Bad König: Spa Town, Spa Park and Castle History

Bad König is the only spa town in the Odenwaldkreis—the designation depends on its recognition status, which can change. The town brings together spa park paths and water features with a historic centre featuring Schlossplatz and an open-air stage. When planning your trip, you can focus your day on time outdoors, cultural and historical sites, or both. If you’re looking for accommodation, first consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay.

Spa park with lakes and a variety of activities

The spa park has a water playground, a balance course and a Kneipp treading pool. At the Kleiner See, you’ll find an 18-hole miniature golf course, outdoor chess, a bocce court and a Kneipp facility. The spa park has two lakes. There is also a planetary trail, sundials and water fountains. The park thus offers both play and exercise facilities and stops focused on the planets and time.

The paths around the lakes are lit, and you can walk or jog there until 10 pm. If you’re planning an evening visit, check the latest information: park facilities and lighting hours may change. Three sundials near the tennis courts were installed in 1987. The eastern one uses its shadow to show Central European Time, while the middle one displays four times simultaneously on a world sundial.

Schlossplatz and the historic town centre

The Old Castle dates back to 1559 and was the former residence of the Counts of Erbach-Schönberg. It stands on higher ground at the southern end of Schlossplatz. Its broad façade, with many window bays, and its size dominate the square. The ground floor of the Old Castle houses two exhibition rooms of the local history museum.

The historic town centre includes the castles, the pleasure garden, the castle church and the Rentmeisterei; the open-air stage is also located there. The stage has hosted open-air events since 1985. If an event is part of your travel plans, check the latest dates. Other attractions in Bad König include the Odenwald-Therme, several monuments, the cemetery chapel in the Kimbacher Tal, the Georg Vetter Museum and the “TECMUMAS” technology museum.

Following in Georg Vetter’s footsteps and exploring the town

The Georg Vetter Trail starts right by the Georg Vetter Museum and leads out of town, between gardens and meadows, to the cemetery with its centuries-old chapel. Georg Vetter often used the chapel as a subject for his drawings. The trail therefore combines a route into the countryside with a specific historic destination.

A leisurely guided tour of the town accommodates people with difficulty walking, as well as visitors with a rollator, wheelchair or walking stick; everyone else is welcome too. Check the arrangements and accessibility with the guide in advance.

Plan your journey and accommodation search

Bad König can be reached by the Odenwaldbahn. The station is about 800 metres’ walk from Schlossplatz. Check the current timetable if you’re travelling by train. Take the routes you actually plan to walk into account when making your choice.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kimbach, Lützelbach, Mossautal, Brombachtal, Hesseneck, Sensbachtal, Brensbach, Fränkisch-Crumbach.

Back to the main travel overview: Odenwald.