Discover Eckenhagen: Animal Park, Spa Park and History

Animal Experiences and Activities

The Eckenhagen Monkey and Bird Park combines a zoo and an adventure world. The eight-hectare grounds include a petting zoo, large playgrounds, barbecue huts, a garden café, an indoor adventure hall and a three-kilometre circular trail. You can also walk through the Barbary macaque and squirrel monkey enclosures. Many enclosures are open to visitors, including monkey enclosures and walk-through open-air aviaries. In seven of these aviaries, you can observe budgerigars, owls and flamingos, among other birds, without a separating fence. The availability of individual enclosures may vary.

The pump track is on Hahnbucher Straße, to the right of the sports field, and offers two circuits. The facility is 280 metres long. One circuit is designed for children aged three to eight using balance bikes and bicycles; the larger circuit is for ages eight and up. The pump track is freely accessible daily from 06:00 to 22:00. The age guidance helps you choose which of the two circuits is suitable for your outing.

Local History and Culture

The Eckenhagen Historical Trail uses 15 information boards to guide you through the town’s history. Each stop has a QR code with further information. This combines information on site with additional insights for anyone who would like to explore individual topics in more depth.

The farmhouse museum presents the lives of local people over the past 200 years in a half-timbered house converted into a museum. The neighbouring bakehouse offers insights into agricultural work. More than 4,000 objects illustrate life and work on the farm in the past. The Doll’s Room offers a very different perspective on collections, with an extensive collection of costume and folk dolls from around the world. The exhibition is wheelchair accessible; there is also an educational programme and regular guided tours.

The mining exhibition brings together different aspects of mining traditions and coin minting: it covers mining history and the daily lives of miners, as well as geographical and technical aspects. On display are a reconstructed mine entrance, a photo wall, minerals, mining lamps and everyday objects in display cases. Organ concerts are held regularly at Eckenhagen’s Protestant Baroque church.

Spa Park and Trails

Eckenhagen Spa Park, covering about 1.5 hectares, features a pond and fountain area with benches and forest loungers. There is also a barefoot path and an adjoining Kneipp wading pool. The music pavilion hosts regular spa concerts and other events; if you plan to attend a concert, it is worth checking the dates in advance.

Heilklimaweg 1, also known as the Yoga Hiking Trail, starts and ends at the spa park on Zöper Weg in Reichshof-Eckenhagen. The trail has five stations, and guided hikes are also held there. Another way to connect Eckenhagen with other places is the Reichshof Experience Tour: it starts in Eckenhagen, passes through Wildbergerhütte and Denklingen, and returns to Eckenhagen. It uses a minibus with eight passenger seats. The route follows particularly beautiful and scenic “forgotten” roads that have become uneconomical for regular bus services. Check the current timetable before planning your trip.

More to Explore in the Wider Reichshof Destination

The wider Reichshof destination also offers a variety of landscapes and cultural themes. Juniper areas can be found in Branscheid, Wildberg and Hespert. The Branscheid juniper heath is one of the last juniper heaths in the Oberberg region and is preserved from being overgrown by woodland with human help and through the grazing of sheep and goats. Free guided walks with information about the juniper heath are offered several times a year; dates are listed in the current hiking brochure.

In Reichshof, the forest nature trail is a 4.5-kilometre circular route through the woods. It is equipped with information boards, benches and shelters. Another historic landmark in the wider destination is the old watermill in Nespen, first mentioned in 1749. These themes complement Eckenhagen’s local history trail and collections with further ways to discover nature and history in Reichshof.

Eckenhagen as a Starting Point for Your Search

If you would also like to explore the wider Reichshof destination, the juniper areas, forest nature trail and Reichshof Experience Tour are among the options described. Tailor your accommodation search to the places and themes that suit your planned stay.

Discover more destinations: Wildbergerhütte

View the wider travel overview: Reichshof.