Riedstadt Between Floodplains, Trails and Culture

Riedstadt brings together the floodplain landscape along the Rhine, literary heritage and trails that reveal the landscape and its history. It is also home to the Büchner House and Lake Ried, which has a designated bathing beach. Depending on whether you want to focus on nature, culture or water, there are different themes to consider when planning your trip.

Floodplain Landscape and Access to Kühkopf

The Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue nature reserve includes parts of the cadastral districts of Leeheim and Erfelden in the municipality of Riedstadt. It extends across cadastral districts in Riedstadt, Stockstadt and Biebesheim and is the largest nature reserve in Hesse. Here you can explore a floodplain landscape that has almost entirely disappeared elsewhere along the Rhine.

Kühkopf Island can be reached on foot or by bicycle from Erfelden or Stockstadt via a bridge. Visitors can access the Knoblochsaue area via Erfelden or Leeheim. Visitor parking is available, among other places, at the Federal Network Agency on Schusterwörthstraße in Leeheim. As access and parking options may change, check the latest information before setting out.

Trails Exploring Nature and Landscape

The nature reserve has around 60 kilometres of hiking trails, which are also suitable for cyclists. Trail conditions may vary by season. The Goller Adventure Trail along the old Neckar riverbed shows how natural features and human influence have shaped the landscape. The trail is about 3.7 kilometres long.

For a longer route, take the hiking trail through the Stromtal floodplain meadows: it is 9 kilometres long and passes ten information boards. These describe the distinctive features of this type of meadow and the measures taken to protect it. The different lengths make it easy to compare the two routes; they also offer different perspectives on the landscape.

Büchner, Langgässer and Culture

The Büchner House is the farmhouse at Weidstraße 9 where Georg Büchner was born. Since 1998, the permanent exhibition “From Goddelau to the World Stage” has been on display in the restored birthplace. The art gallery at the Büchner House also hosts exhibitions, readings and lectures. During a stay in Riedstadt, you can therefore enjoy both literary history and a contemporary cultural programme, depending on your interests.

The signposted Elisabeth Langgässer hiking trail also combines exercise with literature. Information boards present biographical details and quotations by the writer. Many walkers and literature enthusiasts enjoy using the trail throughout the year. When planning your trip, you can choose between a literary trail and the exhibition in Georg Büchner’s birthplace as distinct points of interest.

Waterside Activities at Lake Ried in Leeheim

Lake Ried in Leeheim is a gravel pit lake covering 24 hectares, with a designated bathing beach. Windsurfing is one of the leisure activities available at the lake. This makes Lake Ried a different kind of destination from the hiking trails and cultural attractions: water and the bathing beach shape the experience here.

In Groß-Gerau District

The Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue European Reserve lies in the west of Groß-Gerau district along the Rhine. It is a breeding and resting site for numerous resident and migratory birds. The Luther Trail 1521 runs through Groß-Gerau district; the route is around 31.5 kilometres long. If you include this longer tour in your plans, check the latest trail conditions.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Trip

When searching for accommodation in Riedstadt, it helps to first decide what kind of trip you want: floodplain landscapes and hiking trails, literature and history, or waterside activities at Lake Ried. The route lengths and themes provide concrete starting points for travel companions to weigh up their different interests. Tailor your search to what you want to be the focus of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Stockstadt am Rhein, Groß-Gerau, Raunheim, Kelsterbach, Nauheim, Büttelborn, Gernsheim, Mörfelden-Walldorf.

Back to the main travel guide: Groß-Gerau.