Discover Willstätt: Cycling Tours, Mill and Moscherosch

Willstätt can be explored through two distinct themes: cycling routes with stops along the Kinzig and local history connected with Johann Michael Moscherosch. There are also the Willstätt Mill and a display raft on the banks of the Kinzig. This gives you a choice when planning your trip between active tours and insights into cultural history—or the opportunity to combine both.

Cultural history surrounding Moscherosch

Beside the Baroque church stands a monument in honor of Johann Michael Moscherosch, also known as “Philander von Sittewald.” The Baroque author, satirist and moralist from the Upper Rhine was born in Willstätt on March 7, 1601, and lived from 1601 to 1669. His satirical visions held up an exposing distorting mirror to his times and served as a model for Grimmelshausen. His birthplace, the monument and his literary influence give the name Moscherosch a tangible connection to local history in Willstätt.

The Willstätt Mill also tells the story of the town’s past. It was built at the end of the 19th century after the previous industrial mill burned to the ground in 1888. An exhibition about Moscherosch is on display on the mill’s ground floor. The history of the building and literary history come together here.

In 2026, a new, faithfully reproduced display raft was installed on the banks of the Kinzig at Giesenplatz (Sandgasse). It serves as an educational exhibit and a photo opportunity. Alongside the historical themes, it is a more recent example of riverside design in the town.

The Kinzig Trail along the Old Kinzig explores topics related to the river’s history: people and occupations, animals and events, plants, technology and, above all, water. The 20 information panels were removed during renovation work along the Old Kinzig and around the Old Mill; a new concept is planned.

Cycling routes with a range of themes

The “Via the EuroVelo Route to Willstätt” cycling tour passes through the town along the Kinzig Nature Trail and by the Kinzig weir. It is an easy ride with no significant climbs. Check current route conditions before setting off. Willstätt has a well-developed cycling network that connects to regional routes and links the town with nearby cities and communities.

Literary themes take center stage on the “Per Pedal zur Poesie” (Pedaling to Poetry) cycle route. It includes Willstätt and connects the town with Oberkirch and Renchen to form a Baroque triangle. This gives the tour a different focus from the route with its specific stops at the Kinzig Nature Trail and Kinzig weir.

The Mill Cycle Route passes the Willstätt Mill, which lies directly beside the Old Kinzig. The tour is described as either 34 or 52 kilometers long. Further along its regional route, it crosses broad stretches of meadowland with green fields and old trees, passes bathing lakes, and leads through villages and forests. With its two distance options and broader landscape setting, the Mill Cycle Route differs from the stops named in Willstätt.

When looking for accommodation in Willstätt, you can base your choice on the focus of your stay: cycling tours, local literary history, or a combination of the two. The routes vary in scale—from specific locations in Willstätt, to a connection with two other towns, to a longer tour through several types of landscape.

The wider region: Ortenaukreis

The Ortenaukreis, a broader travel destination, lies between the Rhine and the Black Forest. It 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 and complement Willstätt’s local and cycling themes with a regional nature perspective.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Achern, Schuttertal, Kappel-Grafenhausen, Fischerbach, Kehl, Biberach, Appenweier, Hofstetten.

Back to the regional travel overview: Ortenaukreis.