Bickenbach: Discover Historical Traces
Accommodation in Bickenbach
Bickenbach’s history is reflected in its distinctive architectural and memorial sites. The Kolbsches Haus, the former hunting lodge and the Kaiserstein each represent different historical themes. If you plan your trip around cultural interests, these places offer concrete points of reference for exploring the municipality.
File:DE Bickenbach Landbachauen Rotes Höhenvieh Kuh Mabel mit Kalb im Vordergrund.jpg
Photo: Alexander Klink via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Historical Traces in Bickenbach
Built in 1584, the Kolbsches Haus is now considered probably the oldest house in the municipality. Its history encompasses a range of former uses: it housed a cooper’s workshop, served as an agricultural estate, and was an inn and a butcher’s shop. These successive uses make the house a multifaceted point of reference in the town’s history.
Another historical trace leads to the former Bickenbach hunting lodge. Landgrave Ernst Ludwig of Hesse-Darmstadt had it built in 1720/21. The Kaiserstein, meanwhile, stands in the middle of the forest in Bickenbach’s northern district. The monument is said to commemorate a hunting event from 1745. The house, lodge and monument each highlight a different aspect: former everyday uses, the landgraves’ building history and an event passed down through the years.
Cultural life also has an institutional dimension: since 2001, the Cultural Working Group has organised and coordinated cultural activities in Bickenbach. Specific events may vary; the working group’s long-standing role gives you another point of reference if you are interested in local cultural life.
Landscape and Experiences in the Wider Darmstadt-Dieburg Destination
The wider Darmstadt-Dieburg destination encompasses several distinct natural landscapes: the Hessian Rhine Plain, the Lower Main Plain, the Messel Hills, the Reinheim Hills, the Vorderer Odenwald and the Sandstone Odenwald. Within the district, the Bergstraße forms the distinctive transition between the Rhine Plain and the Odenwald. This regional context offers a different perspective for planning your trip than a focus on Bickenbach’s local architectural history.
The natural attractions also offer a variety of experiences. The Reinheimer Teich nature reserve lies in the north-western foothills of the Odenwald and is surrounded by meadows and fields; you can explore it on a circular trail and from numerous benches. The Pfungstädter Moor consists of three sections, covers around 103 hectares and can be explored along designated paths. The district also has an extensive network of well-signposted routes for hiking, walking and Nordic walking.
If you are interested in cycling, you will find a range of route descriptions in the wider Darmstadt-Dieburg destination. The Family Cycling Route runs through the district from Erzhausen to Seeheim-Jugenheim, covering around 40 kilometres. Themed cycling routes follow the small rivers Modau and Gersprenz; there is also the Leisure Cycling Route. The routes therefore differ in both their names and themes, and in the fact that an approximate length and two endpoints are given for the Family Cycling Route.
Cultural attractions in Darmstadt-Dieburg include the Messel Pit UNESCO World Heritage Site. This fossil site preserves a diverse range of uniquely well-preserved fossils that document the history of the Earth’s development 47 million years ago. The visitor centre explains the history and significance of Germany’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Frankenstein Castle in the Odenwald combines an excursion destination with a starting point for hikes; from the castle, you can enjoy views across the Rhine Plain and over the city of Darmstadt.
There are further regional examples for those interested in culture and food and drink: the Gruberhof Museum hosts events throughout the year and also presents a varied exhibition on agriculture and crafts. In Groß-Umstadt, group tours of the Kleine Bergstraße are offered from January to December. From September to October, group tours with Rainer Bausch on the theme of the fruit and wine harvest are also available there, including a wine tasting. If you plan to join this seasonal tour, check the current dates and booking arrangements.
When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first consider which focus you would like to shape your trip more: Bickenbach’s architectural and cultural history, or the varied natural and cultural experiences in the wider Darmstadt-Dieburg destination. This way, your accommodation choice can reflect your interests without equating local history with the broader regional context.
Discover more destinations: Fischbachtal, Groß-Bieberau, Reinheim, Seeheim-Jugenheim, Ober-Ramstadt, Weiterstadt, Modautal, Roßdorf.
Go to the wider travel overview: Darmstadt-Dieburg.
