Drawn between the Schauinsland and the Feldberg, Oberried extends an invitation. It is a place of Black Forest nature and pure adventure. Oberried sits in the southern Black Forest. It lies 12 km east of Freiburg.
Oberried has around 2,800 inhabitants. The districts are Hofsgrund, St. Wilhelm and Zastler. The municipality lies in the Dreisamtal valley. The Brugga stream flows through it. Oberried extends to the Feldberg and Schauinsland mountains.
Let’s take a stroll through Oberried’s history. The valley was likely settled in the early 12th century. Much of it was owned by St. Gallen Abbey. In the early 13th century, the Rotulus Sanpetrinus mentions possessions of St. Peter’s Abbey in Obirrieth.
In 1237, Rudolf von Tengen ordered a Cistercian convent to be built in the Wilhelmertal valley. Nuns from Günterstal Abbey populated it. By 1252, it passed to the Wilhelmites. It was first known as St. Wilhelm Abbey. But by 1308, it was called Oberried Abbey.
In 1496, Freiburg gained vogt rights over Oberried. In 1507, the Wilhelmiter monks left the Wilhelmertal valley. They moved to St. Wilhelm Abbey in Freiburg. The Wilhelmiter monks returned in 1682 after their Freiburg monastery was destroyed.
In 1683, they re-established the Oberried monastery. They bought the Steierthof, which was also destroyed. In 1684, the Wilhelmiter built the Oberried monastery. They occupied it in 1687. The baroque monastery church was consecrated in 1699.
Benedictines from St. Blasien took over the monastery in 1724. They continued it as a priory. In 1806, Oberried became part of the Grand Duchy of Baden.
Oberried has been part of the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district since the 1970s. Before that, it belonged to the Freiburg district since 1939.
Oberried includes several parts. Hofsgrund has been part of Oberried since 1974. This small village lies at the foot of the Schauinsland mountain. St. Wilhelm was founded in 1266 as a branch of the Oberried monastery. Zastler has been part of Oberried since 1974.
The town hall is in a wing of the monastery building. The other two wings belong to the parish. Klaus Vosberg is Oberried’s mayor.
Oberried’s coat of arms features a silver unicorn on a red background. It is based on the coat of arms of the Counts of Tengen. They were Oberried’s feudal lords in the Middle Ages.
Tourism plays a significant role in Oberried. Ski lifts are available at the Stollenbacher Hütte and in Hofsgrund during winter. Cross-country skiing is possible on the Schauinsland and around the Notschrei. In summer, visit the Steinwasen-Park. Enjoy hiking trails around the Notschrei or from the Erlenbacher Hütte.
Oberried offers much to see. Visit the old Wilhelmieten monastery and the pilgrimage church Mariä Krönung. The church dates back to the late 17th century. It features a large pilgrimage crucifix from the mid-15th century. The Schniederlihof in Hofsgrund is a museum of rural culture.
The Kulturkreis Oberried hosts the “Concert in the Monastery” series each year. These concerts feature old chamber music. They take place in the pilgrimage church or the monastery courtyard. SWR2 radio often records some concerts because of the special acoustics.
Let’s remember the past. In 1936, a group of English students got into trouble in the mountains. Five students died of exhaustion. A memorial above Hofsgrund commemorates this event.
The Barbarastollen is located near Oberried. Since 1975, the Federal Office for Civil Protection has stored microfilm copies of important cultural assets here. The archive protects cultural assets during armed conflicts.
The former monastery building houses a book collection called the “Monastery Library”. It contains original editions of Martin Gerbert’s writings.
Each autumn, Oberried hosts an Alemannic week. It celebrates local dialect and customs.
Oberried is more than just a stop on a map. It is a living testament to history. It is a vibrant community nestled in the embrace of the Black Forest. Take a moment to appreciate the blend of nature, culture, and history. It is what makes Oberried truly special.