Bad Rippoldsau: Discover Nature and History

Bad Rippoldsau: Nature and Culture

The themes range from waterfalls and hiking routes to distinctive landscapes, forest education, history and bathing facilities. This lets you decide which destinations to prioritise based on the kind of outing that matters to your trip before choosing a hotel.

Waterfall, Rocks and Lake

At Burgbach Waterfall, water plunges more than 32 metres down a rock face amid woodland scenery. You can reach the waterfall on foot from the starting point at Vor Burgbach. A serpentine path and steps lead to Burgbach Rock, where there is a shelter and panoramic views. The waterfall and rock offer different natural highlights: the cascading water and the view from the rock.

Kastelstein in Bad Rippoldsau is a sandstone rock formation at an elevation of 823 metres and is designated a natural monument. Another geological feature is Glaswaldsee: it lies in a nature reserve in Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach and is a glacial cirque lake formed from sandstone. Its history is also linked to timber rafting. The lake therefore brings together the origins of the landscape and a historical connection to the use of the waterway.

Hiking and Viewpoints

The Klösterle Loop is an eight-kilometre premium hiking trail that runs in a circular route around Klösterle Bad Rippoldsau to Burgbach Waterfall. There are viewpoints at two pavilions, and the trail starts at the Vor Burgbach car park. The trail’s length gives you a specific reference point when planning how much hiking to fit into your day.

Forest Knowledge and Historical Traces

Klösterle was founded around 1140 as a Benedictine priory. A pilgrimage to the Sorrowful Mother of Bad Rippoldsau has been documented since 1721. The two dates offer different perspectives on the area’s history: the founding of the priory and the pilgrimage documented at a later date.

The Wald-Kultur-Haus in Holzwald offers forest education courses for children, young people and adults. Topics range from the geology of the Wolf Valley to forest habitats and water ecology. The centre also presents historical forms of forest management. This brings together natural relationships and past ways of managing forests in a single learning programme.

Wildlife and Swimming

The Alternative Wolf and Bear Park is located between the districts of Bad Rippoldsau and Schapbach. The site covers just under ten hectares and provides natural habitats for bears, wolves and lynxes that were previously kept in unsuitable conditions. The size of the site and the three animal species named give a clear idea of the park’s focus.

The Wolftal Erlebnis-Waldfreibad adds a swimming option to the natural and cultural attractions. It includes a combined pool for swimmers and non-swimmers, a diving board, massage jets and water sprays. There is also a paddling pool and a children’s water channel. Together, these features combine swimming with playful water activities.

For the wider travel overview: Bad Rippoldsau-Schapbach.