Gernsbach

Historic buildings and art in town

The Old Town Hall is one of the most beautiful and historically significant residential buildings of its time in southern Germany. Since April 2012, its upper floors have housed the Museum of Harmony, run by the Jan Brauers Foundation. The tithe barns on Amtsstraße are also part of Gernsbach’s historic character: the surviving buildings date from 1694 and 1701. If you enjoy exploring buildings from different periods, you can include these examples in your own discovery of the town.

A permanent exhibition was installed in the Storchenturm after its renovation in 2014. During the summer months, the tower is open to visitors on Sundays. You can take these seasonal opening hours into account when planning a visit. Guided tours for visitors and residents are offered in Gernsbach throughout the year; a tour can be a good way to get to know the town with some additional orientation.

On the banks of the Murg lies the Katz’s Garden, a historic park with sculptures and works of art from past centuries. It is also home to a neoclassical garden house dating from 1846. Art and historic architecture come together in this park. Wine is another special feature of the Old Town Hall: wine tastings hosted by the Iselin winery take place in its vaulted cellar. The town hall was also designated as the starting point of the Ortenau Wine Trail in 2007.

Hiking trails for different abilities

The art trail along the Reichenbach combines art and exercise on a well-defined route: the gently ascending hiking trail is 3.2 kilometres long and leads from Obertsrot-Hilpertsau, a district of Gernsbach, to Reichental. Along the way are works by well-known artists from Baden-Württemberg and other parts of Europe. The distance and gentle ascent give you two clear points of reference when planning this hike for your stay.

The Gernsbacher Runde offers a longer tour. This 43.8-kilometre hiking trail circles Gernsbach and is completed in two to three daily stages; some sections have steep climbs. Along the way, you can discover natural beauty, viewpoints and the Murg. This multi-day hike is therefore quite different from the 3.2-kilometre art trail. Which route better suits your travel plans depends above all on whether you have a single hike or several stages in mind.

Moorland and winter sports at Kaltenbronn

The raised bog area at Kaltenbronn lies at an altitude of around 900 metres and has been a nature reserve for over 60 years. It was the first nature reserve in Baden-Württemberg; the Wildseemoor is the largest raised bog in the Black Forest. Circular trails between 3 and 9 kilometres long run around the Hohlohsee and Wildsee lakes. Clear hiking maps are posted at the car parks. This lets you choose from several marked route lengths for a day of hiking.

In winter, Kaltenbronn offers opportunities for skiing and cross-country skiing. There are two ski lifts and many groomed cross-country ski trails for winter sports. If your travel dates are still flexible, you can weigh up a stay focused on hiking against a winter getaway.

More experiences and reasons to visit

The Lautenfelsen rocks rise above the Lautenbach district amid dense woodland. The landscape is characterised by ancient forests, mountain streams and distinctive animal and plant life. Gernsbach is also a gateway community to the Black Forest Central/North Nature Park. In summer, performances by “Theatre in the Spa Park” take place in Gernsbach’s Kurpark. These seasonal performances can add to a visit; they offer a different reason to travel than hiking or exploring historic buildings.

Other places: Iffezheim, Moos, Steinmauern, Rastatt, Bühlertal, Hügelsheim, Bühl, Ötigheim.

Back to the main travel overview: Rastatt.