Brühl: Local History and Koller Island

Brühl combines local history with a river landscape shaped by the Rhine straightening project. The local history museum focuses on Brühl and Rohrhof, while the approximately 400-hectare Koller Island tells the story of how a bend in the Rhine was altered. This offers two distinct ways to plan your trip: explore exhibits about local and engineering history, or discover a landscape with a specific story of its formation. If you are looking for accommodation, first consider whether you want to focus on Brühl itself or include other places in the Rhine-Neckar district in your stay.

Local History at the Museum

The local history museum in Brühl displays numerous objects relating to the history of Brühl and Rohrhof. Topics include Schütte-Lanz airship construction and the seven brickworks. These subjects offer two distinct facets of local history: technological development and local production. Visitors interested in the history of these places will find a specific way to explore the subject. Special guided tours of the museum can be arranged by appointment. If you would like a guided tour, arrange your visit in advance and check the museum’s latest information.

Koller Island and the Koller Ferry

Koller Island was formed near Brühl when a bend in the Rhine was cut through as part of the Rhine straightening project led by Tulla (1770–1828). At around 400 hectares, it is a landscape with a clearly defined history of water engineering. The Koller ferry provides the traditional link to the island. Its seasonal operating period runs from spring to late autumn: the ferry connects the municipal areas on the right and left banks of the Rhine and runs on demand, with additional or continuous crossings if needed. Ferry operations have been suspended with immediate effect due to low water levels. Check the latest ferry announcements before travelling.

The Rhine-Neckar District as a Broader Theme

The Rhine-Neckar district offers history, landscapes and outdoor activities in different locations. The Electoral Palatinate’s Schwetzingen Palace features a Rococo theatre and a world-famous park. Much of Ladenburg’s historic town centre still bears traces of the Middle Ages and, in some places, Roman times; parts of Wiesloch’s former town wall and its defensive towers have been preserved. The Technik Museum Sinsheim displays the Concorde. Guided tours are offered at the ruins of Windeck Castle in Weinheim. These examples offer different cultural highlights, from palaces and historic townscapes to aviation technology and castle tours.

The landscape and regional cuisine also offer their own points of interest. Asparagus has been grown in Schwetzingen for approximately 350 years. The Bergstraße and the eastern part of the Rhine-Neckar district lie within the Neckartal-Odenwald Nature Park. The annual “Ab in den Wald” programme offers free guided forest walks and excursions throughout the Rhine-Neckar district. Eberbach has 150 kilometres of marked hiking trails. At Weinheim’s Waidsee lake, there are designated areas for paddlers, sailors and windsurfers; at the bathing lake in St. Leon, visitors can water-ski or wakeboard on a cable system. The Hockenheimring in Hockenheim is a popular destination for motorsports enthusiasts. When planning your trip, you can weigh up these different interests rather than trying to combine them all into a single type of holiday.

First decide which places you want to shape your trip, then narrow down your search area.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Dossenheim, Weinheim, Laudenbach, Wiesenbach, Neidenstein, Sinsheim, Sankt Leon-Rot, Ladenburg

To the overview of the wider region: Rhine-Neckar District.