Bad Rappenau

Discover the history of salt and spa bathing

The permanent exhibition at the Bad Rappenau Museum covers the history of the saltworks and spa bathing, as well as the prehistoric and early history of the Bad Rappenau area. The museum, which opened in 1989, is located in the “Forum Fränkischer Hof” cultural centre and provides an overview of the history of the saltworks, spa bathing and the town. Visitors interested in the town’s development will find several topics brought together in one exhibition.

An ensemble at the southern end of the Salinenpark also recalls brine extraction. It includes historic drilling houses, a brine extraction tower and a treadwheel. The history of brine extraction in Bad Rappenau began in 1822. The last surviving treadwheel from the Rappenau saltworks was also built in 1822, in connection with the sinking of the first brine well. These facilities provide tangible objects and buildings that offer a different perspective on the history of the saltworks than the museum exhibition.

For the 2008 State Garden Show, the Bad Rappenau Local History and Museum Association established a Salt and Brine Museum in one of the historic drilling houses, as an addition to the municipal museum. Together with guided tours on the theme of “Salt and Brine,” this offers several ways to explore the subject: through the permanent exhibition, the historic facilities or a guided introduction to salt and brine.

Parks and activities

The Salinenpark, Kurpark and Schlosspark together cover around 29 hectares. Amenities in the parks include playgrounds, water features and peaceful spots to relax. There is also an animal enclosure in the Zeitwald, a lavender maze, a barefoot path and a spring grove. The well-maintained, varied gardens and parks are a destination for the whole family. If you like to alternate between exercise, play and quieter moments when planning a trip, you can explore these different park amenities.

The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gästeführungen e.V. regularly offers public guided tours on behalf of the town of Bad Rappenau or its tourism office. The programme includes museum and town tours on the theme of “Salt and Brine,” visits to a historic drilling house and walks through the large parks. You can make your interests the starting point: the tours focus either on history or on the parks and their distinctive features.

Active pursuits are also part of what’s on offer. Bad Rappenau offers guided adventure walks and cycling tours into the area above the Neckar Valley. Numerous walking, hiking and cycling paths invite you to explore Bad Rappenau and its surroundings. You can choose between guided tours and routes for independent exploration, without limiting your stay to the parks or the town’s history.

The brine baths and choosing the right focus for your holiday

The RappSoDie brine baths have two indoor pools with different designs on two levels and a steam bath. If you want to combine a visit to the brine baths with parks, culture or physical activities, Bad Rappenau offers a variety of themes for your holiday. The activities described have different focuses: the museum and historic facilities introduce the history of the saltworks, the parks offer playgrounds and other garden features, and hiking and cycling tours take you into the area above the Neckar Valley.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can therefore first decide which of these experiences you want to shape your stay. This lets you choose your holiday destination based on the things that genuinely interest you, rather than planning around just one activity.

More destinations: Neckarsulm, Hardthausen Am Kocher, Ittlingen, Neckarwestheim, Güglingen, Abstatt, Offenau, Lauffen Am Neckar.

For the regional travel overview: Heilbronn.