Höchst: Nature, Trails and History

If you’re looking for a hotel in Höchst, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay. The town’s character ranges from the lakeside and reed landscapes of the Rhine Delta Nature Reserve to the canoe route on the Old Rhine, the Am Eselschwanz route, the parish church and the exhibition depot. Each theme raises different planning questions: for the canoe route, consider the launch point and river conditions; for the exhibition depot, check opening days and registration requirements.

Nature in the Rhine Delta

Unique lakeside and reed landscapes lie within the Rhine Delta Nature Reserve in Höchst. The area has been part of the EU-wide Natura 2000 network since 1995. Along the Old Rhine, from Bruggerloch to Eselschwanz, woodland, meadows, gardens and water areas are made available to the Nature Park on the Old Rhine association. These areas are provided by private landowners, the municipality of Höchst and Naturpark am Alten Rhein Betriebs-GmbH. The association is dedicated to promoting, keeping and caring for native domestic animal breeds.

Canoe Route and Cycling Route

The canoe route on the Old Rhine runs downstream from Höchst to Gaißau and the Rhine estuary at Rheinspitz. There is a launch point with parking in Höchst, at Luisl’s Farm on Gartenstraße. As a water route, it differs from the Am Eselschwanz route; before setting off, check access regulations and river conditions.

The Am Eselschwanz route is paved throughout to the full width of the roadway and designated as a cycle path. Some sections are also marked as a yellow-and-white hiking trail. This means the paved surface is continuous, while the hiking-trail markings appear only on some sections. The route passes through a former riverbed of the Rhine, which flowed between gravel and sandbanks until 1900 and is called Eselschwanz here. The name therefore appears in two contexts: as the route name “Am Eselschwanz” and as the name of the former riverbed.

Local History and Exhibition Depot

A document from 980 refers to Höchst as “the villages of Höchst on both banks” of the Rhine. Höchst’s neo-Baroque parish church was built between 1908 and 1910. These dates provide different historical reference points: the document records a name for Höchst, while the construction period dates the parish church.

The Höchst exhibition depot displays work and everyday objects, most of which date from the early 20th century and illustrate daily life in the Rhine Delta municipality. Unlike the parish church’s building history, the exhibition depot focuses on household items and everyday life. Visits are possible on open days, which are announced separately. Guided tours for school classes and adult groups are available by appointment. Check the separately announced open days in advance to ensure your visit falls within your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Hard, Schnepfau, Bildstein, Egg, Eichenberg, Rehmen, Möggers, Langenegg

For the overarching travel guide: Bregenz.