Discover Kandern: Art Trails, Ceramics and Railways

Trails Through Art, the Solar System and Earth’s History

The August Macke Trail starts in Kandern and leads to places and motifs that were important to the artist’s life and work. Ten information panels featuring image reproductions and text offer insights into biographical and artistic connections. The trail thus combines a walk with a look into Macke’s life and creative work.

The 6-kilometre Egerten–Kandern Planet Trail brings a very different subject to life: it passes through a scale model of the solar system at a scale of 1:1 billion. The trail ends in Kandern and can also be walked from Kandern. The proportions of the solar system are its central focus.

The 5-kilometre Time Trail from Kandern to Egerten, by contrast, turns the focus to Earth’s history. It depicts the five billion years of Earth’s evolution, starts at Kandern Town Hall and passes, among other places, the August Macke School. The Planet Trail and the Time Trail translate different scientific scales into routes on the ground: one follows the solar system, the other the development of Earth.

For a longer mountain bike ride, there is the Kandern district marathon. This 48-kilometre circular route follows forest tracks and minor roads close to the district boundary around Kandern. It is therefore quite different from the shorter themed trails: the distance and mode of transport offer a different focus for the day.

Ceramics Tradition and Architectural History

For centuries, clay shaped Kandern as a pottery town at the foot of the Southern Black Forest; renowned studio ceramicists had their workshops here. The Max Laeuger Collection offers insight into his artistic development and highlights his significant influence as a pioneer of modern ceramics. Together, these themes tell the story of an artistic tradition closely connected with Kandern.

The Protestant town church is also part of the town’s history. After several alterations and extensions, it was built between 1825 and 1827 by J.J. Christoph Arnold, a pupil of Weinbrenner. Those interested in architecture will find a tangible point of reference in Kandern’s architectural history here. The Tourist Information office can provide a detailed description of the walking tour through Kandern.

Railways and Views Nearby

The Kandertal Railway is a historic steam railway running between Haltingen and Kandern. The station grounds in Kandern also offer a tour for railway enthusiasts of all ages: Railway Agent Michel. It takes visitors around the station grounds and adds a dedicated local experience to the railway history.

Nearby, the Sausenburg Castle ruins lie east of Sitzenkirch, a district of Kandern. Visitors can climb the castle tower, which offers views across the tri-border region in clear weather. As access conditions may change, check access arrangements before your visit.

A Distinctive Cultural Highlight: Lörrach

Lörrach lies in the southwest of Baden-Württemberg, in the Markgräflerland region, directly on the Swiss border and close to the neighbouring city of Basel. The Dreiländermuseum Lörrach has a permanent exhibition spanning around 1,000 square metres. The Lörrach Sculpture Trail runs through the city and features 23 sculptures, fountains and monuments by renowned sculptors. The cultural programme at Burghof Lörrach includes singing and music, dance, cabaret, literature and children’s theatre; Burghof Lörrach GmbH also organises the international STIMMEN Festival every year. These examples represent Lörrach’s distinctive urban cultural offering, separate from Kandern’s trails and ceramics history.

The route lengths also vary considerably: the themed trails are 5 or 6 kilometres long, while the district marathon is 48 kilometres. You can therefore plan your holiday around the activities on offer, rather than choosing accommodation independently of your destination.

Discover more destinations: Hertingen, Inzlingen, Binzen, Wittlingen, Böllen, Schopfheim, Grenzach-Wyhlen, Liel.

Back to the main travel overview: Lörrach.