Ortenberg Castle (Baden)
Ortenberg Castle is the landmark of the Ortenau region and is located above the town of Ortenberg at the end of the Kinzig Valley, between Offenburg and Gengenbach.
The origins of Ortenberg Castle date back to a fortress from the 11th/12th century. Originally, Ortenau Castle was built by the Zähringer dynasty to secure the Kinzig Valley; today, Ortenberg Castle houses a youth hostel. However, large parts of the castle complex can be visited.
Europa-Park Rust
Germany’s largest amusement and theme park! Covering an area of approximately 950,000m², visitors are offered over 100 attractions and shows across 20 themed areas. In addition to numerous hotels and restaurants, the Europa-Park resort includes the Rulantica water park – a top-class aquatic adventure world.
Wolfsgrube Zell-Weierbach
The “Wolfsgrube” is located directly at the edge of the forest and offers a beautiful view over Offenburg, Zell-Weierbach, and into neighboring Alsace. It serves simple but good dishes, such as Flammkuchen. A playground with a small animal enclosure is a big attraction for children. A lovely spot in nature at the forest’s edge for relaxation and enjoyment.
The Wolfsgrube is an ideal destination for hikers, cyclists, and families with children.
Vogtsbauernhöfe Open-Air Museum
The Black Forest Open-Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof in Gutach (Schwarzwaldbahn) is an open-air museum founded in 1964 in Baden-Württemberg. It depicts the life, living, and work of people in the Black Forest over the past centuries and is one of Germany’s most visited open-air museums, with an average of 230,000 visitors during its seven-month season. There is a direct train stop at the museum.
Minigolf Rammersweier
The mini-golf course in the neighboring village of Rammersweier has 18 holes and is surrounded by spacious green areas. There is also a cozy beer garden with a covered area, where you can enjoy hearty, traditional cuisine.
Located in the center of our neighboring village, yet beautifully situated amidst greenery, the Golfstüble is perfect for an afternoon or evening visit. Especially in the evening, when the courses are illuminated, visitors can enjoy a very pleasant atmosphere. A worthwhile destination for all ages!
Wine Festivals in the Ortenau Region
Autumn wine festivals have a long tradition in the Ortenau region, which has been shaped by viticulture for centuries. When the first grapes are pressed, they are fermented under exclusion of air, creating the so-called Federweißer or “new wine”. This new wine is offered at the first wine festivals in autumn. It is very palatable and is often enjoyed with onion tart or roasted chestnuts.
A highlight in the annual calendar is the large Ortenau Wine Festival in Offenburg and the wine hiking days in the surrounding area. Almost every wine village has one or two wine festivals in autumn, and many private wineries host their own wine festivals. Often, a brass band plays there to entertain visitors.
Hiking in the Forest and Vineyards
Discover the extraordinary hiking paradise of the Black Forest while hiking through fields and meadows! Immerse all your senses in the Black Forest while hiking in nature, even in wind and perhaps a little rain. Whether in a group with a hiking guide or on your own, the extensive signage of the Black Forest Association’s individual hiking trails will keep you on the right path.
The 24,000 km long network of trails in the Black Forest offers varied landscapes, some with magnificent views, all year round.
Our region also offers visitors many signposted routes for Nordic walking and mountain bike tours. The starting point for your tours is again the Wolfsgrube, where special information boards have been installed.
Ritterhaus Museum Offenburg
The Museum im Ritterhaus is a museum in the city center of Offenburg. It was opened in 1900 as the “Museum for Natural History and Ethnology” by Carl Frowin Mayer and has been housed since 1959 in the former Ritterhaus of the Ortenau Imperial Knighthood. The museum’s collections focus on urban history, archaeology, geology and natural history, ethnology, hunting trophies, and religious folk art; the building also houses the municipal archive.
A visit is definitely worthwhile, and there are also changing special exhibitions that are interesting for young and old.
Historic Old Town of Gengenbach
Gengenbach in the Ortenau district is primarily known for its picturesque, listed half-timbered old town, often referred to as the “pearl of romantic half-timbered towns”.
Highlights:
- The world’s largest Advent calendar house: During the pre-Christmas season, the 24 windows of the historic town hall transform into a giant Advent calendar.
- Rich history: Gengenbach was once a Free Imperial City. Its medieval town gates—including the distinctive Niggelturm (now a Fools’ Museum) and the Schwedenturm—are well preserved.
- Culture and cuisine: Thanks to its charming location in the Ortenau wine region of Baden, the town is also renowned for excellent wine, historic inns, and the Haus Löwenberg museum.
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Historic Old Town of Strasbourg
The historic old town of Strasbourg (German designation) is located on the large island “Grande Île” in the Ill River and is primarily known for Strasbourg Cathedral, the picturesque La Petite France quarter, and the old tanners’ district. The entire island has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988 due to its medieval buildings and canals.
Strasbourg is best explored on foot or by tram, as the old town is a large pedestrian zone. If you want to drive into the city center, you need a special vignette. Boat tours on the Ill offer a good view of the historic facades and bridges from the water. The tour passes the European Parliament and goes through the old town.
Offenburg, “Capital” of the Ortenau Region
With its charming pedestrian zone, Offenburg invites visitors to a relaxed stroll. The historic old town delights with lovingly restored half-timbered houses that bring history to life.
In the city center, numerous cafés, boutiques, and trendy shops line the pedestrian zone, inviting visitors to linger and enjoy or to go on a shopping spree with their cozy terraces. The open and friendly atmosphere makes strolling through the streets particularly interesting.
