Iffezheim: Horse Racing, Half-Timbered Houses and Fish Pass

Iffezheim combines a long tradition of thoroughbred racing with a technical visitor attraction and a townscape of half-timbered houses and narrow lanes. The racecourse was established under a lease agreement signed on 15 February 1858 for the construction of a horse racing track. Horse races are held in Iffezheim three times a year, with horses from around the world taking part. International races and recurring race days give the town a distinctive focus. If you are planning a visit to the races, check the latest event dates.

Townscape and Routes

Attractive half-timbered buildings and narrow lanes shape Iffezheim’s townscape. Numerous walking and cycling routes, including the Pamina Cycle Route, add an active option to the town’s horse-racing attractions. A walk through the lanes offers a different focus from a bike ride: the former brings the townscape to the fore, while the latter lets you explore the routes on the move.

Weir and Fish Pass

The Iffezheim barrage is a visitor attraction featuring a lock, a power station and a weir. A fish ladder is located there. The 300-metre-long concrete channel is modelled on a fast-flowing mountain stream and is intended to provide large migratory fish with a stable habitat. It is considered Europe’s largest fish pass and a major ecological project. From the fish ladder’s visitor area, you can watch fish swim in stages towards their original habitat. If you are planning a visit, check the latest booking options in advance at besichtigungen.enbw.com.

Farm Shops and Regional Produce

On the outskirts of Iffezheim, you can buy local agricultural produce directly from the farm shops at the outlying farmsteads. The offerings include an asparagus farm, a strawberry farm with a strawberry café and the Forlenhof. This is another way to get to know the town through its local produce, alongside its horse racing and visitor attractions. The strawberry café adds another option to the farm shop offering.

Getting Here and Finding Accommodation

Bus route 218, operated by Stadtwerke Baden-Baden, connects Iffezheim with Baden-Baden and serves Baden-Oos railway station. From there, you can connect to other bus routes as well as regional and long-distance trains. Visitors to the racecourse can also use the nearby Baden Airpark airport and the Baden-Baden and Rastatt railway stations for regional and international connections. Check the latest timetable for route 218 before travelling. This can help you weigh up which destinations matter for your stay and which transport connection you would like to check.

Culture in the Wider Destination of Rastatt

The wider destination of Rastatt offers further cultural and historical attractions. The Rastatt City Museum is housed in a Baroque town palace opposite the residential palace. Its permanent exhibitions focus on Rastatt’s history over the past 300 years, as well as prehistory and early history. Rastatt Palace was the first Baroque residence built on German soil and was designed on the model of Versailles. Favorite Palace is considered the oldest and only German porcelain palace to have been preserved in its original form. Alongside Iffezheim’s racecourse, townscape and fish pass, the wider destination of Rastatt therefore offers its own focus on the history of museums and palaces.

Discover more destinations: Gernsbach, Steinmauern, Bühl, Kuppenheim, Rheinmünster, Ottersweier, Gaggenau, Rastatt.

Go to the wider travel overview: Rastatt.