Reinerzau: Log Flume, Church and Valley Landscape

Reinerzau combines architectural and local history with a valley landscape shaped by centuries of agriculture and forestry. Its specific features include the Late Gothic Protestant parish church, dedicated to Saint Margaret, and the restored log flume at the foot of the Kleine Kinzig drinking-water reservoir. Church architecture, timber transport and rafting thus sit alongside the landscape of the Central Black Forest. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Reinerzau, this distinction can help you decide on your main area of interest.

The Late Gothic parish church

The Protestant parish church is dedicated to Saint Margaret. Its Late Gothic character is evident in the tracery windows in the choir; it also has a tower with a gabled roof. The church was renovated in 1850. Tracery is the stonework that divides a window into sections, making the choir windows a specific detail of the building’s design. The shape of the tower is another distinct architectural feature: a gabled roof consists of two sloping roof surfaces. These features offer a closer look at the building than a general description as a historic church. The 1850 renovation adds a specific chapter in the building’s history to the description of its architectural features.

The log flume and the history of rafting

The restored log flume outlet is at the foot of the Kleine Kinzig drinking-water reservoir. Hand-hewn sandstone blocks line its course and reveal a distinctive detail of its construction. The structure illustrates the area’s forestry and rafting history. An annual log-flume and rafting demonstration on the Kleine Kinzig adds an event to the story of the surviving structure. It is accompanied by a farmers’ market featuring products from producers in the area around Reinerzau. If you are planning to visit specifically for the demonstration, check the dates before travelling and confirm that the event is taking place in your chosen year.

Valley and landscape

Reinerzau lies in the Kleine Kinzig valley in the Central Black Forest. The landscape has been shaped by centuries of agricultural and forestry use. This context complements the buildings with a perspective on how the area has been used: alongside the church architecture is a cultural landscape influenced by agriculture and forestry. This offers different points of interest when planning a trip. Those particularly interested in the landscape and how it has been shaped will find a different way to explore the area than visitors whose focus is church architecture or rafting.

Additional context in the wider destination of Alpirsbach

The wider destination of Alpirsbach offers further cultural attractions. The abbey church, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, was built between 1125 and 1133 in the Romanesque tradition. Since 1952, cloister concerts have been held in the Gothic cloister of the former Benedictine monastery. At the historic Alpirsbacher Offizin printing works, visitors can see how book printing works; they can also plan and carry out their own printing projects there. The Museum of Local History, next to the abbey complex, illustrates the development of the town of Alpirsbach through a selection of collectible items.

Discover more destinations: Kniebis, Alpirsbach, Freudenstadt, Empfingen, Erzgrube, Baiersbronn, Pfalzgrafenweiler, Horb Am Neckar

Back to the wider travel overview: Freudenstadt.