Bad Schwalbach: Moor Railway, Fountains and Spa History

Moor Railway and Moor Pits

Since 2001, the moor railway has once again been available as a tourist attraction offering passenger rides in Bad Schwalbach. The ride takes about ten minutes and starts at the “Moorbadehaus.” After the “Golfhaus” stop come “Schwalbenbrunnen” and “Waldsee”; the terminus is “Moorgruben.” The names set out a clear sequence of starting point, intermediate stops and destination. Those who want to get to know Bad Schwalbach on a ride have a specific route in mind, rather than taking in the town only through individual sights.

Beyond the Waldsee are nine moor pits. Two of them are accessible via around 60 metres of paths and wooden boardwalks made of Douglas fir. This figure refers to two of the nine pits; this distinction makes clear the difference between the total number and the areas that have been made accessible. The moor pits complement the ride on the moor railway with a closer look at the moorland. This offers a combination of passenger transport and paths around the pits when choosing what to do on your trip, though the two offer different kinds of experience.

Fountain Trail and Medicinal Herb Garden

The signposted fountain trail is a suggested circular walk that takes in Bad Schwalbach’s main fountains. The yellow-marked trail passes the healing springs in the spa district; red arrows point to the fountains in the town centre. The different markings help visitors find their way through the two named areas covered by the route. Those interested in fountains and healing springs can focus on both the spa district and the fountains in the town centre. The fountain trail therefore offers a different focus from the moor railway ride.

Another point of interest is the Kneipp medicinal herb garden: covering 200 m², it has twelve beds with more than 150 medicinal herbs. Its area, number of beds and variety of herbs make the garden distinctive on a compact scale, without limiting the plants to a single variety or theme. For travellers interested in medicinal plants, this variety provides a specific point of interest. Together with the fountain trail, it offers two different ways to explore Bad Schwalbach’s world of healing springs and plants.

Spa and Town History

The Alleesaal was built in 1820/21 in the Neoclassical style as the “Hotel de la Promenade.” It was commissioned by Grebert, a private hotelier. Its name, date of construction, style and original designation are all part of its history, giving the assembly hall a historical context distinct from the town’s religious and civic heritage. Those interested in the development of spa history can use the Alleesaal as a specific starting point, rather than viewing Bad Schwalbach only through its landscapes and moorland attractions.

The Martin Luther Church is Bad Schwalbach’s oldest listed historic building. The year 1471 is inscribed above the choir entrance. This date is found on the building itself and adds to the church’s designation as the town’s oldest listed historic building. The Alleesaal, dating from 1820/21, and the church, bearing the year 1471, represent different historical contexts that visitors interested in cultural history can explore.

The permanent exhibition at the Kur-Stadt-Apothekenmuseum (Spa and Town Pharmacy Museum) is devoted to the spa and town history of Bad Schwalbach. It covers themes that also feature in the stories of the Alleesaal and Martin Luther Church, while focusing specifically on spa and town history. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider a cultural history focus alongside the moor railway, moor pits, fountain trail and medicinal herb garden.

Discover More Places

More places to explore: Idstein, Waldems, Walluf, Schlangenbad, Geisenheim, Oestrich-Winkel, Niedernhausen, Taunusstein.

For the wider travel overview: Rheingau-Taunus District.