Discover Ettenheim

Ettenheim was rebuilt as a Baroque town after its near-total destruction in 1637. You can explore this history in different ways on site: through the historic Prince’s Garden, the museum with its collections on local history, and walking routes that connect nature, history and art. This gives you a choice of urban and cultural impressions as well as explorations along the routes during your stay.

Baroque history in the townscape

The Prince’s Garden lies in front of the western town gate and is enclosed by a sandstone wall. The historic garden was laid out in the Baroque style. Its location outside the gate gives it a direct connection to the town’s history. The Kaiserberg Tour also starts at the Prince’s Garden in Ettenheim’s old town. The garden is therefore both a historic site in its own right and a designated starting point for this tour.

Museum, winegrowing and craftsmanship

The Ettenheim Museum is located in the vaulted cellar of the House of Associations. Its exhibits, finds and documents focus on the town’s history. For visitors who want to view historical artefacts in particular, the museum offers a different focus from the garden and walking routes: here, the collections take centre stage, while the routes connect nature, history and art.

The Jäger winegrowing family’s Wine Museum places particular emphasis on winegrowing and craftsmanship. It displays historical exhibits relating to work in viticulture. There is also a working home distillery with parts more than 100 years old. The museum thus brings together two specific perspectives: work in viticulture and the history of distilling technology.

Routes, app and town tours

For an exploration in stages, the free Actionbound app guides you through Ettenheim via 15 stops; the starting point is in front of the town hall. The official walking routes offer a different focus: they connect nature, history and art and lead, among other places, through the historic old town, to the Meierberg nature trail and to the Riegger fishponds. These destinations highlight the different features of Ettenheim’s routes. The Kaiserberg Tour, in turn, starts at the Prince’s Garden in the old town.

Public town tours are offered on Fridays from May to October; the meeting point is the town hall or Tourist Information. Check the specific dates and times for your travel year in advance. Alternatively, you can book a private group town tour. These last about an hour and a half and are offered in German, English and French. Coordinate the arrangements with the Tourist Information Office.

Further cultural experiences

Organ demonstrations are offered on the Ferdinand Stieffell organ at St. Bartholomew’s Church. As arrangements may change, check whether the demonstrations are taking place before your visit. Together with the museums, garden and various guided tour and route options, this offers a selection of ways to explore the town’s history and culture.

When choosing accommodation, your preferred focus may be the deciding factor: would you mainly like to explore the town’s history, plan walking routes or join a guided tour? First decide which experiences you want to shape your trip, then check which location in Ettenheim suits your plans.

Discover more destinations: Schutterwald, Schwanau, Oppenau, Fischerbach, Durbach, Seebach, Gutach, Sasbachwalden.

Return to the regional travel overview: Ortenaukreis.