Discover Oberwolfach: Mining, Minerals and Trails

Oberwolfach brings its mining history to life through its connection with minerals and mathematics. At the “Historic Mining, Minerals and Mathematics” theme park next to Oberwolfach Church, visitors can learn more about the cultural heritage of this mining community and the connection between minerals and mathematics. On display are various mining tools, a faithfully furnished, walk-through German timber-set mine tunnel with a historic mine cart, as well as a mining locomotive with material and passenger cars.

A Corten steel sculpture featuring the five Platonic solids also illustrates the connection between minerals and mathematics. The MiMa – Museum of Minerals and Mathematics Oberwolfach complements this theme with multimedia installations on crystal lattices and symmetries, virtual 3D flights, films and sculptures. A large proportion of the minerals and collections on display there come from the Clara mine in Oberwolfach. MiMa also showcases 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.). When choosing between the two visits, the way each presents the subject can help guide you: the theme park focuses on mining tools and the walk-through tunnel, while MiMa also explores minerals and their mathematical connections through multimedia formats.

The Wenzel mine is also part of Oberwolfach’s mining history. This visitor mine is a popular excursion destination; as a silver mine, it was once one of the most productive in the Central Black Forest.

Walking and cycling routes

Oberwolfach offers a 93.3-kilometre network of marked trails maintained by the municipality. One tour with specified route details is the GeoTour Oberwolfach: it starts and ends in Oberwolfach-Gelbach, is 5.6 kilometres long and has a total elevation gain of 260 metres. This lets you choose between using the entire marked trail network for orientation and consulting the specific details for this tour.

Cycle route 06, the “Valleys Tour”, offers another option. It runs from Oberwolfach-Kirche through the side valleys of the Wolftal and back to Oberwolfach via the Kreuzsattel, which lies along the Westweg trail. Check the tour details locally before setting off.

A mystery adventure for the family

Anni’s Black Forest Mystery combines a scavenger hunt with an escape room. Families can take a backpack filled with boxes, locks, clues and tasks based on the story “The Missing Dwarf”. This story-based puzzle adventure offers a different focus from the mining and mineral experiences. There is also a practical limitation to consider when choosing: the trail is not suitable for pushchairs. If you are travelling with a pushchair, take this into account when planning.

The Ortenau district as a wider destination

The Ortenau district lies between the Rhine and the Black Forest. This wider destination has 23 nature reserves covering a total area of around 3,110 hectares. They extend from the Rhine Plain to the higher elevations of the Black Forest.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Achern, Kappelrodeck, Bad Peterstal-Griesbach, Mahlberg, Ringsheim, Ortenberg, Ottenhöfen in the Black Forest, Biberach.

To the wider travel overview: Ortenau district.