Reinerzau: Holzriese and Late Gothic Church

Reinerzau lies in the Kleine Kinzig Valley in the Central Black Forest. Agriculture and forestry have shaped the landscape for centuries. This gives the area a distinct character and a tangible cultural history: the Late Gothic parish church of St. Margaret and the Holzriese reflect different aspects of the village, from architecture to historic timber rafting.

Church and architectural history

The Protestant parish church of St. Margaret is Late Gothic. Its chancel windows feature tracery, and its tower has a saddleback roof. The church was renovated in 1850. Tracery is the decorative stonework that divides a window; in Reinerzau, it shapes the design of the chancel. Together with the saddleback-roofed tower, it gives the church distinctive architectural features that invite an interest in historic building styles.

Holzriese and timber rafting

The restored Reinerzau Holzriese is a historic timber slide outlet at the foot of the Kleine Kinzig drinking-water reservoir. Hand-hewn sandstone defines the course of the slide. As a surviving testament to forestry and timber rafting, it illustrates the history that shaped the village. The structure is used for an annual Holzriese and timber rafting demonstration; the event on the Kleine Kinzig is accompanied by a farmers’ market. Products from producers around Reinerzau are offered there. The structure, demonstration and market each offer a different focus: one highlights the preserved structure, the others timber rafting and regional produce.

Choosing when to visit and where to stay

When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the enduring church building and events. The church represents the village’s cultural heritage; the demonstration and farmers’ market are recurring annual events. If you are looking for accommodation in Reinerzau, this distinction may help you choose when to travel: would you mainly like to explore the landscape and architectural history, or plan your trip around the Holzriese event? Before you travel, check whether the demonstration is taking place in your chosen year and on which dates it is scheduled.

More to explore in the wider destination of Alpirsbach

In the wider destination of Alpirsbach, the monastery church dedicated to St. Nicholas offers a different architectural perspective: it was built between 1125 and 1133 in the Romanesque tradition. Cloister concerts have been held in the former Benedictine monastery’s Gothic cloister since 1952. The Museum of Local History next to the monastery complex illustrates the development of Alpirsbach through a selection of collection pieces. Together, architectural history, music and local history add further cultural themes to explore.

The historic Alpirsbacher Offizin printing works also show how book printing works; visitors can plan and carry out their own printing projects there. In Alpirsbach, visitors and residents can play tennis on the TC Alpirsbach’s four professional-grade clay courts; arrange access with the club in advance. Professional guided city tours led by local guides and covering a range of themes offer another way to get to know the town. Check the dates with the town information office. Alpirsbach train and bus stations are right in the town centre; the monastery and brewery are about a five-minute walk from there.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Empfingen, Baiersbronn, Dornstetten, Alpirsbach, Pfalzgrafenweiler, Erzgrube, Kniebis, Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach.

Return to the main travel overview: Freudenstadt.