Kippenheim: Culture and trails between the Black Forest foothills and the Rhine plain

Kippenheim lies at the transition from the Black Forest foothills to the Rhine plain. Historic buildings, information boards, a marked cultural trail and signposted paths in the municipal forest give the town a range of distinctive features. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you are most interested in architectural history, hiking trails or cycling.

Cultural history in Kippenheim

Information boards are displayed at historic buildings and sights in Kippenheim. The Christian-Jewish Cultural Trail is marked with boards introducing the Jewish and Christian religious and ethical heritage of Kippenheim and Schmieheim. The historical perspective therefore extends beyond buildings to include religious and ethical themes.

The former Kippenheim synagogue is a Neo-Romanesque building, inaugurated in 1852 and listed as a historic monument since the 1980s. Visits are possible on Sundays from May to September; guided tours are available on request. Check whether visits are possible before setting out.

Kippenheim’s historic church can also be viewed through its different construction phases: it began as a Romanesque chancel-tower church. The tower dates from the late 12th century; the nave and polygonal eastern apse date from 1501. The Maria Frieden Chapel was built in 1946 on the Hohbühl, in a wine-growing area. The tower and the parts dating from 1501 thus represent different periods of construction within the church.

Hiking, cycling and swimming

The municipal forest has a 23.8-kilometre hiking route divided into four signposted circuits. The Great Circular Route is 15 kilometres long, with an estimated duration of around six hours. It leads through the Schmieheim forests to the area around the Heidenkopf, at an elevation of 428 metres. For the Great Circular Route, the approximate duration complements the distance; for the municipal forest, the division into four circuits provides a practical point of reference.

The mountain bike tour around Schmieheim is seven kilometres long and is considered suitable for beginner mountain bikers. In Schmieheim, inns, wine taverns and wineries offer cyclists places to stop for refreshments; check the opening hours of your chosen establishment in advance. Kippenheim outdoor swimming pool has a 40-metre swimming pool with a non-swimmer area. It is open seasonally; check the opening hours before your visit.

The Ortenau district in a wider context

The wider travel destination of the Ortenau district encompasses a landscape between the Rhine and the Black Forest. It has 23 nature reserves covering a total area of around 3,110 hectares, extending from the Rhine plain to the higher elevations of the Black Forest. In Rust, in the Ortenau district, Rulantica offers year-round water attractions for the whole family, including indoor and outdoor attractions. The Hyggedal relaxation and sauna area is also part of the experience.

When looking for accommodation in Kippenheim, it helps to decide in advance what you want to focus on during your stay: are you especially interested in historic buildings, or are you planning to spend more time hiking and cycling? This makes it easier to plan around the experiences that matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Wolfach, Durbach, Gutach, Schuttertal, Ichenheim, Hornberg, Ottenhöfen in the Black Forest, Friesenheim.

To the main travel overview: Ortenau district.