Obertshausen: Castle Ruins, Local History and the Hengster

Obertshausen brings together traces of early settlement, local history woven into the townscape and the Hengster nature reserve. There is also a local history museum and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. If you are planning a stay, you can decide whether to focus on Obertshausen’s history and landscape or also include cultural attractions and routes in the wider Offenbach destination.

Burg im Hain: Traces of Early Settlement

Only a few chunks of stone and sections of wall remain of Burg im Hain. The castle wall, approximately 2.20 metres wide, enclosed an area measuring 28 by 31 metres. A water-filled moat ran in front of it, and a tower stood in the centre. The castle was first mentioned in a document in 1576. Its remains are considered the oldest surviving traces of settlement in Obertshausen.

The dimensions and ground plan give a concrete impression of the site, even though only parts of the masonry remain today. Those interested in the town’s early history will find a special point of reference here: the castle ruins link a long-documented local history with tangible structural remains.

Local History Museum and the Hengster Landscape

The Obertshausen Local History Museum is housed in the workshop museum “Karl-Mayer-Haus” at Karl-Mayer-Straße 10. One permanent exhibition room is devoted to the Hengster. The exhibition describes it as Germany’s oldest nature reserve. Check the museum’s opening hours before visiting.

The Hengster nature reserve covers 8.3 hectares, is a remnant of a former moorland landscape and lies within the municipal boundaries of Obertshausen. This offers two different ways to explore the same landscape: outdoors, the protected area and its former moorland; indoors, a dedicated room about it in the local history museum. This may interest you when planning your trip if you would like to explore nature both as a landscape and as part of local history.

History Trail and Pilgrimage Church

The Obertshausen History Trail passes several stops with information boards. Each location has a QR code linking to further information on the website. The trail aims to bring local history to life in the townscape; its stops offer another way to explore Obertshausen’s history alongside the castle ruins and local history museum.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart offers a different perspective: since 2018, it has also served as a pilgrimage church in Obertshausen. Together with the history trail and traces of early settlement, it offers a varied view of local history—from archaeological remains to a present-day religious status.

Further Perspectives in the Wider Offenbach Destination

The wider Offenbach destination also offers dedicated cycling and hiking routes. In the Offenbach district, Mainhausen, Seligenstadt, Hainburg and Mühlheim lie along the Main Cycle Route in the Hessian Lower Main region. The route follows the Main from its source to its mouth through Franconian and Hessian landscapes; it takes a varied course away from major traffic and is signposted to an exemplary standard.

The 190-kilometre Regionalpark Circular Route offers a different option. It links orchards and wetlands with artworks, historic landmarks, viewpoints and play areas. Sections can be explored on foot or by bicycle. At 1.1 kilometres, the Egelsbach Evolution Trail is much shorter, with 19 signs describing significant developments and events in evolution. Part of the trail overlaps with the Regionalpark route. This means the wider Offenbach destination offers both a long circular route covering a range of themes and a shorter educational trail with a clear focus.

Cultural attractions also add to the options in the wider Offenbach destination. The Einhard Basilica in Seligenstadt is considered one of the most important churches from the Carolingian era on German soil and is the town’s present-day landmark. The RegioMuseum in Seligenstadt covers prehistory and early history, folklore, arts and crafts, painting and sculpture from the 15th to the 18th century, as well as the history of the town and abbey.

Choose the places and routes you would like to explore.

Discover more destinations: Dreieich, Mainhausen, Mühlheim am Main, Seligenstadt, Hainburg, Offenbach Am Main, Langen, Dietzenbach.

Go to the wider travel overview: Offenbach.