Rheinau: Cultural History and Drais Connections

Get to know Rheinau from different perspectives: through local history, architecture, murals and a direct bus connection to Rheinauer See. If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay in Rheinau, you can plan your cultural itinerary around whether you’re most interested in historical traces, a church or a guided art tour.

History and Drais Connections

The building popularly known as the “Old Relaishaus” is actually called Kießler-Hof. In Mannheim-Rheinau, it is protected as a cultural monument under Section 2 of the Baden-Württemberg Monument Protection Act (DSchG). The history of what later became the village also includes its distinctive status: alongside Stengelhof, built around 1773, it was the oldest building in the later village of Rheinau.

As far as possible, the Drais Route follows the historic course of a ride that Karl Drais made on his running machine on June 12, 1817. It led from his home in Mannheim to the Schwetzingen Relaishaus of the time, in what is now Rheinau. The route follows the historic ride without claiming to be an exact match. Another tour, “In the Footsteps of Karl Drais,” passes through Neckarau and soon reaches Rheinau. The distinction is useful when choosing a route: the Drais Route focuses on following the historic course as closely as possible, while the other description focuses on the sequence from Neckarau to Rheinau.

Church and Murals

The Evangelical Pfingstberg Church in Mannheim-Rheinau was built in 1962/63 during the second phase of construction, along with its bell tower. Its glass walls offer an unobstructed view of birch trunks and light coniferous woodland. This provides a distinct architectural focus alongside the older historical connections.

Another perspective on Rheinau is offered by the bookable group tour “Stadt.Wand.Kunst – Right here, Rheinau.” The easy route is 1.30 km long, takes 90 minutes and features murals by DUO SOURATI. The route length and tour duration provide two concrete points of reference for planning; the focus is on the murals, a different topic from the history of the Relaishaus or the architecture of Pfingstberg Church.

To Rheinauer See

Rheinauer See can be reached from Rheinau station by bus route 48 in the direction of “Rheinau, Rotterdamer Straße Nord.” Get off at the Chiemseestraße stop. Check the timetable before travelling, as public transport information may change.

Mannheim as a Distinct Cultural Context

In the broader destination of Mannheim, the Water Tower adds a distinct architectural theme to the local perspective on Rheinau. Gustav Halmhuber, who also contributed to the construction of the Reichstag building in Berlin, built it in 1889. The Water Tower is 60 metres high, has a diameter of 19 metres and holds 2,000 cubic metres of water. At dusk, the brightly illuminated fountains create a special atmosphere. Thus, the Water Tower is notable for its dimensions and evening effect, while Rheinau’s local history offers other historical points of reference.

Mannheim’s TECHNOSEUM presents 200 years of technological and social history, combining information with hands-on experiences in an interactive journey through time. Topics include interactive stations for science and technology. The activities are aimed at schools as well as children, young people and adults; they include a Robo-Contest and an Escape Room. Program formats may change, so check in advance which activities are planned for your visit.

Discover more destinations: Friedrichsfeld, Mannheim, Seckenheim.

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