Oberwolfach: Mining, Minerals and Hiking
Accommodation in Oberwolfach
Oberwolfach brings together the history of mining, minerals and mathematics. The “Historic Mining, Minerals and Mathematics” theme park makes this unique combination a starting point for discovery: learn more about the cultural heritage of this mining community and how minerals and mathematics are connected. There is also a museum, a visitor mine and hiking opportunities—a range of options for anyone who likes to combine culture and activity during their holiday.
Mining history on display
Various mining tools are on display in the theme park. A faithfully furnished, walk-through German timber-set tunnel, complete with a historic mine cart, gives a tangible impression of the equipment used in mining. A mining locomotive as well as material and passenger wagons are also among the exhibits. Anyone interested in technology and the history of mining will find a variety of objects here that bring the park’s themes to life.
A Corten steel sculpture featuring the five Platonic solids explores the connection between minerals and mathematics. It offers a different perspective from the tools and vehicles: rather than equipment, the focus here is on geometric shapes and their connection to the subject of minerals. The theme park thus brings together historic mining objects and an artistic representation of mathematical ideas.
Minerals and mathematics at MiMa
MiMa – the Museum of Minerals and Mathematics in Oberwolfach – brings both subjects together in its exhibition. A large proportion of the minerals and collections on display come from the Oberwolfach Clara Mine. Multimedia installations about crystal lattices and symmetries complement virtual 3D flights, films and sculptures. This lets you get to know Oberwolfach from different perspectives: through the origins of its minerals, as well as the shapes and mathematical connections explored in the museum.
The visitor mine Grube Wenzel is also part of the cultural heritage. It is a popular destination and was once one of the most productive silver mines in the Central Black Forest. Together, the theme park and MiMa offer a range of different mining and mineral highlights for your stay—from historic objects and collections to the history of silver mining.
Hikes with different route details
For outdoor activities, Oberwolfach has 93.3 kilometres of municipal, waymarked hiking trails. The GeoTour Oberwolfach starts and ends in Oberwolfach-Gelbach. It is 5.6 kilometres long, with a total elevation gain of 260 metres.
Another option is Route 06, the “Valley Tour”. It leads from Oberwolfach-Kirche through the side valleys of the Wolftal and back to Oberwolfach via the Kreuzsattel, which is on the Westweg trail. If you’d like to include a hiking theme in your trip, you can choose between the GeoTour, with its specific distance and elevation details, and the Valley Tour, whose route is described. The two options offer different ways to decide what kind of outing appeals to you.
Solve puzzles with Anni’s Black Forest Mystery
Anni’s Black Forest Mystery combines a scavenger hunt with an escape room. For the whole family, there’s a backpack with boxes, locks, clues and tasks based on the story “The Missing Dwarf”. The puzzle adventure can be planned as a shared activity during your stay. Important for families with strollers: the hiking trail for this activity is not suitable for strollers. Keep this restriction in mind when planning your outings.
If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Oberwolfach, you can base your choice on the experiences you want to shape your holiday: mining and minerals, mathematics, hiking or the puzzle story. This way, your decision about where to spend your holiday can start with the kind of days you’d like to have.
More destination pages: Seelbach, Durbach, Mahlberg, Ottenhöfen in the Black Forest, Rheinau, Zell am Harmersbach, Seebach, Ichenheim.
For the regional travel overview: Ortenau District.
