Kappel-Grafenhausen: Water, Nature and Organ History

Discover Kappel-Grafenhausen through specific water and cultural experiences: the quarry lake in Kappel, the organ at St. James Parish Church in Grafenhausen, and the Taubergießen nature reserve in the surrounding area. The wider Ortenau district also opens up further perspectives on nature, museums and experiences. When planning your trip, it is helpful to keep these different geographical areas and points of interest in mind.

Water and Nature near Kappel-Grafenhausen

The quarry lake in Kappel has a large sunbathing lawn and a shallow entry into the water. These are two specific features for anyone who would like to spend time by the lake: space to lie down and a shallow way into the water. Swimming is at your own risk.

The Taubergießen nature reserve is in the area surrounding the destination. More than 200 bird species can be observed there, including the increasingly rare kingfisher. The large number of species gives an impression of the variety of birdwatching opportunities; the kingfisher is a special example.

A Cultural Detail from Grafenhausen

The organ at St. James Parish Church in Grafenhausen also tells part of the town’s history: in 1890, August Merklin expanded it by adding four stops and a second manual. The additional manual and four stops give a tangible sense of the scale of the renovation at the time. Together with the quarry lake and the nearby natural landscape, this historical detail offers another way to explore Kappel-Grafenhausen.

The Wider Ortenau District

The Ortenau district lies between the Rhine and the Black Forest. This wider destination has 23 nature reserves with a total area of around 3,110 hectares. The protected areas stretch from the Rhine plain to the higher elevations of the Black Forest. The region therefore encompasses a variety of landscapes, while the quarry lake and organ history are specific points of interest in Kappel-Grafenhausen.

Rulantica in the Ortenau district offers a different kind of experience: water-based fun for the whole family all year round. It features numerous indoor and outdoor water attractions, as well as Hyggedal, the relaxation and sauna area. Europa-Park is located in the municipality of Rust. These examples provide an overview of other leisure activities and day-trip destinations in the wider area without equating them with the attractions in the town itself.

The cultural attractions in the Ortenau district also offer a range of experiences. MiMa 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.). A walk through the historic farmhouses at the Vogtsbauernhof Open-Air Museum shows how people in the Black Forest lived and worked up to 600 years ago. In this way, natural-history collections are presented alongside insights into earlier ways of life and work.

In Gengenbach, the night watchman’s tour includes twelve stops and the traditional night watchman’s song. The public tours are free of charge; registration is not required. Check the latest dates before your trip.

This distinction provides a clear basis for planning your trip without combining different places and attractions into a single focus for your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Rust, Kappelrodeck, Schwanau, Kehl, Gutach, Offenburg, Mühlenbach, Fischerbach

For the wider travel overview: Ortenau district.