Rastatt: Baroque, the history of democracy and excursions
Accommodation in Rastatt
Rastatt brings the history of Baroque residences, democratic traditions and a range of interests in excursions to life. Permanent exhibitions and palaces sit alongside winter sports, a bobsled run, regional produce and a view into a fish ladder. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can start by deciding whether culture, activity or food and drink should be the focus of your stay.
Residenzschloss Rastatt, the town’s Baroque palace and historic focal point.
Photo: Harke via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Baroque buildings and a turbulent history
Rastatt Palace was the first Baroque residence built on German soil and was designed after the model of Versailles. The Rastatt City Museum is housed in a Baroque town palace opposite the Residence Palace. Its permanent exhibitions cover both Rastatt’s history over the past 300 years and prehistory and early history. The combination of residence and museum offers two perspectives on Rastatt: Baroque architecture and the diverse historical subjects explored in the exhibitions.
Favorite Palace is the oldest and only German porcelain palace preserved in its original form. The Memorial Site for the Freedom Movements in German History adds a political perspective to the history of the buildings and the city. It presents milestones in the development of freedom and democratic traditions from the early modern period to the present day. Exhibits, models, pictures, caricatures and contemporary texts illustrate the revolutionary struggle of men and women throughout Germany in 1848/49, which ended with the fall of Rastatt Fortress.
Excursions with different focuses
Eberstein Castle was built in 1272 and is a popular destination high above the town of Gernsbach. The bobsled run at the Mehliskopf leisure and sports centre offers a different kind of experience: its 1,000-metre descent includes four steep forest bends, seven steep meadow bends and eight water crossings. A historic destination and an activity-focused experience therefore offer two distinct options.
The fish ladder at the Iffezheim barrage has a viewing room where you can watch fish swim in stages through the fish pass. Seasonal conditions apply to climbing the tower at Windeck Castle: from April to October, it can be climbed from 9 a.m. until nightfall, and during the winter months in good weather. Check these details before your visit, as they may change.
Outdoor activities and regional produce
The Murgtal/Bühlertal winter sports area in Rastatt district offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledging and snowboarding. There are also ten ski lifts and a 110-kilometre network of cross-country ski trails. These activities give a winter stay a different focus from the Baroque and historic destinations.
The PAMINA cycle route can once again be used along its original route. It runs through the municipal areas of Rastatt, Steinmauern, Elchesheim-Illingen and Au am Rhein. It is advisable to check route conditions before setting out.
On the farm shop tour, more than 15 direct marketers offer meat products from their own livestock, freshly baked farmhouse bread, and seasonal fruit and vegetables from the region. The produce includes Bühler plums and Baden asparagus. This adds a dedicated focus on regional food to the excursions and cultural attractions.
Choosing your holiday apartment is easier if you decide what you want to focus on during your trip. Those who want to experience Rastatt primarily through its Baroque architectural history, city museum and memorial site will plan differently from those whose main interests are the bobsled run, winter sports or cycling. The farm shop tour adds regional food to the options.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Weisenbach, Rastatt, Ötigheim, Muggensturm, Moos, Rheinmünster, Sinzheim, Steinmauern, Ottersweier, Forbach, Bühlertal, Lautenbach, Iffezheim, Gernsbach, Bühl, Lichtenau, Hügelsheim, Durmersheim, Kuppenheim, Gaggenau, Loffenau.
Go to the main travel overview: Baden-Württemberg.
