Discover Lahr/Schwarzwald

Discover Lahr/Schwarzwald through a range of experiences: the Storchenturm tower offers a glimpse into the city’s early history, while a digital tour and the Seepark offer different perspectives. The historic structure, city centre and park provide a range of themes to help you plan your trip—from culture and scenic views to summer swimming.

Urban history and a digital tour

The Storchenturm is the remains of a lowland castle built by the Lords of Geroldseck around 1218/20 in the Lahr lowlands of the Schuttern. The surviving section brings the structure’s history to life in a specific place; its approximate date takes you back to the early 13th century.

For a different way to explore the city centre, the “zeigmal” app offers an interactive digital tour. You can take the tour on your own or as a guided walk; it lasts about 60 minutes. As the digital offering may change, check its availability before planning your walk.

Seepark: beach, views and paths

The swimming area at Seepark Lahr includes a 4,700-square-metre sandy beach. It is a popular attraction in summer; seasonal swimming restrictions may apply. The beach gives the park a distinct seasonal focus, while views and paths offer other things to explore.

The “Krähennest” is an observation tower with views towards the city and surrounding countryside. The Seepromenade, meanwhile, is the main walking route through the Seepark. The beach, tower and promenade appeal to different interests: swimming, views and walking along a park route. As you plan, you can consider which of these appeals to you most without committing to a particular order for your visit.

A museum of sign and illuminated advertising

The German Museum of Sign and Illuminated Advertising at the Badische Malerfachschule offers another cultural perspective. Its unique collection, the only one of its kind in Germany, documents the past and present of sign and illuminated advertising production. Booking an appointment in advance is recommended. The museum adds a subject related to design and craftsmanship to the city’s history, distinct from its historic walls and park attractions.

The Ortenau district as a wider travel destination

As a wider travel destination, the Ortenau district has its own landscape setting, between the Rhine and the Black Forest. Its 23 nature reserves cover a total of around 3,110 hectares of protected land, extending from the Rhine plain to the higher elevations of the Black Forest. The Taubergießen nature reserve covers 1,695 hectares and is one of the largest nature reserves in Baden-Württemberg. This overview describes the Ortenau district, not individual experiences in Lahr.

Water-based activities are also among the options in this wider travel destination. Europa-Park is located in the municipality of Rust. Rulantica offers year-round water fun for the whole family, with numerous indoor and outdoor water attractions. The experience area also includes Hyggedal, a relaxation and sauna area. Alongside nature and cultural experiences, the Ortenau district therefore offers year-round water attractions as a separate focus.

Cultural discoveries also extend beyond Lahr. A tour of the historic farmhouses at the Vogtsbauernhof Open-Air Museum shows how people in the Black Forest lived and worked up to 600 years ago. MiMa showcases unique minerals from the Black Forest, collected by the Friends of Minerals and Mining Oberwolfach e. V. In Gengenbach, the night watchman’s tour includes twelve stops and features the traditional night watchman’s song.

Gengenbach’s public night watchman tours are free of charge, and no booking is required. Check the dates before your trip if you plan to take this tour.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ringsheim, Durbach, Seebach, Achern, Sasbach, Nordrach, Mahlberg, Rheinau.

Back to the main travel overview: Ortenau district.