. In the end, the community spent more than 50,000 marks on it.

On May 23, 1908, the time had come and the Bad Wildbad summer mountain cable car was opened. Twenty years later, the cable car underwent its first modernization. The summer mountain cable car was also not unscathed by the consequences of the war. The upper observation hall burned down completely. However, it was not rebuilt until 1954.

In 2002, there was an expansion. The valley station of the Sommerbergbahn was connected to line S6, the Karlsruhe tram, which connects Bad Wildbad with Pforzheim via the Enztalbahn. This means that the Sommerbergbahn Bad Wildbad is also accessible to those visitors who do not have the opportunity to drive to the valley station.

In the following years, the track structure was continually adapted to the latest findings in cable car construction. In 2004, extensive work was carried out to bring the cable car up to date with the most modern safety requirements.

At the end of 2010, the line had to be closed completely due to extensive modernization work. The following year, more precisely in February 2011, a carriage had to be lifted off the line and could not be put back into service until later that year. With all the new features completed, the Bad Wildbad summer mountain cable car is considered one of the most modern cable cars in Germany and attracts thousands of German and international guests every year! 

 The Sommerbergbahn and its technical parameters

• Length: 756 meters
• Height: 324 meters
• Maximum slope: 53%
• Configuration: single track with overtaking loop
• Carriage: 2
• Capacity: 100 passengers per carriage
• Travel time: 3.5 minutes
• Track width: 1,000 mm
• Traction: Electricity

Up to the summer mountain and what now?

However, most people who visit Bad Württemberg don’t come just for the cable car, as the 780 m ride is far from enough for a day trip. But wait, not so fast!

From the mountain station you have a wonderful view over the Black Forest and of course over the spa town. But the real adventure only begins now.

From the mountain station you have the opportunity to

• “WILDLINE suspension bridge” and the
  
•  Visit the Black Forest treetop path.

WILDLINE suspension rope bridge

As you cross the bridge, you will experience breathtaking views of the Black Forest. And when the wind blows and the bridge begins to sway, your courage can be put to the test.

Not far from the suspension bridge you will find the fairytale path. The bridge itself is 380 meters long and hovers 60 meters above the ground.

Treetop path in the Black Forest

With a total length of 1,250 meters and a height of 20 meters, the treetop path winds through the beech, fir and spruce trees of the Black Forest. There is also a 40-meter-high, architecturally unique observation tower that offers a panoramic view of the entire forest.

And if you really don’t want to come up here with the Bad Wildbad summer cable car, you can drive to the mountain station by car.