Binau on the Neckar: History, Apple Orchard and River Landscape

Binau’s historic centre lies on the right bank, within the Neckar’s largest and longest loop. Binau Castle and the village church shape the townscape and invite you to explore the centre. The historic towpath runs right alongside the Neckar, offering a second focal point alongside the buildings: here, the river landscape takes centre stage. In Binau, local history and the town’s connection to the Neckar come together.

Architectural History and Places of Remembrance

The church in Binau was built around 1350. Between 1779 and 1783, its nave was remodelled from the Gothic to the Baroque style. During restoration work in the 1920s, 14th-century wall paintings were uncovered in the tower choir. Tomb slabs belonging to the von Bödigheim family from the 16th century are also set into the choir walls. These traces give the church a layered architectural history, with medieval features alongside later Baroque alterations.

A restored half-timbered house dating from 1569 stands near Binau Castle. Dauchstein Castle is in private ownership and can be viewed from the outside. The Jewish cemetery is the only surviving reminder of Binau’s former Jewish community. Each of these places reveals a different chapter in Binau’s history, from architecture to remembrance of the former community.

Apple Orchard and the History of Fruit Growing

The Binau Apple Orchard showcases regional diversity through 20 standard fruit trees bearing regional apple varieties, including some that had partly fallen into oblivion. Information boards explain the varieties’ origins, ripening times and uses. The municipality created the orchard in 2001 together with the Neckartal-Odenwald Nature Park. The garden is part of Binau’s long history of fruit growing: as early as the mid-19th century, the village operated a tree nursery where award-winning Binau dessert apples were cultivated. Historically, Binau’s apples were packed in wooden crates and sent by rail to nearby and distant cities. Together, the varieties and historical milestones tell two sides of the local fruit-growing story: cultivation and shipping.

Getting There and Staying Overnight on the Neckar

Binau is connected to the Rhine-Neckar S-Bahn network. Both the settlement and the historic centre are within walking distance of the station. Fortuna Camping am Neckar is right on the river and offers designated pitches, camping meadows and shepherd’s wagons. In summer, it has a solar-heated outdoor pool and a small shop. For your specific travel dates, it is worth checking the timetable and the availability of camping.

A rest stop on the Binauer Höhe offers views over Binau and the Neckar Valley. It complements the close-up riverside perspective with views across the town and valley.

Another Scenic Highlight in the Neckar-Odenwald District

The Katzenbuckel is in Waldbrunn, within the wider Neckar-Odenwald District travel destination. At 626 metres, it is the highest mountain in the Odenwald. A 20-metre-high observation tower on the Katzenbuckel offers panoramic views across the Odenwald.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Ravenstein, Obrigheim, Fahrenbach, Limbach/Laudenberg, Limbach, Neunkirchen, Neckarmühlbach, Walldürn

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