Ortenaukreis: Nature, Culture and Experiences

Between the Rhine and the Black Forest, Ortenaukreis offers a range of travel experiences: protected landscapes, water attractions and cultural destinations with stories of their own. The nature reserves stretch from the Rhine plain to the higher elevations of the Black Forest. There are also destinations such as Rulantica in Rust and museums focusing on minerals or on life in the Black Forest in the past. The places that appeal to you may therefore also shape your search for a suitable base for your stay.

Landscape between the Rhine Plain and the Black Forest

Ortenaukreis has 23 nature reserves covering a total area of around 3,110 hectares. They stretch from the Rhine plain to the higher elevations of the Black Forest. This range gives you a first sense of the region if landscape is an important part of your trip: the plain and the higher elevations are distinct geographical reference points within the same district.

When planning, you can ask yourself whether you are more interested in protected natural areas or in specific attractions. The size and distribution of the nature reserves convey the breadth of Ortenaukreis’s landscapes, without suggesting a single itinerary. When looking for accommodation, it helps to first consider which of these interests should guide your stay.

Water experiences in Rust

Rulantica offers water fun for the whole family throughout the year. Its attractions include numerous indoor and outdoor water activities. This makes Rulantica a specific point of interest for families who would like to include a water experience in their trip. Both the indoor and outdoor areas are part of the offering described here.

Rulantica also includes Hyggedal, a relaxation and sauna area. So, alongside the water attractions, the experience includes a dedicated area for relaxation and saunas. Europa-Park is also located in the municipality of Rust.

Museums and history

The MiMa in Oberwolfach presents unique minerals from the Black Forest, collected by the Friends of Minerals and Mining Oberwolfach Association (Verein der Freunde von Mineralien und Bergbau Oberwolfach e. V.). The collection has a different focus from the nature attractions: here, the minerals and the way the association has brought them together take center stage. For visitors interested in the geological treasures of the Black Forest, MiMa offers a clearly defined cultural point of interest.

The Vogtsbauernhof Open-Air Museum offers a different perspective on the past. A tour of the historic farmhouses shows how people in the Black Forest lived and worked up to 600 years ago. Rather than individual minerals, the focus here is on everyday life and ways of living. The two attractions explore regional themes in different ways: MiMa through its collection, and the Vogtsbauernhof through the history of domestic and working life.

Night watchman tours in Gengenbach

In Gengenbach, the night watchman’s tour has 12 stops and includes the traditional night watchman’s song. The stops and the song give the tour distinctive cultural features. The public tours are free of charge, and no registration is required. Check the current dates before your visit so you can include this experience in your travel plans.

If nature is more important to you, the range from the Rhine plain to the Black Forest heights offers a distinct framework for your plans. This lets you begin your search with what you actually want to experience, rather than treating all the destinations as if they had the same focus.

Discover more destinations: Ichenheim, Hornberg, Oberharmersbach, Seebach, Steinach, Rust, Zell Am Harmersbach, Wolfach, Seelbach, Oppenau, Ohlsbach, Offenburg, Oberwolfach, Oberkirch, Nordrach, Mühlenbach, Meißenheim, Kappelrodeck, Gengenbach, Biberach, Berghaupten, Appenweier, Achern, Bad Peterstal-Griesbach, Durbach, Rheinau, Ettenheim, Mahlberg, Ringsheim, Sasbachwalden, Kippenheim, Schwanau, Sasbach, Ottenhöfen Im Schwarzwald, Lahr/Schwarzwald, Neuried, Schutterwald, Haslach Im Kinzigtal, Lauf, Ortenberg, Willstätt, Fischerbach, Renchen, Hofstetten, Schuttertal, Hausach, Friesenheim, Kappel-Grafenhausen, Kehl, Gutach, Hohberg, Lautenbach.

To the regional travel overview: Baden-Württemberg.