Durmersheim between nature, Roman history and pilgrimage

Durmersheim brings together nature watching, traces of Roman history and a historic pilgrimage tradition. The Hardtwald has extensive trails; reed-fringed banks shape the natural areas along the Federbach and at the Federbachteich pond. Other highlights include the local history museum, the outdoor swimming pool with terraces, which operates seasonally, and the Bickesheim Pilgrimage Trail. This lets you tailor your stay to different interests: nature watching, local history, water or a longer route through the Rhine Plain.

Nature between the Hardtwald and the Federbach

More than 160 bird species can be observed in Durmersheim. The Hardtwald covers about 9 km² within Durmersheim and offers extensive trails for exploring nature. Parts of Durmersheim lie within the Rhine Lowlands nature and landscape protection area; the municipality also includes FFH sites and biotopes. Along the Federbach and at the Federbachteich pond, reed-covered banks offer places to linger for both wildlife and people. If you prefer to explore nature actively, the Hardtwald has extensive trails; the reed-covered banks, by contrast, offer places to linger.

Roman traces and the history of Bickesheim

In the Hardtwald, along Bruchhausener Weg, you can still see remnants of a Roman road. The local history museum is in the old eastern part of town on Römerstraße; finds there document a former Roman road. The museum’s topics include local history, popular piety, pilgrimage and life around the turn of the 20th century. The pilgrimage to Bickesheim was first mentioned in writing in 1318.

Water and the campsite

The outdoor swimming pool with terraces has leisure, swimming, diving and children’s pools. A mushroom-shaped water feature, a giant slide and a white-water channel round out the facilities. It operates seasonally; check before your visit whether the season matches your travel dates. A small family campsite is right next to the outdoor pool with terraces. It has six short-stay pitches for caravans or motorhomes and five tent pitches. Electricity can be provided at all pitches if needed; shops are just a few minutes’ walk away.

The pilgrimage trail as a longer circuit

The Bickesheim Pilgrimage Trail is an easy 18 km circular route through the Rhine Plain. It starts and ends at Maria Bickesheim in Durmersheim. The route is suitable for both walkers and cyclists and is marked with the oval PAMINA-Rheinpark sign. As a circular route, it returns to its starting point; check the latest trail details before setting out.

A different museum focus in Rastatt

Rastatt also offers its own cultural and historical perspective: the Rastatt City Museum is housed in a Baroque town palace opposite the residential palace. Its permanent exhibitions cover Rastatt’s history over the past 300 years as well as prehistoric and early history. This differs from the focus of the local history museum in Durmersheim, whose topics include local history, popular piety, pilgrimage and life around the turn of the 20th century.

Discover more destinations: Gaggenau, Hügelsheim, Gernsbach, Sinzheim, Bühl, Moos, Iffezheim, Weisenbach

Back to the regional travel overview: Rastatt.