Villingen-Schwenningen - Guide for Gays, Lesbians and Queers

Villingen-Schwenningen has no queer scene of its own with bars, cafés or saunas. There are still a few dependable places to turn to, especially for young people, and everyone else can draw on state-wide networks and counselling services.

The most important address in town is the K3 youth centre on Kalkofenstraße. There, the City of Villingen-Schwenningen runs an open group called Smash the Cistem through its youth work department. It is meant for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer young people aged thirteen to twenty-one who want to talk or do things together. The group meets every Friday on the second floor of the building. You can reach it by email or on Instagram, and K3 itself answers general questions. Lambda Baden-Württemberg lists it in its directory of queer youth groups as the group for Villingen-Schwenningen.

For adults and for relatives, the best starting point is the Queer Network of Baden-Württemberg (Queeres Netzwerk Baden-Württemberg). This state-wide alliance brings together in-person and online counselling, self-help groups, brochures and training. Its counselling is also open to relatives, friends and professionals, and there is information for refugees in English and French. Its own online counselling service means help is available without having to travel. The network includes the youth association Queer Future, which connects youth groups across the state.

If you would rather meet queer associations in person, the network has member organisations in places such as Freiburg, Konstanz, Singen and Offenburg. Its search tool lets you filter groups, regular meetups and counselling services by region, for example Lake Constance or Freiburg and the southern Upper Rhine.