Grenzach-Wyhlen: Boxwood Forest, Hiking Trails and Historic Traces
Accommodation in Grenzach-Wyhlen
The boxwood forest, trails on the Dinkelberg and historic traces give Grenzach-Wyhlen a range of different facets. The evergreen boxwood is particularly distinctive: the stands in the boxwood forest are among the oldest and last wild-growing sites of their kind in Germany. The town also has a history of viticulture and the remains of a Late Antique fort. As you plan your trip, you can explore nature, cultural history and longer routes as different focal points.
File:Grenzach-Wyhlen, LÖ - Wyhlen - Schützenstr - Kirche St Georg v NO, Birsfelden, BL.jpg
Photo: Flodur63 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Boxwood and Forests near Wyhlen
The boxwood forest of Grenzach-Wyhlen is one of the oldest and last wild-growing sites of evergreen boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) in Germany. Nowhere else in Germany does boxwood grow in such dense and extensive stands. It can reach heights of over four metres—a remarkable size for a wild-growing boxwood stand. The forest is therefore a defining natural feature of the town.
The neighbouring upland plateau of the Dinkelberg also offers nature lovers a wealth of hiking and walking trails. Another geographical feature is the 720-hectare area known as Wälder bei Wyhlen (Forests near Wyhlen). It extends across the municipalities of Grenzach-Wyhlen, Rheinfelden and Inzlingen and includes, among others, the nature reserves “Leuengraben”, “Buchswald bei Grenzach”, “Ruschbachtal” and “Altrhein Wyhlen”. On your trip, you can choose between trails by the boxwood forest, the wider Dinkelberg landscape and the various named protected areas.
Fort Remains and the History of Viticulture
The Late Antique bridgehead fort is located on the boundary between the districts of Wyhlen and Herten. Excavations in 1886, 1889 and 1935/36 uncovered the remains of three round towers. The wall remains, around two metres thick, were still preserved in places to a height of 90 centimetres. The tower remains stand right at the edge of the high riverbank; no connecting walls could be identified. These details give the historic site a vivid character, while making clear that the surviving remains should not be mistaken for a fully preserved fort.
Another historic trace leads to the Historische Trotte (Historic Wine Press) in Grenzach. It is an outstanding cultural monument and points to the former importance of viticulture in Grenzach. At the same time, it documents the close connection with the city of Basel. Anyone interested in the town’s history can explore two distinct themes: the Late Antique tower remains on the boundary between Wyhlen and Herten, and the cultural monument associated with viticulture and Basel.
Trails for Different Travel Plans
The Rheinuferrundweg Hochrhein is a 72.7-kilometre circular trail with four stages. The total walking time is around 18.5 hours, and the difficulty level is easy to moderate. The trail runs from Grenzach-Wyhlen and Kaiseraugst to Bad Säckingen and Stein and is part of the Rheinliebe route. Its length, number of stages and approximate total walking time help you plan it as a multi-day focus for your trip.
The Markgräfler Wiiwegli connects Grenzach-Wyhlen—or Weil am Rhein—with Freiburg over a distance of more than 92 kilometres. Together with the trails in the boxwood forest and on the neighbouring Dinkelberg plateau, it offers everything from local walks to routes linking different towns. The number of stages, total walking time and difficulty level help you plan the Rheinuferrundweg.
Which Holiday Apartment Suits Your Priorities?
If you are travelling with different interests, you can treat these themes as different opportunities for shared discoveries: natural habitats, the history of viticulture and Late Antique traces each offer a distinct focus. You can therefore choose where to stay in Grenzach-Wyhlen based on the mix of nature, culture and longer trails you are looking for.
More Local Guides
More local guides: Kandern, Zell Im Wiesental, Malsburg-Marzell, Lörrach, Efringen-Kirchen, Schliengen, Maulburg and Hasel.
Back to the main travel guide: Lörrach.
